CBS is cutting jobs at its interactive division in an attempt to consolidate operations after its acquisition of San Francisco-based CNET for $1.8 billion in May. The number of jobs that will be cut isn’t known, though some bloggers have speculated that it could be as much as 20 percent of the company’s work force.

“The streamlining initiative involves combining CBSNews.com and CNet into a single newsgroup in which the two CBS Interactive properties will merge newsrooms and share resources while continuing to maintain separate Web site,” mediapost.com says.

One casualty has already been announced: Patrick Keane, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of CBS Interactive, will clean out his desk today. Keane joined CBS in February 2007 from Google, where he led advertising sales strategy. He’ll be replaced by Mickey Wilson, senior vice president of marketing at CNet.