- CNET Networks
Infobox Company
company_name=CNET Networks, Inc.
company_logo=
company_type=Subsidiary ofCBS Corporation
foundation=1993
location=235 Second Street,San Francisco, California , USA
key_people=Neil Ashe,president
Shelby Bonnie, co-founder
num_employees=2,080 (2006)
industry=Internet information provider
products=
revenue=profit$387.69 million (2006)
net_income=profit$7.87 million (2006)
homepage= [http://www.cnetnetworks.com/ cnetnetworks.com]CNET Networks, Inc. is a media company based in
San Francisco, California ,United States , and is part ofCBS Interactive , owned byCBS Corporation . The company was co-founded in 1993 byHalsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie and was acquired by CBS in 2008.History
In 1994, with the help from Fox co-founder Kevin Windle,cite web|url= http://www.cnetnetworks.com/aboutus/history.html|title=CNET Networks - About Us - History|publisher=CNET Networks|accessdate= 2007-06-29] CNET produced four pilot television programs about computers, technology, and the Internet.
CNET TV was composed of "CNET Central", "The Web", and "The New Edge".fact|date=June 2007 "CNET Central" was created first and aired in syndication in theUnited States on theUSA Network . Later, it began airing on USA's sister network Sci Fi Channel along with "The Web" and "The New Edge".fact|date=June 2007 These were later followed by "TV.com" in 1996. Current "American Idol " hostRyan Seacrest first came to national prominence at CNET, as the host of "The New Edge" and doing various voice-over work for CNET.fact|date=June 2007In addition, CNET produced another television technology news program called "News.com" that aired on
CNBC beginning in 1999.CNET acquired the Swiss-based company GDT in 1999. GDT was later renamed to CNET Channel.
In 1999, CNET granted the right to
Asiacontent to set up CNET Asia, operation was brought back in December 2000.fact|date=June 2007In January 2000, the same time CNET became CNET Networks, they acquired comparison shopping site
mySimon for $700 million. [cite web|url=http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/289951|title=CNET Acquires mySimon|publisher=internetnews.com|date=January 20, 2000|accessdate=2008-01-19]In October 2000, CNET Networks acquired
ZDNet for approximately $1.6 billion.cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20000719S0010|title=Cnet To Buy Ziff Davis| publisher=InformationWeek |date=July 19, 2000|accessdate=2007-06-29] cite web|url= http://www.journalismjobs.com/interview_kohara.cfm|title=Interview With CNETnews.com's Sydnie Kohara|publisher= JournalismJobs.com|month=January | year=2001|accessdate=2007-06-29] In January 2001,Ziff Davis Media, Inc. reached an agreement with CNET Networks, Inc. to regain the URLs lost in the 2000 sale ofZiff Davis , Inc. toSoftBank Corp. a publicly traded Japanese media and technology company. [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Jan_23/ai_69405336|title=Ziff Davis Media to Regain URLs through agreement with CNET Networks, ZDNet|publisher=Ziff Davis Media Press Release|date=January 23, 2001|accessdate=2008-01-19] In April 2001, CNET acquired TechRepublic Inc., which provides content for IT professionals from Gartner, Inc., for $23 million in cash and stock. [cite web|url=http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2001/04/09/daily5.html|title=CNET acquires TechRepublic for $23 million|publisher=San Francisco Business Times|date=April 9, 2001|accessdate=2008-01-19] OnJuly 14 2004 , CNET announced that it would acquire Webshots, the leading photography website for $70 million ($60 million in cash, $10 million in deferred consideration). [cite web|url=http://ir.cnetnetworks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=67325&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=591100&highlight=|title=CNET Networks to Acquire Webshots|publisher=CNET Networks Investor Relations|date=July 14, 2004|accessdate=2008-01-19]From 2001 to 2003, CNET operated CNET Radio on the Clear Channel-owned KNEW 910 AM in the
San Francisco Bay Area , WBPS 890 AM inBoston and onXM Satellite Radio . CNET Radio offered technology-themed programing. After failing to attract a sufficient audience, CNET Radio ceased operating in January 2003 due to financial losses.cite web|url= http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2003/01/13/daily60.html|title=CNet pulls plug on radio program|publisher=Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal|date=January 16, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-29]On
October 11 ,2006 , Shelby Bonnie resigned as chairman and CEO as a result of stock options backdating scandal that occurred between 1996 and 2003.Neil Ashe was named as the new CEO. [cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=industryNews&storyID=2006-10-11T161334Z_01_WEN6793_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-MEDIA-CNET-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=EntNewsIndustry_C2_industryNews-4|title=CNET CEO quits after options review; outlook cut|publisher=Reuters |date=2006-10-11|accessdate=2006-10-24]In December 2006,
James Kim , an editor at CNET, died in theOregon wilderness. CNET hosted a memorial show and podcasts dedicated to him.On
