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Welcome to issue 2 of Dialogue, our client newsletter for CNET Networks UK commercial partners.
I hope you enjoy the second issue of our newsletter letting you know about our progress at CNET Networks UK. As our rapid business growth continues, so do the stories we have to tell. Amongst other stories we are delighted to let you know we have been short-listed for 7 AOP awards. Next week our 4th year of the CNET Networks UK Technology Awards comes to town, and looking at the number of entries received, these are now regarded as the accolade to win in the technology industry. Gamespot UK has enjoyed a tremendous launch, and we explain how below. I hope you enjoy the issue.
Tom Bureau, UK Managing Director
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AN UPDATE ON GAMESPOT UK
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Launched in April 2006, GameSpot UK is the latest addition to CNET Networks' family of leading UK online brands. Bringing a localised experience to UK gamers, the website has been warmly received.
GameSpot UK builds on the heritage and expertise of its mother site GameSpot.com developed over its 10-year history. In addition to US content, the new website brings the UK market something they've not had for some time: features around UK release dates, box shots and pricing; UK commerce and rental partners; UK competitions with great prizes such as a guitar and £250 travel voucher; UK-generated editorial content; editorial promotions of UK-relevant content; and an exclusive forum where the UK gaming community can meet up and chat. They love to chat: since launch the users have posted 20,000 separate comments into this forum alone.
User-generated content is an integral part of GameSpot UK's offering. Our users write reader reviews, interact with each other in the forums, keep regular blogs (and interact with other users through comments on blogs), comment on stories and features and post user videos. Our users are central to all that we do; we encourage them to read, watch, react, record, interact and rate - and to keep on telling us what they think!
As well as delivering great content, GameSpot UK has a variety of dynamic advertising solutions, notably the prestitial, site skin and video sponsorship. The prestitial allows advertisers up to a 7 second, full screen animated advert as users enter the site. The site skin offers targeted ownership of specific areas of the site with a creative background that demands attention. Finally, as pioneers of video solutions on the internet, it's only right that we offer the opportunity to run a 30 second video advert before all video content seen by a huge 1.6 million gamers every month.
For more information on our advertising solutions, contact parbinder.dhariwal@gamespot.co.uk
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SOCIAL NETWORKING - VERY WEB 2.0
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Social networking - like blogs, user-generated content, wikis, podcasting and RSS - is one of those oh-so-very-web 2.0 terms. Hold back for a second on whether you despise this catch-all which defines the latest wave of the web, a wave that is very much more about doing than seeing. Think about how social networking can help us all - especially in terms of business media.
Social networking is a misnomer in this regard. While hits such as Bebo and MySpace are certainly all about social networking (MTV and even WalMart are getting in on the act), you could argue what matters more to us is 'professional networking'.
Services such as etribes and LinkedIn are, in large part, about the connections that we used to keep on a Rolodex once upon a time. Only now the power of the network comes into play - my contact's contact is my contact, if you will. Sometimes this version of Metcalfe's Law works, sometimes the n degrees of separation just result in one worthless punt after another. (Know what it feels like to have a virtual handshake ignored?)
But take this kind of thinking to new media and it starts to get interesting. Word has it that ZDNet UK, a key horse in CNET Networks' UK stable, is taking this professional networking approach to another level.
Web 1.0 says give your readers a voice. Web 2.0 says give them a voice and a platform to interact with each other, to collaborate. Look out for ZDNet UK's new approach to engaging with readers - and letting them engage each other - later this year.
When this happens it shows us in plain view that the definition of what constitutes content is broadening. Just don't assume all publishers are comfortable with this debate.
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CNET NETWORKS UK NEWS
CNET Networks UK shortlisted at the AOP awards
We are proud to announce that CNET Networks UK has been shortlisted in seven categories at this year's AOP awards. Categories include Online Publisher of the Year, Online Advertising Sales Team of the Year and Editorial Team 2006.
www.aopconferenceand
awards.org.uk/shortlist.asp
The silicon.com CIO Forum - 26/09/2006
Providing an unrivalled stage for the exchange of ideas and information, the CIO Forum brings together the UK's top CIOs and heads of IT to examine the key issues facing them in their roles. Through keynote presentations, one-on-one interviews, panel discussions and highly interactive workshops, the influential audience gains powerful insights into what makes a leading CIO. This year's impressive line up of speakers includes Rene Carayol, Peter Cochrane, Victor Kemeny, Darin Brumby, Peter Dew and other industry leaders.
www.silicon.com/cioforum
ZDNET 10TH BIRTHDAY
On July 10th this year ZDNet UK officially celebrated its 10th birthday. Click here to find out what was making the headlines when we launched way back in 1996.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk
silicon.com Special Reports
Looking for an in-depth analysis of IT in China? Perhaps ID Management or SME procurement fit your needs? If so, silicon special reports will deliver you a host of resources from news and commentary, research, photo stories and whitepapers that will be sure to keep you ahead of the game.
If you are interested in sponsoring a special report please contact mark.brown@cnet.com
CNET Direct Storage Email
CNET Direct is launching a new programme to coincide with the Storage Expo show in London on 18th/19th October. We will broadcast a storage themed resource email to 72,000 UK storage decision makers, featuring logos, URL and white papers/case studies from up to 9 advertisers. The email is scheduled to be broadcast at the end of September. Click here to see a mock-up of the email. For further information please contact diana.abebrese@cnet.com
silicon.com launches Retail and Leisure section
Launched on August 10th 2006 and aimed at business and IT decision-makers in the retail and leisure sectors, the new section reports on the technology choices of organisations as diverse as supermarkets and high street retailers - through to sports stadiums, hotels and tourist attractions. http://www.silicon.com
/retailandleisure
Help us bridge the digital divide
A team from CNET Networks UK is taking on a cycle challenge through Kenya to raise money for the charity Computer Aid *. The gruelling 5 day challenge will see us cycle over 400km from Mount Kenya to Lake Victoria. We’ll be cycling across rough terrain in temperatures over
30°C. Read more about our challenge here. CNET Networks UK is covering the team's costs, and we're aiming to raise £10,000 in sponsorship – enough to set-up at least five computing centres in
Kenyan schools. With your help we can do it. Please sponsor us at http://www.justgiving.com/
computeraidkenya
*UK Charity registration No. 109256
POLL
ZDNet UK celebrates it's 10th birthday this year.
How long have you been in the technology industry?
UPCOMING EVENTS
silicon.com CIO Forum
26 September, London
The third annual CIO Forum returns in September gathering together the most senior line-up of leading CIOs.
http://www.silicon.com/
cioforum
The CNET Networks UK Technology Awards
26 September, London
An exclusive opportunity to network and celebrate all that is good about the UK technology industry.
http://www.cnetnetworks.
co.uk/awards
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