Esther Dyson to join CNET

CNET Networks is to buy EDventure Holdings, the global information services company founded by former ICANN chair Esther Dyson. The planned acquisition will be a cash and stock transaction, with Dyson joining CNET Networks as editor-at-large.

Esther will continue to drive the direction and growth of EDventure’s two primary properties: Release 1.0, a monthly technology report, and PC Forum, an annual technology conference for executives, which starts this weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"As an interactive content leader in a number of categories, we are committed to the continued growth of our business technology Web sites, and Esther and her team will build on our tradition of high quality journalism by helping our large audience of decision makers capitalise on the future of technology," said Shelby Bonnie, chairman and chief executive of CNET Networks.

CNET Networks is the parent company of CNET Networks UK, which publishes ZDNet UK, silicon.com and owns the European Technology Forum events group.

Through EDventure's long-established network of global leaders, the acquisition enables CNET Networks to deepen its ties with C-level and IT executive audiences, said the company. "The acquisition adds two successful fee-based content brands with significant growth potential to our award-winning business technology offerings, alongside News.com, ZDNet and TechRepublic."

"CNET Networks espouses our vision for the future of interactive content as a conversation," said Esther Dyson, in the same statement. "This, combined with the massive size of their targeted business technology audience makes CNET Networks the ideal platform to communicate with the broad community of IT influencers and decision makers worldwide."