March 1 ,2007 , CNET announced the public launch of BNET, a website targeted towards business managers. BNET was launched in 2005 in beta form.cite news|url=http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/FREE/70301001/1078|title=CNET Networks rolls out BNET, Web site targeting business managers|publisher=BtoB Magazine|date=March 1, 2007|accessdate=2007-06-29]Acquisition by CBS
On
May 15 ,2008 , it was announced thatCBS Corporation would buy CNET Networks for US$1.8 billion. [cite web | url=http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=3263 | title=CBS CORPORATION TO ACQUIRE CNET NETWORKS, INC. | publisher=CBS Corporation | date=2008-05-15 | accessdate=2008-05-15] [cite web | url=http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9944882-7.html | title=CBS to buy CNET Networks | publisher=CNET | date=2008-05-15 | accessdate=2008-05-15] [cite web|url=http://dailybriefing.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/05/15/cbs-buying-cnet-in-online-push/|title=CBS buying CNet in online push|publisher=cnn.com|date=May 15, 2008|accessdate=2008-05-15] OnJune 30 ,2008 , the acquisition was completed. [cite web | url=http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=3503 | title=CBS CORPORATION COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CNET NETWORKS; MERGES OPERATIONS INTO NEW, EXPANDED CBS INTERACTIVE BUSINESS UNIT | publisher=CBS Corporation | date=2008-06-30 | accessdate=2008-06-30] Former CNET properties are now part ofCBS Interactive .Websites
CNET.com
CNET.com is CNET's online portal, providing access to CNET's reviews, news, downloads, price comparisons and CNET TV as well as web search powered by
search.com .CNET.com is divided into seven major sections, all of which can be accessed from the home or "Today on CNET" page. These sections are:
Reviews
Product and service reviews by CNET. This section can also include extras such as Internet connection speed tests, opinion articles and buying guides.
News.com
News.com is a
news website dedicated to technology. Content is created by both CNET and external media agencies. A daily podcast is available which covers main stories.Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks is the learning area of CNET, offering a range of tutorials, guides and tips for technology users.
CNET TV
CNET TV is CNET's Internet video channel offering a selection of on-demand video content including video reviews, first looks and special features.
CNET Shopper.com
CNET Shopper.com is an online tool that aims to find the lowest prices on items from online retailers. While generally reliable, there have been notable errors in pricing information on occasion including a camera worth over a thousand dollars being advertised for only a few dollars.
Blogs
Also available at blogs.cnet.com, this is a round up of all the
blog s from CNET personalities and official blogs for CNET and CNET programs.In addition to CNET.com, which is aimed at North American audiences, there are also regional CNET sites including cnet.com.au (for
Australia ), cnet.co.uk (for theUnited Kingdom ) and asia.cnet.com (forAsia ). Content on regional sites is a mix of mostly locally produced content from regional offices of CNET, with certain content - mostly news - from the US CNET.com site. In addition, content is sometimes sourced from ZDNet.Download.com
Download.com is a website that provides Windows,
Macintosh and mobile software for download. CNET maintains that this software is free ofspyware .The site also offers free
MP3 music files for download (by mostly independent artists).CNET TV
CNET TV plays various videos, including CNET video reviews. CNET editors such as
Tom Merritt ,Molly Wood , andBrian Cooley host shows like Car Tech, The Queue, Buzz Report, Crave, Quick Tips, CNET Top 5, and others, as well as special reports and reviews.On
April 12 ,2007 , CNET TV aired its first episode of CNET LIVE, hosted by Brian Cooley and Tom Merritt. The first episode featuredJustin Kan ofjustin.tv .fact|date=September 2007CNET UK
In 2005, CNET launched CNET.co.uk.fact|date=June 2007 This UK arm of CNET Networks covers similar areas to CNET.com, but specifically for UK consumers. As of January 2008, an independent audit certified CNET.co.uk was the largest consumer electronics website in the UK, with 2.5 million unique visitors cite web|url= http://www.abce.org.uk/ABCE_PDFS/CNET.co.uk1107w.pdf|title=CNET Jan '08 audit figures|publisher=ABCe|date=January 15, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-16|format=PDF] .The site is mainly focused on reviews, news, a gadget blog ('Crave', a name which CNET.com eventually adopted for their own blog) and editorial content from a team of editors, covering consumer electronics and car tech. CNET.co.uk is managed and overseen by site editor Jason Jenkins (formerly of
T3 Magazine ). The CNET.co.uk editorial team consists of Rory Reid, Ian Morris, Nate Lanxon, Andrew Lim and Richard Trenholm. CNET.co.uk also has a weeklypodcast called the 'Crave Podcast'.CNET Networks UK also comprises a number of other online-only publications, including GameSpot.co.uk, Silicon.com, ZDNet.co.uk and SmartPlanet.com, each of which produce both editorial and audio-video productions, including GameSpot's video show 'Start/Select', and ZDNet's popular 'Dialogue Box' show. Collectively, the publications of CNET Networks UK generate 132 million monthly page views from 9.8 million unique visitorscite web|url= http://cnetnetworks.co.uk|title=CNET audit figures|publisher=ABCe|date= February 4, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-04] .
