- ZUMAPRESS.com
By Shalini Ramachandran and John Jannarone
Perhaps it could be called the day CBS skipped over Dish.
Dish Network ’s infamous ad-skipping digital video recorder was dropped from consideration for a CNET award because of a legal battle underway between Dish and CNET’s parent, CBS, relating to the device, CBS confirmed.
In a statement, CBS Interactive, the division of CBS which houses CNET, said the device, the Hopper with Sling, “was removed from consideration due to active litigation involving our parent company CBS Corp.”
CBS Interactive added that “we will no longer be reviewing products manufactured by companies with which we are in litigation with respect to such product.”
The device in question, the Hopper with Sling, is the latest version of Dish’s controversial Hopper digital video recorder. Introduced last year, the device includes a feature that made it very easy for users to skip over ads in television broadcasts. Launch of the feature prompted litigation from major broadcasters. CBS, along with several other companies, sued Dish in federal court in California, accusing it of copyright violation.
The latest version, which also contains the ad-skipping feature, was introduced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and reviewed this week by CNET. The review described the device as “pretty cutting-edge stuff” that “helps Dish make a strong case that its HD DVR is the most advanced out there.” It added that the DVR system “borders on having almost everything you could possibly want.”
After the review, CNET named the device as a finalist for its “Best of CES Awards” which were decided Thursday.
Dish issued a statement after being informed that its device had been pulled from consideration.
“This action has nothing to do with the merits of our new product,” said Dish Chief Executive Joe Clayton said in a statement. He said Dish was “saddened that CNET’s staff is being denied its editorial independence because of CBS’ heavy handed tactics.”
Consumer Electronics Association president Gary Shapiro said he was “extremely disappointed that CBS has interfered with CNET’s Best of CES awards.”
And the winner, after all this? the Razer Edge gaming tablet.
-With additional reporting by Keach Hagey
You have to love the left wing media of which CBS and NBC stand proudly at the front of the line. Shame on you CNET for allowing these 2 networks to back you into a corner while you chose to sneak out the back door with the tail between the legs. Oh yea, how did that CES show in Vegas do this week. Still waiting for anyone to tell me it was onderful..
I have not lost any respect for CNET–just for CBS. I am betting CNET was against this decision and their hands were tied.
I’m not a fan of Dish, but CNET pretty much lost all credibility with me over this. We’ll rank products, only as long as our corporate masters deem them OK to be included. That’s just weak.
Well, so much for journalistic integrity of CNET, I guess I will pass looking to them for any opinion as any would be tainted.
It appears to me that Gary Shapiro has hated broadcasters for decades.