:Red Ventures

Red Ventures was founded as Red F{{Cite web |date=2007-11-05 |title=Staying in Red brings new life |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/11/05/story2.html?b=1194238800%255E1544661 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326022734/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/11/05/story2.html?b=1194238800%5E1544661 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=bizjournals.com}} on September 29, 1999,{{cite web|title=Red Ventures LLC|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/2869270Z:US|website=Bloomberg|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114001841/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/2869270Z:US|url-status=live}} in Fort Mill, South Carolina by Ric Elias and Dan Feldstein.{{Cite web |last=Elkins |first=Ken |date=2010-12-29 |title=Ric Elias and Dan Feldstein, Red Ventures |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/print-edition/2010/12/31/Ric-Elias-Dan-Feldstein.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=bizjournals.com |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326022456/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/print-edition/2010/12/31/Ric-Elias-Dan-Feldstein.html |url-status=live }} In 2003, it was launched as Red Ventures, beginning with DIRECTV (DirectstarTV brand).[http://www.redventures.com/executives/ric.php Leadership: Ric Elias] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604162349/http://www.redventures.com/executives/ric.php|date=June 4, 2008}}, Red Ventures Website, retrieved July 30, 2008. It acquired Modern Consumer in 2008.[http://directmag.com/disciplines/red-ventures-acquire-modern-consumer-0624/ "Red Ventures Acquires Lead Generation Firm Modern Consumer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805142343/http://directmag.com/disciplines/red-ventures-acquire-modern-consumer-0624/|date=August 5, 2008}}, Direct Magazine, June 23, 2008 In 2010, General Atlantic invested in Red Ventures, and its managing director Anton Levy joined the board of directors.{{Cite press release |title=Red Ventures Announces Growth Capital Investment by General Atlantic |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-ventures-announces-growth-capital-investment-by-general-atlantic-100520839.html |last=Ventures |first=Red |access-date=August 16, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816025138/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-ventures-announces-growth-capital-investment-by-general-atlantic-100520839.html |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |website=Prnewswire.com}}{{cite web |title=General Atlantic Team - Anton J. Levy |url=http://www.generalatlantic.com/people/anton-j-levy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824152639/http://www.generalatlantic.com/people/anton-j-levy |archive-date=August 24, 2016 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |website=General Atlantic website}}{{cite web |date=2010 |title=Red Ventures Announces Growth Capital Investment by General Atlantic |url=http://www.generalatlantic.com/media/archive/red-ventures-announces-growth-capital-investment-by-general-atlantic/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315085644/http://www.generalatlantic.com/media/archive/red-ventures-announces-growth-capital-investment-by-general-atlantic/ |archive-date=Mar 15, 2017 |access-date=January 15, 2016 |website=General Atlantic}} They acquired homeinsurance.com in 2012, which included a satellite office in Wilmington, North Carolina.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Jen |date=Apr 3, 2012 |title=Red Ventures buys HomeInsurance.com |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2012/04/03/red-ventures-buys-homeinsurancecom.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803181750/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2012/04/03/red-ventures-buys-homeinsurancecom.html |archive-date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2021 |website=Charlotte Business Journal}}

