Looking to expand its online presence—and the amount of Internet ad space it can sell—media giant CBS has announced it will acquire online news and information service CNet for $1.8 billion in case, or $11.50 per share, which represents a substantial premium for the company. Once approved, the acquisition would catapult CBS into the upper echelon of online properties, since CNet boasts over 2300 million users around the world and over 50 million unique visitors a month. The deal also lets CNet sidestep a confrontation with Jana Partners LLC, one of CNet’s largest investors, who has been running a proxy battle to shake up the company in the wake of stock price declines.
Tag Archive: CNET
CNET Plans CNET-TV Video-on-Demand Network
CNET Networks announced today that it plans to launch CNET TV, an on-demand video network to be available in the second half of 2006 via cable television, TiVo subscriber service, and via the Internet.
CNET’s distributions partners in CNET TV currently include DVR maker TiVo, Cox Communications, and TVN Entertainment. CNET’s video properties include Weekend Project,First Look from the Labs, and Insider Secrets; CNET TV will also feature news reports and special coverage of major industry shows and events, plus user-submitted videos. CNET’s GameSpot site will also be producing two half-hour series under the banner GamePlay HD, focusing on video game news, reviews, and previews.
Walmart To Carry Apple Mac mini
Gizmodo and Cnet are both reporting that Apple has started shipping small quantities of their new Mac mini to a select number of Walmart stores. Our guess is that if the sales go well, there could be a larger number of stores carrying the new mini computer. Rumor also has it that Walmart and Apple are in negotiations for the retail chain to carry the new Apple iPod Shuffle.
Read more at Cnet
Found VIA Gizmodo
TiVo Sets Sights On Web Content, Cuts Price
According to CNET News.com, the San Jose, Calif.-based company is expected to announce Wednesday at a New York event price cuts for services used with its Series2 standalone digital video recorders,or DVRs. TiVo’s networking software – a $99 option called Home Media Option – will become part of its standard service offering for both monthly and lifetime subscribers.
The company will also offer those with multiple TiVo boxes a price cut for additional recorders. The monthly subscription rate for the first recorder will remain $12.95, but additional recorders will cost $6.95. Lifetime subscriptions will remain $299.
Read more at CNET News.com.
Verizon To Offer ‘Naked’ DSL Service
According to CNET News.com, the company confirmed on Wednesday that it plans to offer what’s been called “naked” digital subscriber line (DSL) service to customers within its local phone region by the end of 2004. Qwest Communications in February announced plans to offer a similar service to its customers.
Until recently telephone companies have only offered DSL to landline subscribers. But with more consumers using only wireless phones and with consumer groups puting pressure on them, the Baby Bells seem to be having a change of heart.
Source: CNET News.com.
Microsoft Exiting Wi-Fi Business
According to CNET News.com, a source close to the company said Microsoft entered the Wi-Fi field with hopes of “raising the bar” on security, ease-of-use and performance and now feels it has accomplished those goals.
Microsoft confirmed the move late Monday.
“After careful evaluation, the Microsoft hardware group has decided to scale back its broadband hardware and networking business,” a representative said. “Instead, the plan is to apply the knowledge we have gained in that category to future products and services.”
Read the full story at CNET News.com.
Delphi CD Audio System Review
Quote from the review at Cnet:
“Considering that you need to own a SkyFi receiver before you can use the CD Audio System, the $199 price tag looks steep, especially considering that without the XM capabilities, it’s only a basic-level boombox. Still, it provides a convenient option for enjoying XM on to go and insures that you won’t be tied to one location while you listen.”
Read the full review here
CNET Launches Free Music Download Service
The service, based on CNET’s Download.com Web site (http://music.download.com), has been collecting music for the past few weeks, encouraging musicians to register on the site and upload their songs.
The music download service will be separate from the MP3.com Web site, which CNET has said it will relaunch soon as a music information site.
The former MP3.com, which CNET acquired late last year, offered similar functions to those in the new music download platform. Many artists and fans of the site complained when CNET closed it down, fearing that hundreds of thousands of songs would be lost permanently.
1,000 Song Limit Makes Sense For Many
A report published by Jupiter Resarch and reported by CNET News.com shows that 90 percent of respondents to a survey have no more than 1,000 digital songs on their computers.
77 percent of the consumers Jupiter questioned said they’d be interested in purchasing a portable media player with a capacity of 1,000 songs. The 4GB hard drive included in Apple Computer’s iPod Mini, and in MP3 players from some Apple rivals, holds roughly that number of songs.
Read more at CNET News.com.
