May 16, 2008 at 1:14pm

Lynne d Johnson

Media reports, as well as the blogosphere, all point at this merger ending in one terrible experience of two laggards combining forces to become a better media company that really does nothing better at all. But, paidcontent reported this morning, http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-cbs-cnet-ad-execs-bless-the-marriag..., that Madison Ave. is in love with this deal.

"The company’s $1.8 billion purchase of CNET (NSDQ: CNET) Networks could help alter that image, even as CBS has made notable strides on its own with CBS Interactive and digital acquisitions like WallStrip and Last.fm. I spoke with several digital ad agency execs about their initial impressions and, so far, it’s hard to find much downside for either company. The main points: CBS gets access to a younger audience interested in tech products - meaning, unless CBS flubs things somehow, it will have an easier time attracting consumer electronics marketers, in much the same way having MarketWatch brought in financial services advertisers."