In 2015, the company got a $250 million investment from Silver Lake.{{cite web|date=January 7, 2015|last1=De La Merced|first1=Michael|title=Silver Lake Makes Big Bet on Red Ventures, a Digital Marketing Company|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/silver-lake-makes-big-bet-in-red-ventures-a-digital-marketing-company/|website=The New York Times|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=December 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219044257/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/silver-lake-makes-big-bet-in-red-ventures-a-digital-marketing-company/|url-status=live}} That same year, it doubled the size of its headquarters{{cite web|date=November 4, 2015|last1=Portillo|first1=Ely|title=Red Ventures breaks ground on project to double size of its headquarters|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/article42956325.html|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307004336/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/article42956325.html|url-status=live}} and bought postal services company Imagitas from Pitney Bowes for $310 million.{{cite web|date=May 28, 2015|last1=Elkins|first1=Ken|title=Red Ventures buying company with important postal contract|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2015/05/red-ventures-buying-company-with-important-postal.html|website=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031235810/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2015/05/red-ventures-buying-company-with-important-postal.html|url-status=live}} The acquisition was in large part due to Imagitas' exclusive 10 year partnership with USPS{{Cite web |title=Brands - MyMove {{!}} Red Ventures |url=https://prod.redventures.com/about/brands/mymove |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=prod.redventures.com |language=en}}{{dead link|date=December 2023}} to facilitate the official Change of Address process, which roughly 40 million people used each year.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-19 |title=Imagitas, a New England Company, Signs 10-year Contract with US Postal Service |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110119005362/en/Imagitas-a-New-England-Company-Signs-10-year-Contract-with-US-Postal-Service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701180109/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110119005362/en/Imagitas-a-New-England-Company-Signs-10-year-Contract-with-US-Postal-Service |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Business Wire |language=en}}

Red Ventures acquired Soda.com in 2016.{{Cite web |title=We Are Red Ventures |url=https://www.redventures.com/media/red-ventures-acquires-seattle-based-soda.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307045842/https://www.redventures.com/media/red-ventures-acquires-seattle-based-soda.html |archive-date=March 7, 2017 |access-date=March 6, 2017 |website=Red Ventures |language=en}} In 2017, it acquired several companies including Choose Energy, Allconnect{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2017 |title=Red Ventures Acquires Allconnect |url=https://www.redventures.com/press/press-releases/red-ventures-acquires-allconnect |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231082220/https://redventures.com/press/press-releases/red-ventures-acquires-allconnect |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |access-date=September 7, 2017 |website=Red Ventures |language=en}} and Bankrate, Inc. (including The Points Guy).{{Cite web |title=Red Ventures Announces Closing of Acquisition of Bankrate, Inc. |url=https://www.redventures.com/media/red-ventures-announces-closing-of-acquisition-of-bankrate.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020938/https://www.redventures.com/media/red-ventures-announces-closing-of-acquisition-of-bankrate.html |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |website=Red Ventures |language=en}} Bankrate was acquired for $1.24 billion in cash in a deal announced July 3, 2017.{{cite web|last1=Stratton|first1=Ali|title=Personal Finance Website Bankrate to be Acquired by Marketing Firm Red Ventures|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/personal-finance-website-bankrate-to-be-acquired-by-marketing-firm-red-ventures-1499085529|date=July 3, 2017|website=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012153817/https://www.wsj.com/articles/personal-finance-website-bankrate-to-be-acquired-by-marketing-firm-red-ventures-1499085529|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=July 3, 2020|last1=Bond|first1=Shannon|last2=Samson|first2=Adam|title=Bankrate website to be bought by Red Ventures for $1.24bn|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a6eb158c-5ff6-11e7-91a7-502f7ee26895|website=Financial Times|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505105051/https://www.ft.com/content/a6eb158c-5ff6-11e7-91a7-502f7ee26895|url-status=live}} HigherEducation.com{{Cite web |title=Red Ventures Acquires HigherEducation.com |url=https://www.redventures.com/media/redventures-acquires-highereducationcom.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514013716/https://www.redventures.com/media/redventures-acquires-highereducationcom.html |archive-date=May 14, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Red Ventures}} and Healthline were acquired in 2019.{{Cite web |title=Red Ventures Acquires Healthline Media |url=https://www.redventures.com/media/redventures-acquires-healthline.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807122402/https://www.redventures.com/media/redventures-acquires-healthline.html |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=August 7, 2019 |website=Red Ventures |language=en}}

