CNET (short for "Computer Network")[1] is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on technology and consumer electronics globally.

[2][3][4][5] Following acquisition by Red Ventures on October 30, 2020,[6] the website faced criticism for the decline in quality of its editorial content and its factual unreliability due to the use of generative AI in the creation of its articles,[7][8] as well as concerns over its journalistic integrity after it began increased publication of biased reviews and sponsored content to benefit its advertising partners.

[10] After leaving PepsiCo, Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie launched c/net, a 24-hour cable network about computers and technology in 1992.

[1] With help from Fox Network co-founder Kevin Wendle[11] and former Disney creative associate Dan Baker,[12] CNET produced four pilot television programs about computers, technology, and the Internet.

After failing to attract a sufficient audience, CNET Radio ceased operating in January 2003 due to financial losses.

[28][29] In May 2002, CNET Networks acquired Smartshop, an automated product catalog and feature comparison technology company, for an undisclosed amount.

[40] On October 10, 2006, Shelby Bonnie resigned as chairman and CEO, in addition to two other executives, as a result of a stock options backdating scandal that occurred between 1996 and 2003.

[53][54] Although the original suit was voluntarily dropped by Alki David, he vowed to sue at a later date to bring "expanded"[55] action against CBS Interactive.

[56] On September 19, 2013, CBS Interactive launched a Spanish language sister site under the name CNET en Español.

After Red Ventures' acquisition, the company announced the closing of CNET en Español on November 11, 2020, leaving the largest tech site in Spanish in the US out of the market.

[61] CNET was criticized for failing to disclose that it was using a machine to write articles,[62] and for using human bylines on some AI-generated content until caught by independent investigators.

[64][8] CNET reporters said Red Ventures pushed them to give more favourable coverage to advertisers and work on sponsored content.

[72] On August 6, 2024, the New York Times reported that Red Ventures had reached an agreement to sell CNET to Ziff Davis for $100 million, subject to regulatory approval.

[85] On July 19, 2000, CNET, Inc. made public its plan to buy Ziff-Davis and its ZDNet Internet business for $1.6 billion.

The paper reported that Gamecenter "seem[ed] to be thriving" amid the dot-com crash, with its revenue distributed across online advertising and an affiliate sales program with CNET's Game Shopper website,[79] launched in late 1999.

[89] Following an almost $400 million loss at CNET as a result of the dot-com crash, the company ended the Gamecenter Alliance network in January 2001.

[80] Discussing the situation, Tom Bramwell of Eurogamer reported, "It is thought [...] that very few if any of the website's staff will move sideways into jobs at GameSpot, now the company's other gaming asset.

"[90] The Washington Post later noted that Gamecenter was among the "popular video-game news sites" to close in 2001, alongside Daily Radar.

CNET also announced that it could no longer review any product or service provided by companies that CBS are in litigation with (which also includes Aereo).

[92][93][94] Dish Network's CEO Joe Clayton said that the company was "saddened that CNET's staff is being denied its editorial independence because of CBS' heavy-handed tactics.

Shapiro felt that the decision also hurt the confidence of CNET's readers and staff, "destroying its reputation for editorial integrity in an attempt to eliminate a new market competitor."