Back in 2009, TechCrunch Founder Michael Arrington wrote that CNET (and parent company CBS) were sniffing around gdgt, the then-brand-new community/review site/blog by Peter Rojas and Ryan Block. While CNET was considering an investment at the time, an acquisition was said not to be an option.
Oh, how time can change things. Two years later, we’re not only hearing that CNET is now in talks to acquire gdgt, but also that the deal could be announced as early as this week.
Our tipster was unable to provide any details on the financial terms of the deal — these details are, presumably, still being worked out. Even if the deal goes through, we’re told that gdgt’s new partnership with Engadget (who, like TechCrunch, is owned by AOL) will not be impacted.
And what about Block and Rojas? The deal would presumably be structured to try and keep them on board for as long as possible.
Though not often mentioned as one to snatch up other companies, this wouldn’t be CNET’s first acquisition. They acquired mySimon and ZDNet in 2000, the TechTracker network (VersionTracker, MacFixit, etc) in 2007, China’s 55bbs.com in 2008, and, coincidentally, a technology product database company called GDT way back in 1999.
Gdgt co-founder Ryan Block politely declined to comment.
Update: An investor in the company reached out to us and says there is no deal with Cnet or even any talks. We’ll take his denial at face value at this point and admit we may have gotten this one wrong.