By 2020, the company had grown into an international presence with more than 100 brands, 3,000 employees, and operations in the United Kingdom and Brazil.{{cite web |last1=Sakoui |first1=Anousha |date=September 14, 2020 |title=ViacomCBS sells CNET Media for less than half what CBS paid in 2008 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-09-14/viacom-sells-cnet-media-to-marketing-company-red-ventures-for-500-million |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120233058/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-09-14/viacom-sells-cnet-media-to-marketing-company-red-ventures-for-500-million |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=December 6, 2020 |website=The Los Angeles Times}} On September 14, 2020, Red Ventures agreed to purchase the CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS for $500 million.{{cite news|last1=Mullin|first1=Benjamin|title=ViacomCBS to Sell CNET to Red Ventures for $500 Million|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/viacomcbs-nears-deal-to-sell-cnet-to-red-ventures-for-500-million-11600057067|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=September 14, 2020|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010143625/https://www.wsj.com/articles/viacomcbs-nears-deal-to-sell-cnet-to-red-ventures-for-500-million-11600057067|url-status=live}} This gave the company ownership of publications including GameSpot, Metacritic, TV Guide, Chowhound, GameFAQs, Giant Bomb, Cord Cutters News, Comic Vine, and ZDNET.{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=September 14, 2020 |title=ViacomCBS Reaches Deal to Sell CNET for $500 Million to Marketing Firm Red Ventures |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/cnet-viacomcbs-sells-red-ventures-1234768810/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201219232151/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/cnet-viacomcbs-sells-red-ventures-1234768810/ |archive-date=December 19, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Variety}}{{cite web |last=Asimov |first=Eric |date=2022-03-10 |title=Chowhound Closes After 25 Years of Food Obsession, Wisdom, and Debate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/dining/chowhound-closing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020161746/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/dining/chowhound-closing.html |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |access-date=October 21, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite web |last1=Gach |first1=Ethan |date=19 January 2023 |title=Layoffs Hit GameSpot, Giant Bomb Just Months After Fandom Buys Them |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2023/01/layoffs-hit-gamespot-giant-bomb-just-months-after-fandom-buys-them/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314231105/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2023/01/layoffs-hit-gamespot-giant-bomb-just-months-after-fandom-buys-them/ |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |access-date=10 October 2023 |website=Kotaku Australia}} On December 1, 2020, Red Ventures bought Lonely Planet from Tennessee-based NC2 Media for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web|date=December 1, 2020|last1=Muccigrosso|first1=Catherine|title=Red Ventures gobbles up another familiar brand name. This time it's travel related.|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/whats-in-store/article247525910.html|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204142928/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/whats-in-store/article247525910.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Burke-Kennedy |first1=Eoin |title=Lonely Planet sold to US digital marketing group for undisclosed sum |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/lonely-planet-sold-to-us-digital-marketing-group-for-undisclosed-sum-1.4424895 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205084250/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/lonely-planet-sold-to-us-digital-marketing-group-for-undisclosed-sum-1.4424895 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=December 6, 2020 |website=Irish Times}}

In 2021, the company had 4,500 employees and 751 million readers per month.{{Cite web |last=Stenberg |first=Mark |date=2022-08-04 |title=CNET Hires Condé Nast Chief Data Officer |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/cnet-performance-advertising-karthic-bala/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=adweek.com |language=en-US |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811190730/https://www.adweek.com/media/cnet-performance-advertising-karthic-bala/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Ben |date=2021-08-15 |title=You've Never Heard of the Biggest Digital Media Company in America |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/business/media/red-ventures-digital-media.html |access-date=2022-08-11 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811190905/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/business/media/red-ventures-digital-media.html |url-status=live }} It acquired Healthgrades.com from Mercury Healthcare for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite web |title=RV Health, A Red Ventures Business, Acquires Healthgrades.com from Mercury Healthcare {{!}} Red Ventures |url=https://www.redventures.com/press/press-releases/rv-health-a-red-ventures-business-acquires-healthgradescom-from-mercury-healthcare |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902203509/https://www.redventures.com/press/press-releases/rv-health-a-red-ventures-business-acquires-healthgradescom-from-mercury-healthcare |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=2021-09-02 |website=Red Ventures |language=en}} It closed Chowhound that year. In 2022, the company sold the websites GameSpot, Metacritic, TV Guide, GameFAQs, Giant Bomb, Comic Vine and Cord Cutters to Fandom, Inc..{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2022-10-03 |title=TV Guide, Metacritic, GameSpot Acquired by Fandom in $55M Deal With Red Ventures |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/tv-guide-metacritic-gamespot-acquisition-fandom-1235231819/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207000619/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/tv-guide-metacritic-gamespot-acquisition-fandom-1235231819/ |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} That year, it partnered with UnitedHealth Group's Optum Health to launch RVO Health.{{Cite web |last=Lagasse |first=Jeff |date=2022-07-13 |title=Optum, Red Ventures partner on consumer healthcare platform |url=https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/optum-red-ventures-partner-consumer-healthcare-platform |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908181708/https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/optum-red-ventures-partner-consumer-healthcare-platform |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=Healthcare Finance News |language=en}}

