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ZDNET

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ZDNet
File:Zdnet-lightbg-200px.png
Websitehttp://www.zdnet.com/
CommercialYes
Parent CompanyCBS Interactive
Tagline"Where technology means business."
TypeBusiness Technology
EditionsAustralia, Asia, China, France, Germany, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Korea
Language(s)English, Chinese, French, Dutch, Japanese, Korean
Core ContentHardware, Software, Mobile, Security, Enterprise Research
RegistrationOptional
Launch dateApril 1, 1991
Editor-in-ChiefLarry Dignan

ZDNet is a business technology news website published by CBS Interactive, along with TechRepublic and SmartPlanet. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991[1] by Ziff Davis.

Early history through 2000

Hosted initially on the CompuServe and Prodigy online service provider as well as its own Interchange Online Network, ZiffNet eventually consolidated its services onto the World Wide Web and was renamed "ZDNet" in 1995.[2] It hosted content from Ziff Davis' magazines and was spun off as a separate company in 1999. Long time Ziff-Davis veteran Dan Rosensweig was named CEO.[3] A tracking stock, ZDZ, was created to accompany the parent stock, ZD. Due to Ziff Davis' spin-offs of other business units, however, the tracking stock was eliminated in early 2000 and revived as ordinary common stock.[4]

ZDNet was ranked as a top website for news, information and entertainment. The new ZDNet website had almost 500 advertisers and its core content was news and software downloads. The company also launched a $25 million branding campaign in late 1999, in response to rival CNET's $100 million.[5]

ZDTV

ZDTV was a television channel started in 1998 by Ziff Davis. It had content from Ziff Davis' magazines – PCWeek, eWeek and MacWeek – and one-third of it was owned by Vulcan Enterprises. The website version of the TV had news, products and entertainment information.The website channels integrated ZDNet content with that of the ZDTV shows.[6] A year later, Vulcan bought the whole company. But it was not until 2000 when ZDNet was acquired by CNET that the name of the channel was changed to Tech TV.

2000: Acquisition by CNET

In October 2000, CNET Networks, Inc. acquired ZDNet for approximately US$1.6 billion.[7] Dan Rosensweig was named President of CNET Networks reporting to CEO Shelby Bonnie. He later left CNET to work as COO of Yahoo! before eventually landing the role of CEO at Chegg.[8] ZDNet remains a core brand for CNET Networks today.

Even though it was thought by the media that the merger of CNET and ZDNet would lead to redundancy in their product offerings since they were largely similar in terms of the type of news coverage and their positions in the media world, their target audience had only 25% overlap.[9] While ZDNet catered to the tech savvy business minds, CNET was more tilted to business news and product reviews. The brands were not merged after the acquisition because both the companies had unique brand identities garnered over the years. While CNET relied on aggressive marketing to establish its presence in the news media world, ZDNet rode on the popularity of magazines such as PCMagazine and eWeek produced by Ziff Davis. ZDNet also had a substantial international presence, with operations in 23 countries and offering 15 languages.[10]

2000–2007

Following the acquisition, CNET went about redesigning the ZDNet website to align its offerings and look-and-feel with that of the CNET Networks brand. One of the significant features was the launch of "Power Center" to leverage alternate revenue streams. Power centers are content areas sponsored by technology companies such as white papers, research reports, case studies and interactive webcasts.[11]

IT Priorities was a program started by CNET, which tracked and monitored user behavior in ZDNet and across other websites in the network, to ensure that its websites were providing the right content in the right way, in keeping with enterprise IT needs.[12]

In 2001, Ziff Davis Media Inc. reached an agreement with CNET Networks Inc. and ZDNet to regain the URLs lost in the 2000 sale of Ziff Davis Inc, to Softbank Corp.[13]

Over the years, ZDNet moved beyond its historic focus on technology, and began expanding into covering political events, global warming, and the environment.

In 2005, ZDNet Government, a website for IT professionals interested and/or working in the public sector, was launched. It focuses on providing information resources to IT professionals and also on emerging technology trends in the government. This venture marked ZDNet's move into covering the news of vertical industries that its customer base had demand for.[14] Other such blogs/websites relating to vertical industries include ZDNet HealthCare, ZDNet Education and Lawgarithms.

