It’s less than two months old, and GDGT is already getting some high profile attention, and maybe even a few acquisition sniffs.
One of our reliable sources told us today that they had reason to believe both CBS/CNET and Amazon were considering acquiring the company. After some digging, we’ve confirmed that CBS has considered investing in GDGT and that their subsidiary CNET has ongoing partnership discussions, but isn’t considering an acquisition right now. Amazon, though, is more interesting. They’ve been doing quiet background due diligence on GDGT’s founders and developers, we’ve heard, which is an indication that they may be interested in buying.
Amazon has experimented with pure content sites the last few years, launching a bunch of blogs and even buying UK-based DPReview, a camera review blog, in 2007. Content, particularly reviews, are great for SEO and cross promotion. And to Amazon’s credit, they haven’t defiled DPReview much at all.
…and GDGT is certainly off to an amazing start. They had a massive 4.7 million pageview traffic day back in June, before they launched the main site. Compete shows a nice spike in U.S. visitors, without the usual post launch sag (yet).
GDGT was founded by former Engadget editors-in-chief Peter Rojas and Ryan Block. Last summer we broke the news about the new venture.
The company has raised around half a million dollars in an angel round led by True Ventures and Betaworks, plus a number of angel investors.
GDGT declined to comment on this story.
i suspect it’s less to do with the traffic and more to do with the founders. wish them luck
Impressive that even Amazon is looking into this. Especially impressive that it’s not even 2 months old with talks of acquisition. A+
I haven’t been using GDGT much but am considering using it ore often. I knew about the website ever since the launch, but didn’t make an account. However I did about a week ago, and have yet to post a gadget. See more that Amazon might be interested in the company baffles me, for for the reason that GDGT has not been around very long. I’m interested in seeing where this leads.
Keep an eye on this new multi-media search engine launching soon.Heard about it and it looks promising.
It will be connected to all mobile networks worldwide(source of revenue) and partnering up with the biggest brands known to mankind,interms of revenue this will be the biggest on the net.Can’t wait to see how this turns out.See demo site below:
http://www.yaffflezone.com
man I wish i started gdgt .. good luck!
gdgt is what cnet’s should have been all along, but i’m not sure there is enough innovation @ gdgt right now versus just a well executed idea. although, that has a lot of merit / value. the real value will be in understanding users clear wants and wishlists.
their traffic didn’t last very long. not sure what will happen to this site but it will probably take longer than two months.
This is a great site if you are into all the latest and greatest in technology. This stuff is difficult to keep up with sometimes.
Does no one else think that the Peter Rojas bio pic is hilarious?
Great site if you are into all the latest and greatest in technology.
I’d like to buy a vowel for Peter Rojas (RCRD LBL and GDGT) for $200.
A strong non-fan for both Rojas and Block whose arrogance continually overshadows the very limited talent. I’ve visited the site and don’t see anything I can’t get @ Crunchgear, Engadget or Gizmodo.
There are surely opportunities / gaps in CBS and Amazon content that could be filled without dealing w/ these two (understanding the user purchase and purchasing a potential competitor). I’d rather see some risks taken on more plucky and likable no-names for their respective gadget offerings.
I love the GDGT podcast.
Do not get the web site at all.
Unless I missed something this is supposed to be a site where people spend hours setting up a semi-worship-like list of their old gadgets.
How fun…
And the comments – are just a train wreck. Come on Peter and Ryan know what it’s like to deal with open comment systems their theirs. Unless your the first in the comments you’re going to get very little notice once the newness wears off.
If this is true it’s little more than an employment contract for the two founds who’ve done a kick ass job in my opinion on their podcasts and live blog.
To say GDGT is just a social site to list your gadgets is like saying Fandango is just a site to buy movie tickets or AAA is just a roadside service. There is something much bigger going on here and I suspect gadget brands will be knocking at the door to get at the database they are building.
So it is not just CBS and Amazon who are after GDGT.