In May 2023, Red Ventures agreed to pay the United States $2.75 million to resolve a whistleblower's allegations that they violated the False Claims Act{{Cite press release |title=Pollock Cohen LLP: Red Ventures, LLC And MYMOVE, LLC Agree To Pay $2.75 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pollock-cohen-llp-red-ventures-llc-and-mymove-llc-agree-to-pay-2-75-million-to-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations-301838889.html |language=en |last=LLP |first=Pollock Cohen |access-date=2023-07-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701180109/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pollock-cohen-llp-red-ventures-llc-and-mymove-llc-agree-to-pay-2-75-million-to-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations-301838889.html |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |website=prnewswire.com}} by underpaying on contracts connected to the USPS change-of-address process.{{Cite news |last=Marusak |first=Joe |title=A Red Ventures company 'cheated' postal service, will pay $2.7M to settle case, feds say |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article275946836.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531193236/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article275946836.html |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=September 17, 2023 |work=Charlotte Observer}}

On August 6, 2024, The New York Times reported that Red Ventures was selling the CNET Media Group for $100 million to Ziff Davis, with the deal expected to close in the third quarter of 2024.{{Cite news |last=Mullin |first=Benjamin |date=2024-08-06 |title=CNET to Be Sold to Ziff Davis in Sign of Possible Media Deals to Come |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/business/media/cnet-ziff-davis.html |access-date=2024-08-06 }}

In 2023, The Verge described the business model of the company as "publish[ing] content designed to rank highly in Google search for "high-intent" queries and ... monet[izing] that traffic with lucrative affiliate links". Stories are aimed at people who are likely to buy something ("high-intent"), with a particular focus on financial content such as credit cards, as the media company gets payments in the hundreds of dollars for each customer that buys a credit card.{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=James |date=2023-01-19 |title=Inside CNET's AI-powered SEO money machine |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/19/23562966/cnet-ai-written-stories-red-ventures-seo-marketing |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109043552/https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/19/23562966/cnet-ai-written-stories-red-ventures-seo-marketing |url-status=live }} Red Ventures also aims to get paid for guiding readers to buy drugs and medical consultations.

The characterization came after the website Futurism found several articles published by Red Ventures properties, including CNET, were quietly written by artificial intelligence software,{{Cite web |title=CNET Is Quietly Publishing Entire Articles Generated By AI |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/cnet-publishing-articles-by-ai |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Futurism |date=January 15, 2023 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125090724/https://futurism.com/the-byte/cnet-publishing-articles-by-ai |url-status=live }} with the stories containing numerous inaccuracies and instances of plagiarism.{{Cite web |title=CNET's AI Journalist Appears to Have Committed Extensive Plagiarism |url=https://futurism.com/cnet-ai-plagiarism |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Futurism |date=January 23, 2023 |archive-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124193105/https://futurism.com/cnet-ai-plagiarism |url-status=live }} Red Ventures announced layoffs at CNET a few weeks after the reports from The Verge and Futurism, which the company says were unrelated.{{Cite web |title=CNET is doing big layoffs just weeks after AI-generated stories came to light |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/2/23622231/cnet-layoffs-ai-articles-seo-red-ventures |first1=Mia |last1=Sato |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=The Verge |date=March 2, 2023 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302223118/https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/2/23622231/cnet-layoffs-ai-articles-seo-red-ventures |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=CNET Hits Staff With Layoffs After Disastrous Pivot to AI Journalism |url=https://futurism.com/cnet-layoffs-ai |first1=Noor |last1=Al-Sibai |first2=Jon |last2=Christian |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=Futurism |date=March 2, 2023 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302223738/https://futurism.com/cnet-layoffs-ai |url-status=live }}