ZDNet also increased its coverage on environmental issues concerning technology, through its blogs on sustainability and clean tech, and also through its allied website, SmartPlanet.

2008: Acquisition by CBS

In June 2008, CBS acquired CNET Networks, which included ZDNet. After the acquisition, all CNET properties were consolidated and renamed as CBS Interactive.[15] Neil Ashe was appointed President of the new venture.

2009–2010: Website redesign

The ZDNet website was redesigned in 2010 to make it more modular and navigable to other websites of the CBS Interactive network. The site was also made more interactive and sponsor-friendly, and easier to view comments.[16]

Content

The ZDNet website has a blog layout, and has about 20 blogs which cover news and updates on topics such as hardware ( processors, printers, networking, to name a few), software (Enterprise 2.0, cloud computing, databases), security, mobiles and smartphones. News relating to Microsoft, Google, Linux and Apple, and their latest products, are featured extensively on the website. The website also maintains an active online community in the form of the TalkBack feature that allows its readers to voice their views about the editorial content. In addition to news, ZDNet also offers product reviews, latest software downloads, white papers from enterprises and webcasts.

Competitors

Publications from the IDG – PCWorld, InfoWorld, NetworkWorld and CIO – offer similar content to ZDNet, though in separate publications or websites, unlike ZDNet which covers all tech topics on a single website. ZiffDavis Enterprises, from which ZDNet was created, has a dozen brands that cover enterprise technology news. TechCrunch and Gizmodo are other competitors of ZDNet. CNET, which is part of the same company as ZDNet (CBS Interactive) also has an overlapping readership though they are still different in content.

Awards and recognition

At the 14th Annual Computer Press Awards in 1999, ZDNet was adjudged the Best Overall Online Site.[17]

In 2007, the Association of Online Publishers awarded ZDNet UK under the Business Website category for its contribution to innovation in incorporating Web 2.0 and community features effectively on its site.[18]

ZDNet international editions

ZDNet Japan

A Japanese news publishing company called Asahi Interactive owns the ZDNet Japan website. According to alexa.com statistics, the japan.zdnet.com subdomain is the second most visited on ZDNet, after the blogs subdomain. Also, the ZDNet website has an overall traffic rank of 558 in Japan.[19]

ZDNet UK

The ZDNet UK Live feature displays real time news updates and comments on the website and on social media including Twitter.

ZDNet India

CNET Networks in India closed their operations in 2001, but they continue to have the jobs site of ZDNet operational.[20]

Other country editions include Australia, Asia, China, Germany, Netherlands, UK and France, in their native languages.

References

  1. ^ "ZD Net Celebrates Five Years of Success in Subscription Online Services". Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  2. ^ "Ziff Communications Company".
  3. ^ "Chegg.com Names Daniel Rosensweig as President and Chief Executive Officer". Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  4. ^ "Inc Ziff-Davis - Computer And Technical Portal, Zdnet".
  5. ^ "Inc Ziff-Davis - Computer And Technical Portal, Zdnet".
  6. ^ "ZDTV Starts Broadcasting". Retrieved 1998-11-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "CNET buys rival Ziff Davis for $1.6 billion". Retrieved 2000-06-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ "Chegg.com Names Daniel Rosensweig as President and Chief Executive Officer". Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  9. ^ "CNET Is Buying What Remains Of Ziff-Davis". Retrieved 2000-07-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ "CNET Is Buying What Remains Of Ziff-Davis". Retrieved 2000-07-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ "CNET Networks Re-launches ZDNet". Retrieved 2003-02-17.
  12. ^ "CNET Networks Re-launches ZDNet". Retrieved 2003-02-17.
  13. ^ "Ziff Davis Media to Regain URLs". Retrieved 2001-01-23.
  14. ^ "ZDNet Launches Comprehensive Site for Government IT Professionals". Retrieved 2005-11-08.
  15. ^ "CBS Corporation To Acquire CNET Networks, Inc".
  16. ^ "A Spring refresh for ZDNet". Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  17. ^ "Technology Journalists Honor the Best in Their Field". Retrieved 1999-22-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  18. ^ "ZDNet.co.uk Wins Best Business Website Award". Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  19. ^ "Alexa Statistics for ZDNet Website".
  20. ^ "CNET India Closes Up Shop". Retrieved 2001-03-20.
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