• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 10, 2013

Dish Network has charged CBS Corp. with censoring its CNET site. Dish said in a statement that CBS directed the tech site to no longer consider a Dish product for an award, since CBS is engaged in litigation looking to shut it down.

The Dish Hopper DVR with Slingbox capability had been nominated by CNET for a "Best of CES" award at the Consumer Electronics Show. But CNET then posted a statement on its site saying it had been "removed from consideration due to active litigation involving our parent company CBS Corp. We will no longer be reviewing products manufactured by companies with which we are in litigation with respect to such product."

The Big Four broadcast networks are in litigation with Dish charging the Dish Hopper’s functionality that automatically removes all commercials from some of their shows is illegal.

"We are saddened that CNET’s staff is being denied its editorial independence because of CBS’ heavy-handed tactics," Dish CEO Joe Clayton stated. "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."