On
November 19 ,2007 , CNET UK launched the UK version of CNET TV. Although the site's design is very different in design to CNET.com's version, it differs by using true 16:9-resolution video, streaming inAdobe Flash at high bit rates. CNET TV UK produces all original content, most notably a weekly music show, Encoded, hosted by Nate Lanxon; and Reel Weekend, a weekly film digest hosted by Ben Howard. The site also features a car tech show, product video reviews, music videos and most of the video content produced by CNET Networks UK's various consumer and business sites.Alongside music show Encoded, CNET TV UK hosts live sessions with popular artists -- in the past including
The Broken Family Band andLightspeed Champion -- under the name CNET TV:Live.Other websites
Other CNET websites include
GameSpot ,GameFAQs ,Metacritic ,MP3.com ,TV.com , andMovie Tome , which operate under the "CNET Networks Entertainment" brand name; Chow, Chowhound, UrbanBaby andConsumating , which operate under the "CNET Networks Community" brand; Webware, a blog launched in November 2006 dedicated toweb application s. [cite web|author=Needleman, Rafe|url= http://www.rafeneedleman.com/rafes_blog/2006/11/webwarecom_is_l.html|title=Webware.com is live!|date=2006-11-29|accessdate= 2007-09-21|publisher=Rafe's Blog]In July 2004, CNET Networks acquired
Webshots , an online photo sharing site for $70 million [cite web|url=http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/cnet-acquires-photo-service-webshots-for-70-million|title=CNET Acquires Photo Service Webshots For $70 Million] . However, in October 2007, they sold Webshots toAmerican Greetings for $45 million [cite web|url=http://pressreleases.cnetnetworks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=67325&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1068044&highlight=|title=CNET Networks Announces Sale of Webshots to American Greetings|publisher=CNET Networks Investor Relations]CNET owns many domain names, including
download.com , upload.com, news.com, search.com, tv.com, mp3.com, chat.com, computers.com, help.com, shopper.com, radio.com, and com.com.In 1998, CNET was sued by Snap Technologies for its use of the snap.com website. [cite web|author=Bowman, Lisa, News.com|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-512894.html|title=Snap! Crackle! Popped! CNet hit with suit over portal name|publisher=ZDNet News|date=1998-11-21|accessdate=2008-05-11]
Podcasts
The network produces several audio and video
podcast s. They are related to the core areas of technology: General news, DAPs, Cars, Security, and the ongoing wars between the politicos and the industry. The network has several different brandings on their podcasts. CNET.com, the Network's most viewed site, has more than eight to date.cite web | url=http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11455_7-6333605-1.html | title=CNET Podcast Central | accessdate=2007-11-25] The other sites in the CNET Network that have podcasts areGameSpot ,TV.com ,MP3.com and CNET.co.uk.References
External links
* [http://www.cnetnetworks.com/ CNET Networks corporate site]
* [http://www.cnetnetworks.co.uk/ CNET Networks UK corporate site]
* [http://www.cnetnetworks.com.au/ CNET Networks Australia corporate site]
* [http://www.cnet.com/ CNET.com]
* [http://www.cnet.co.uk/ CNET.co.uk]
* [http://www.cnet.com.au/ CNET.com.au]
* [http://asia.cnet.com/ asia.CNET.com]
* [http://www.news.com/ News.com]
* [http://www.cnettv.com/ CNET TV]
* [http://www.cnettv.co.uk/ CNET TV UK]
* [http://seekingalpha.com/transcripts/for/cnet Transcripts of CNET Network's quarterly conference calls]
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