| Type | Subsidiary of CBS Corporation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | 235 Second Street, San Francisco, California, USA |
| Key people | Neil Ashe, president Shelby Bonnie, co-founder |
| Industry | Internet information provider |
| Revenue | ▲$387.69 million (2006) |
| Net income | ▲$7.87 million (2006) |
| Employees | 2,080 (2006) |
| Website | cnetnetworks.com |
CNET Networks, Inc. is a media company based in San Francisco, California, United States, and is part of CBS Interactive, owned by CBS Corporation. The company was co-founded in 1993 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie and was acquired by CBS in 2008.
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In 1994, with the help from Fox co-founder Kevin Windle,[1] 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. CNET Central was created first and aired in syndication in the United States on the USA Network.[1] Later, it began airing on USA's sister network Sci Fi Channel along with The Web and The New Edge. These were later followed by TV.com in 1996. Current American Idol host Ryan Seacrest first came to national prominence at CNET, as the host of The New Edge and doing various voice-over work for CNET.
In addition, CNET produced another television technology news program called News.com that aired on CNBC beginning in 1999.[1]
CNET acquired the Swiss-based company GDT in 1999. GDT was later renamed to CNET Channel.[1]
In 1999, CNET granted the right to Asiacontent to set up CNET Asia, operation was brought back in December 2000.
In January 2000, the same time CNET became CNET Networks, they acquired comparison shopping site mySimon for $700 million.[2]
In October 2000, CNET Networks acquired ZDNet for approximately $1.6 billion.[3][4] In January 2001, Ziff Davis Media, Inc. reached an agreement with CNET Networks, Inc. to regain the URLs lost in the 2000 sale of Ziff Davis, Inc. to SoftBank Corp. a publicly traded Japanese media and technology company.[5] In April 2001, CNET acquired TechRepublic Inc., which provides content for IT professionals from Gartner, Inc., for $23 million in cash and stock.[6] On July 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).[7]
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 in Boston and on XM 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.[8]
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.[9]
In December 2006, James Kim, an editor at CNET, died in the Oregon 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.[10]
On May 15, 2008, it was announced that CBS Corporation would buy CNET Networks for US$1.8 billion.[11][12][13] On June 30, 2008, the acquisition was completed.[14] Former CNET properties are now part of CBS Interactive.
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:
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 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 is the learning area of CNET, offering a range of tutorials, guides and tips for technology users.
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 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.
Also available at blogs.cnet.com, this is a round up of all the blogs 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 the United Kingdom) and asia.cnet.com (for Asia). 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 is a website that provides Windows, Macintosh and mobile software for download. CNET maintains that this software is free of spyware.
The site also offers free MP3 music files for download (by mostly independent artists).
CNET TV plays various videos, including CNET video reviews. CNET editors such as Tom Merritt, Molly Wood, and Brian Cooley host shows like Car Tech, Buzz Report, Quick Tips, CNET Top 5, Loaded, The Apple Byte, Digital City, The Digital Home, Inside CNET Live, Mail Bag 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 featured Justin Kan of justin.tv.
In 2005, CNET launched CNET.co.uk. 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 [15].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 weekly podcast 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 visitors[16].
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 in Adobe 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 and Lightspeed Champion -- under the name CNET TV:Live.
BNET provides working professionals with the tools, advice, and insight they need to succeed in today's workplace. This isn't a site for those who merely punch the clock: It's for people who are committed to nurturing their own excellence, who believe in the meaning of work, and who know that a fulfilling career is an excellent way to make personal ambitions come true.
