The Consumer Electronics Association, operators of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) said CNet will no longer administer the “Best of CES” awards at the annual electronics extravaganza after it execs at CNet parent CBS Corp. disqualified Dish’s Hopper DVR with Sling as the winner, over pending litigation on Dish’s AutoHop ad skipping service.
CEA said in a release it will look for a new partner for the awards, and also issued a “Best in Show” award to the Dish Hopper with Sling.
“CES has enjoyed a long and productive partnership with CNet and the Best of CES awards,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president for events and conferences at CEA. “However, we are concerned the new review policy will have a negative impact on our brand. We look forward to receiving new ideas to recognize the ‘best of the best” products.”
“This year’s finalist selection process goes against everything we stand for,” she added in a blog.
CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro also harshly criticized CBS: “We are shocked that the ‘Tiffany’ network which is known for its high journalism standards would bar all its reporters from favorably describing classes of technology the network does not like.”
RBR-TVBR observation: And the damage just keeps on coming…
