dslreports logo
 story category
Dish's Hopper Had Actually Won Best of CES
Before CBS Executives Had a Really, Really Stupid Idea

Last week we noted that CBS executives had shot themselves in the public relations foot by forcing CNET to avoid reviewing or giving awards to Dish's Hopper ad-skipping DVR, given that CBS is currently in court trying to destroy the technology for being too convenient.

While previously it was suggested that Hopper was only in the running for a CNET CES award, The Verge notes that Hopper had actually won CNET's best of show award before some upper level CBS executives decided to get involved:

quote:
Click for full size
Apparently, executives at CBS learned that the Hopper would win "Best of Show" prior to the announcement. Before the winner was unveiled, CBS Interactive News senior-vice president and General Manager Mark Larkin informed CNET's staff that the Hopper could not take the top award. The Hopper would have to be removed from consideration, and the editorial team had to re-vote and pick a new winner from the remaining choices.

Sources say that Larkin was distraught while delivering the news — at one point in tears — as he told the team that he had fought CBS executives who had made the decision.
CBS has magically ensured not only that people are talking about Hopper far more than if it had just won a CNET prize, but that they'll also be talking about how idiotic and anti-consumer CBS is for injecting itself into CNET's editorial standards. CNET writer Greg Sandoval has meanwhile resigned over the whole affair. "CNET (not being) honest about what occurred regarding Dish is unacceptable to me," said Sandoval. "We are supposed to be truth tellers."

Most recommended from 70 comments



KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

2 recommendations

KrK

Premium Member

The Media is beholding to Corporate Masters and $$$

This is part of the reason our nation continues the downward spiral.

So called news organizations are actually propaganda arms for profit and the interests of their Corporate masters. This is why unethical, immoral and illegal behavior isn't exposed and the public gets to instead read about the Kardashians or Justin Bieber's new hair style or about other political red herrings and disinformation rather then see these corporations and their Government friends put to task. In the case of CNET you see a small example at work where $$$ triumphs integrity.

It's the modern American way.