Comments on: Online publisher CNET lays off ten percent of workforce in face of hostile takeover http://digital.venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/ News About Tech, Money and Innovation Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:46:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: CBS to buy CNET Networks for $1.8 billion » VentureBeat http://digital.venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/comment-page-1/#comment-813366 CBS to buy CNET Networks for $1.8 billion » VentureBeat Thu, 15 May 2008 15:53:56 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/#comment-813366 [...] The move comes after CNET’s management had come under attack by shareholders for not doing enough to increase its market value. CNET is one of the earliest movers to embrace an online only format, and is one of the largest online publishers. Hedge fund firm Jana Partners had attempted a hostile board takeover of the company, and CNET recently laid off 10 percent of its work force. [...] [...] The move comes after CNET’s management had come under attack by shareholders for not doing enough to increase its market value. CNET is one of the earliest movers to embrace an online only format, and is one of the largest online publishers. Hedge fund firm Jana Partners had attempted a hostile board takeover of the company, and CNET recently laid off 10 percent of its work force. [...]

]]> By: Tech Bloggers Leaving CNET Dead In The Water http://digital.venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/comment-page-1/#comment-800501 Tech Bloggers Leaving CNET Dead In The Water Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:59:31 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/#comment-800501 [...] that CNET was forced to lay off 120 U.S. workers as they reorganize in the face of serious competition from tech bloggers. The geometric explosion [...] [...] that CNET was forced to lay off 120 U.S. workers as they reorganize in the face of serious competition from tech bloggers. The geometric explosion [...]

]]> By: Ian Bell http://digital.venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/comment-page-1/#comment-800424 Ian Bell Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:18:57 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2008/03/26/online-publisher-cnet-lays-off-ten-percent-of-workforce-in-face-of-hostile-takeover/#comment-800424 "San Francisco-based CNET, a public company, has been fighting back against exploding competition from independent blogs. " I have my doubts about this statement - particularily since it's a blog making it. Would love to see some proof to back this up. I doubt Cnet reviews, downloads have been affected by blogs. Perhaps News.com, but the demographic there is slightly older anyways which is why blogs probably have had minimal impact. If anything, Cnet's "blog wannabe" pages are probably designed to attract a younger audience rather than to keep their current from leaving. “San Francisco-based CNET, a public company, has been fighting back against exploding competition from independent blogs. ”

I have my doubts about this statement – particularily since it’s a blog making it. Would love to see some proof to back this up. I doubt Cnet reviews, downloads have been affected by blogs. Perhaps News.com, but the demographic there is slightly older anyways which is why blogs probably have had minimal impact. If anything, Cnet’s “blog wannabe” pages are probably designed to attract a younger audience rather than to keep their current from leaving.

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