CNET Networks Inc. a world-wide active medium enterprise is, the center is in San Francisco. CNET was created 1993 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie. The corporation is noted at the NASDAQ under the symbol CNET.

Emergence of the company

1992 developed for CNET, after Halsey Minor (Russel Reynolds) and Shelby Bonnie (tiger management) common the idea developed to connect independent on-line contents round with a all day troughing around computers and technology. 1993 entered Shelby Bonnie completely into in the meantime the company CNET created of Halsey Minor and invested from its private possession into the business development. The company resettled from New York to San Francisco, so that a larger proximity could prevail to the silicone Valley and the expanding technology scene. The opening party of CNET on the fair Comdex meaning at that time excited world-wide attention and inspired the Burda group (Hubert Burda) and Bertelsmann (Thomas Middelhoff), from which the services EuropeOnline and AOL Europe resulted.

Center of the nineties produced CNET various TV-transmissions over computer, technology and ever more famous becoming Internet. The programs called themselves CNET cent ral, The Web, The new Edge and late TV.com as well as News.com, which went to 1999 with CNBC live and were reset 2001.

Stock exchange course and accelerated growth

1996 found the stock exchange course instead of and with the new capital the services Search.com, News.com, Gamecenter.com and Download.com were started. In order to be prepared for future developments, besides the Internet domains Kids.com, Events.com, Chat.com, Radio.com and TV.com were reserved. 1997 started with SNAP! an Internet A RISER SERVICe, which developed rapidly to the serious competition for AOL and 1998 were taken over by NBC. In the year 1997 for the first time in the Internet purchase consultation and price comparison in a service were integrated: Computers.com went to the start. 1998 Computers.com supplemental around the portal Shopper.com, which supplied up to date price comparisons for over 100.000 technology products. 1999 put to CNET the foundation-stone for today the product data business with the assumption that, established world-wide, Swiss company GDT, in the meantime admit under CNET Channel.

At the beginning of of 2000 took over CNET network the price comparison service mySimon and end of 2000 the company ZDNet, who has to do today nothing more with the original name giver ZiffDavis, its European magazine business with PC professional, PC direct and Internet professional in the meantime at VNU Business Publications sold. Shelby Bonnie changed on the CEO post, the founder Halsey Minor dedicated itself to new Investments.

When chairman of the IAB (Internet Advertising office) interspersed Shelby Bonnie world-wide new interactive advertising forms, which could to replace and today as industry standard apply classical banner. CNET gave up at the beginning of 2001 the classical broadcast (Broadcast TV and radio) and set fully on broadband media (radio, Podcasting, Streaming video). In the middle of 2001 took over CNET the TechRepublic of Gartner and developed this Community for IT-professionals on over 4 million members.

Investments after the boom

2002 rose the pressure to on-line media to dedicate itself again to more strongly crossmedialen beginnings. Many investors were disconcerted by the brief crisis of all industries with high investment demand. CNET resisted this trend and far fully the interactive media and marketing solutions used up themselves. The world-wide range was developed at the same time and the past IT-market leader was transferred to Europe Silicon.com and continued as independent medium mark. Since a market recovery was to be foreseen, became purposeful in these years into existing and new products, which invest technical infrastructure and into the further training of the coworkers (CNET University).

Market recovery

These investments began themselves to disburse 2003, when the market showed first recovery characters in the USA and Asia. With the Launch of CNET digitally Living was then set again a yardstick to copy that only 2005 individual European offerers seriously began (digitally Lifestyle Day of computer Reseller news and of Burda, digitally Living in the context of the CeBIT).

In the middle of 2004 took over CNET with Twofold photo the world-wide largest photo service Webshots and developed it consistently with improved infrastructure and Community functionalities. MP3.com and TV.com were positioned since at the beginning of of 2005 again and formed together with Gamespot.com and GamesFAQ.com as well as Metacritic the CNET Games & Entertainment Group.

Beginning of 2006 CNET Channel and DCI (DATA cousin for Commerce and Industry AG) were received a strategic alliance and linked their expert's assessment in the dressing and care of ITK product informations. As result of co-operation received Shopbetreiber, Distributoren, manufacturers as well as buyers improved product data with higher utilizable value. In the context of the partnership marketed DCI the data of CNET Channel in Germany and CNET Channel offered to his customers selected services and data of the DCI world-wide.

After 10 years in the meantime the target group of the Smart Shopper had been established firmly in the heads of the Marketingentscheider.

Interactivation of contents

CNET publishes increasingly video contents on the own web pages. Usually it concerns the cinematic conception of new products and video games. On 25 November 2005 CNET would send a Webcast Marathon "“holiday help desk"”; Spectators could place questions as E-Mail and over telephone. Altogether 174 questions were placed and answered on air. Accordingly to this interactivation tendency the magazines in "“to mature"” medium markets (Europe and North America) were sold at investors. Only in parts of Asia (China, India) and in Australia magazines can be developed still margin-pregnant, because they can advance new target groups there again and again to the interactive media. In the USA and far parts of Europe special magazines cannot be operated however any longer with high margins. Accordingly CNET sold the ComputerShopper magazine on 6 February 2006 at SX2 Media lab. SX2 Media lab LLC was started only 2005 by David Sills and Stonybrook Capital and is the magazine in 26. Year of the successful existence as prominent publication for technology enthusiasts establish. The responsible member of the board Barry Briggs indicates as reason for the sales: "“This transaction will bring the magazine into a surrounding field, which is better suitable for future growth. At the same time CNET network thereby can concentrate still more strongly on interactive contents."”

Business model

CNET network obtained 2005 a conversion of 352 million US Dollar and a profit before writings-off at a value of 68 million US Dollar. 116 million user produce approx. 104 million Pageimpressions on the day. End of 2005 employed CNET network world-wide 2,300 of coworkers.

CNET network obtains incomes from two main sources. Most importantly are "“marketing services"”, thus the sales of announcements, Downloads and price comparisons. Besides licenses for product data are assigned by CNET Channel and other liable to pay the costs editorial contents. A Nebenrolle played the classical and increasingly margin-weak print publishing trade with magazines in the still unreiferen on-line markets of Asia and in Australia.

A different child OF media

CNET network describes itself as "“A different child OF media company"”, gives thus a confession off to the classical medium sector (contrary to Google or Microsoft) with a special or differentiated adjustment. This modern adjustment shows up in the constant attempt to hold a balance between the commitment of the readers, editors and marketing experts. Into this concept fit reader Communities, semiprofessionelle Blogs and Videopodcasts, in addition, manager min acres and conferences of Esther Dyson.

Review, view

In the context of the conference of balance 2005 Shelby Bonnie implemented a review and a view on the future situation of the media in the digital age. "“Before 10 years we spoke very much about the convergence and digitization of the media, and today it passes really and even faster than we it expecting. There are for it two driving factors. To first the possibilities grow by the technology: Internet, wideband networks, comprehensive memory possibilities and faster processors become ever more inexpensive and thus for the mass-market. This leads to the fact that the consumer can exercise strong control. To second - and that is the probably even more important point, the consciousness of the users changed. Today white a consumer that it can get or learn everything, what only in its imaginative power is, fast, relevantly and simply, by pressing a few keys."”

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