CHICAGO, July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Buying a car is one of the most significant purchases consumers make in a lifetime, so shoppers need to do their homework. Now, Cars.com is providing a study aid: The site is expanding its coverage with a TV segment that covers Car Shopping 101. To kick off one of the busiest car shopping days of the week, "Car Smarts" will air on Saturday mornings on more than 30 TEGNA Media stations across the country starting July 16, 2016. Cars.com is a part of TEGNA's digital portfolio. Combined, TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) reaches more than 90 million U.S. consumers each month across broadcast and digital media.

"Tens of millions of people visit Cars.com every month looking at new and used vehicle inventory, researching deals and special offers, reading consumer reviews about dealerships and seeking car shopping advice from the experts," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's editor-in-chief. "There's an extensive library of content on Cars.com and text and images are still very important in the research process, but we know video is increasingly popular because it's quick and easy to consume. We already receive millions of views on our YouTube channel and 'Car Smarts' is just one more way to reach even more consumers and share our objective, trusted information on car shopping and ownership."

According to a recent study by J.D. Power, 68 percent of vehicle shoppers reported that video viewed on third-party websites, like Cars.com, is "important" in their online shopping process.(1 )

"We are excited to be working with our colleagues at Cars.com to deliver their award-winning editorial content to a wider audience," said Lynn Beall, executive vice president and chief operating officer of TEGNA Media. "These segments fit our mission to inform, engage and empower the people we serve across platforms. Cars.com is the leading destination for car shoppers and owners and these segments will provide an invaluable service to our audience."

"Car Smarts" segments will be produced by Cars.com's in-house multimedia department, and will feature a number of experts from Cars.com's Editorial team, which has a combined 330 years of experience in automotive journalism. The 90-second episodes will cover topics such as car comparisons, ownership and maintenance tips, advice on selling a car and breaking automotive industry news that is important to car shoppers or owners. The segments have the potential to reach one-third of all U.S. households across TEGNA Media.

"We hope that as consumers get ready to hit dealer lots over the weekend, Cars.com can help provide the advice and confidence they need to make one of life's biggest purchase decisions," said Olsen.

For a list of stations and air times and to view all past "Car Smarts" episodes, visit www.cars.com/tv.

ABOUT CARS.COM

Launched in 1998 and owned by TEGNA Inc., Cars.com is a leading online destination that offers information from experts and consumers to help car shoppers and owners buy, sell and service their vehicles. With more than 30 million monthly visits to its web properties, Cars.com offers millions of new and used vehicle listings, expert and consumer reviews, side-by-side comparison, build and price tools, unbiased editorial content, service and repair resources, multiple options to sell a vehicle and much more. For more information, visit www.cars.com.

ABOUT TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is comprised of a dynamic portfolio of media and digital businesses that provide content that matters and brands that deliver. TEGNA reaches more than 90 million Americans and delivers highly relevant, useful and smart content, when and how people need it, to make the best decisions possible. TEGNA Media includes 46 television stations and is the largest independent station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. TEGNA Digital is comprised of Cars.com, the leading online destination for automotive consumers, CareerBuilder, a global leader in human capital solutions, and other powerful brands such as G/O Digital and Cofactor. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

(1) J.D. Power 2014 Third-Party Automotive Website Evaluation Study(SM)

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SOURCE Cars.com