The relationship between Fisher Communications and Bellevue-based DataSphere Technologies just got a little tighter. The Seattle-based broadcasting company, parent of KOMO-TV and radio, announced today that it has invested $1.5 million in DataSphere, its partner in the rollout of more than 100 "hyperlocal" news sites.

It turns out that Fisher was one of the "undisclosed strategic investors" in the $10.8 million venture round announced by DataSphere in September, so this latest news doesn't represent additional financing beyond what DataSphere has already announced. However, it suggests that Fisher at least encouraged by the "LocalNet" advertising system that DataSphere has built up in support of Fisher's push into nitty-gritty community news.

Fisher's President and CEO, Colleen Brown, joined DataSphere's board in conjunction with the deal.

Fisher launched the first of its sites in August, targeting specific neighborhoods around the Seattle region. DataSphere provides underlying technology for the initiatives and uses its own outbound call center to sell advertising to businesses in the neighborhood served by the blogs. Fisher announced last week that its hyperlocal sites had signed up more than 1,000 advertisers.

The companies have also been syndicating the platform to broadcast stations in other parts of the country.

After the initial launch, some neighborhood bloggers in the Seattle region accused Fisher of using or rewriting their content without proper credit, and they questioned DataSphere's practice of offering free, unsolicited advertising as a way of interesting businesses in their advertising spots.