Other CNET websites include GameSpot, GameFAQs, Metacritic, MP3.com, TV.com, and Movie Tome, which operate under the "CNET Networks Entertainment" brand name; Chow, Chowhound, UrbanBaby and Consumating, which operate under the "CNET Networks Community" brand; Webware, a blog launched in November 2006 dedicated to web applications.[17]
In July 2004, CNET Networks acquired Webshots, an online photo sharing site for $70 million[18]. However, in October 2007, they sold Webshots to American Greetings for $45 million[19]
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.[20]
The network produces several audio and video podcasts. 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.[21] The other sites in the CNET Network that have podcasts are GameSpot, TV.com, MP3.com and CNET.co.uk. A lot of CNET podcasts are streamed live at http://www.watchbol.com
| Name | Brand | Hosts | Type | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buzz Out Loud | CNET.com | Molly Wood, Tom Merritt, and Jason Howell (formerly Veronica Belmont) | Audio/Video | Daily/Weekly Video |
| Planet CNET | CNET.com and international | Kara Tsuboi, Louise Ghegan, Rory Reid, Ella Morton and John Chan | Video | Weekly |
| The Apple Byte | CNET.com | Brian Tong | Video/CNET TV | Weekly |
| The 404 | CNET.com | Jeff Bakalar, Wilson Tang, and Justin Yu (formerly Randall Bennett) | Audio/Video | Monday-Friday |
| Loaded | CNET.com | Natali Del Conte | Video | Monday-Thursday |
| The Buzz Report | CNET.com | Molly Wood (interim host Brian Cooley) | Video | Weekly |
| Gadgettes | CNET.com | Molly Wood, Kelly Morrison, and Jason Howell | Audio | Weekly |
| Inside CNET Labs | CNET.com | Eric Franklin and Dong Ngo | Audio | Daily |
| Digital City | CNET.com | Dan Ackerman, Joseph Kaminski and Julie Rivera | Audio | Weekly |
| MP3 Insider | CNET.com | Jasmine France and Donald Bell (formerly Veronica Belmont and James Kim) | Audio | Weekly |
| The Real Deal | CNET.com | Tom Merritt and Rafe Needleman | Audio | Weekly |
| Security Bites | CNET.com and News.com | Robert Vamosi | Audio and video (on CNET TV) | Weekly |
| Car Tech | CNET.com | Brian Cooley, Kevin Massy, and Wayne Cunningham | Audio and video (on CNET TV) | Weekly |
| CNET Live | CNET.com | Tom Merritt and Brian Cooley | Video (CNET TV) | Thursdays |
| Dialed In | CNET.com | Kent German, Bonnie Cha, and Nicole Lee | Audio | Wednesdays |
| Crossfade TV | Download.com, MP3.com | Kurt Wolff, Mike Tao, Peter Gavin, and Anngie Dehoyos | Video (CNET TV) | Bi-weekly |
| Studio C | CNET.com, Download.com, and MP3.com | Kurt Wolff, Ariel Nunez, Mike Tao, and Peter Gavin | Audio | Weekly |
| On the Spot | GameSpot | Brian Ekberg and Kristen Reilley hosts this live weekly video game talk show along with various other editors and guests. | Video | Thursdays at 4 PM PST |
| The LineUp | GameSpot | Brian Ekberg, Aaron Thomas, and Shanker Srinivasan hosts this sports video game talk show. | Video | Bi-weekly (Fri) |
| Import Friendly | GameSpot | Takeshi Hiraoka hosts this import game and culture show. | Video | Monthly (1st Thurs) |
| Start/Select | Guy Cocker hosts this news and features show on UK gaming. | Video | Bi-weekly (Fri) | |
| The Hotspot | GameSpot | Tor Thorsen hosts this video game news podcast. | Audio | Tuesdays |
| From the Bleachers | GameSpot | Brian Ekberg, Aaron Thomas, and Shanker Srinivasan hosts this sports video game podcast. | Audio | Wednesdays |
| Gamespot UK Podcast | Guy Cocker, Laura Jenner, Luke Anderson, and (occasionally) Alex Sassoon Coby. News and features podcast on UK Gaming. | Audio | Bi-weekly (Thurs) | |
| OzSpot Gamespot AU Podcast | Randolph Ramsay, Dan Chiappini, and James Kozanecki bring you the GameSpot AU podcast. Biggest news and trends in the world of Australian Gaming. | Audio | Bi-weekly (Wed) | |
| CNET UK Podcast | CNET.co.uk | Ian Morris and CNET UK team | Audio | Weekly (Fri) |
| The Digital Home | CNET.com | Don Reisinger | Audio | Weekly |
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