Futurism additionally highlighted undisclosed AI-generated, SEO-focused content produced by Red Ventures's education division (internally RV EDU). This content promotes schools with which Red Ventures maintains affiliate agreements, such as University of Phoenix (a for-profit college owned by Apollo Global Management) and Liberty University (founded by conservative activist and Baptist pastor Jerry Falwell). Websites operated by RV EDU include BestColleges.com, TheBestSchools.org, NurseJournal.org, ComputerScience.org, and Psychology.org, "as well as numerous sites with domain names that imply they're nonprofits".{{Cite web |title=Leaked Messages Show How CNET's Parent Company Really Sees AI-Generated Content |url=https://futurism.com/leaked-messages-cnet-red-ventures-ai |first1=Jon |last1=Christian |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Futurism |date=February 2023 |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216172519/https://futurism.com/leaked-messages-cnet-red-ventures-ai |url-status=live }}

In July 2023, Elias announced that AI-generated content, both editorial content and targeted advertisements, would be a major part of the company's business model moving forward.{{Cite web |title=CNET's Parent Company Preparing to Kickstart the AI Content Engine |url=https://futurism.com/cnet-parent-company-ai-content-engine |first1=Maggie |last1=Harrison |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Futurism |date=July 2, 2023 |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010044359/https://futurism.com/cnet-parent-company-ai-content-engine |url-status=live }}

Following CNET publishing AI-generated stories containing errors and plagiarized content, as well as incorrect attributions to human writers, the Wikipedia community downgraded CNET's reliability, such that all content since the Red Ventures acquisition should not be considered reliable.{{Cite web |last=Dupré |first=Maggie Harrison |date=29 February 2024 |title=Wikipedia No Longer Considers CNET a "Generally Reliable" Source After AI Scandal |url=https://futurism.com/wikipedia-cnet-unreliable-ai |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Futurism |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229230807/https://futurism.com/wikipedia-cnet-unreliable-ai |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=2024-02-29 |title=AI-generated articles prompt Wikipedia to downgrade CNET's reliability rating |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/02/wikipedia-downgrades-cnets-reliability-rating-after-ai-generated-articles/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=March 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305194215/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/02/wikipedia-downgrades-cnets-reliability-rating-after-ai-generated-articles/ |url-status=live }} Employees unionized in response to layoffs and the risk to their professional reputations.{{cite magazine |last1=Harrington |first1=Caitlin |title=CNET Published AI-Generated Stories. Then Its Staff Pushed Back |url=https://www.wired.com/story/cnet-published-ai-generated-stories-then-its-staff-pushed-back/ |magazine=Wired}}{{cite news |last1=Szczypinski |first1=Sarah |title=CNET Was Treating Staff Like Robots Long Before Publishing AI-Generated Articles |url=https://futurism.com/cnet-ai-journalist-essay |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=Futurism}} Red Ventures subsequently attempted to sell CNET for $250 million; the approximate halving of CNET's value under Red Ventures' ownership is attributed to interest rates, a slower ad market, and potential buyers expressing concern at the reputational damage of the AI scandals.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |date=2024-01-16 |title=Scoop: Red Ventures explores sale of CNET |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/01/16/red-ventures-cnet-sale-talks |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Axios |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Harrison Dupré |first1=Maggie |title=CNET's Publisher Having Trouble Selling It Due to AI Scandal |url=https://futurism.com/cnet-for-sale-ai |work=Futurism}}

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