CES: CNET Yanks Hopper From 'Best Of' Competition

Dish calls it censorship and an "insult" to consumers

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/10/2013 7:03:44 PM

Complete Coverage: CES 2013

CNET removed Dish Network's Hopper with Slingbox place-shifting technology from consideration as a finalist for its Best of CES Awards, the winners of which were announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Thursday.

"The Dish Hopper with Sling was removed from consideration due to active litigation involving our parent company CBS Corp.," said CNET on its Web site. "We will no longer be reviewing products manufactured by companies with which we are in litigation with respect to such product."

CBS and other nets are suing Dish over the ad-skipping Hopper technology, arguing it threatens their business model.

Dish said it was disappointed with what it called CBS' interference with the CES awards.

"We are saddened that CNET's staff is being denied its editorial independence because of CBS' heavy-handed tactics," said Dish President Joe Clayton. "This action has nothing to do with the merits of our new product.  Hopper with Sling is all about consumer choice and control over the TV experience.  That CBS, which owns CNET.com, would censor that message is insulting to consumers."

He said he expected to continue to have a "productive relationship" with CNET, which had initially posted a positive review of the Hopper/Sling combo, leading to its inclusion among award finalists, said Dish.