CNET's Free, Live ''Holiday Helpdesk'' Online Call-in Show Provides Tech Gift Buying Recommendations and Advice.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Expanded Holiday Gift Guide Includes "10 Mistakes to Avoid," "Holiday Hint Cards," and Many More Features to Help Shoppers Find the Perfect Tech Gift This Season

CNET (Nasdaq:CNET) (www.cnet.com), the trusted resource for people interested in enhancing their lives with personal technology, today announced its first-ever "Holiday Helpdesk" (http://reviews.cnet.com), a live streaming video call-in show featuring CNET's expert editors on-hand to answer people's questions. The show, which will air November 15 through December 17, will provide consumers personalized help and advice on the latest technologies so they can purchase the best and most appropriate gifts for their friends and family this holiday season.

Holiday Helpdesk will be hosted by popular CNET editor-at-large Brian Cooley, who makes frequent appearances as the technology expert on CNN, CNBC and many more local appearances. Brian will team with a different CNET product expert each day, addressing popular tech categories including desktop and laptop computers, digital camcorders, digital music players and services, televisions, home theater, digital cameras, and handheld devices like PDAs and cellphones. Brian and his guest will also provide insight on topics such as last-minute gift ideas and online shopping tips.

Throughout its month-long run, the show will air weekdays on CNET.com from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST/2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST . Questions will be answered on a first-come, first-serve basis by phone [phone]-CNET) and email ([e-mail]).

"With so many products to choose from this year, the Holiday Helpdesk will be a great way for shoppers to learn from the experts, so they can make their gift buying choices with confidence," said Candice Meyers, senior vice president of CNET.

Shoppers who are unable to view or participate in the live program can email their questions to the Holiday Shopping Q&A at [e-mail] with "holiday" in the subject line. Answered by CNET's editors, the Holiday Shopping Q&A (http://reviews.cnet.com) will address common technology gift-buying questions that weren't taken during the live call-in show. Answers will be organized by topic so it's easy to access the desired information 24 hours, 7 days a week throughout the holiday shopping season.

Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Helpdesk is one of many features CNET has created for shoppers this season, in addition to the Annual Holiday Gift Guide, which can be found at http://holiday.cnet.com.

"This year, 76 percent of U.S. consumers are planning to buy at least one consumer electronic product as a gift(1). More than ever this year; we are ready for the onslaught of millions of smart shoppers who will look to us to guide them," added Meyers.

In addition to covering the latest tech product categories, this year's gift guide also covers "Games and Gear" and once again recommends gifts by categories such as mom, dad, son, daughter, wife, husband and friend. Other features include:

--Ultimate Picks for Enthusiasts -- A guide to tech gear for people interested in collections and hobbies, from digital photography to gaming.

--Holiday Hint Cards -- An amusing way to send a gift hint to loved ones, linking them directly to the desired product featured in the Holiday Gift Guide.

--10 Mistakes to Avoid -- Back by popular demand, this section has expanded to include games and gear, and more information for smart holiday shopping.

--Smart Shopper -- A weekly column by CNET editor-at-large Janice Chen, which will help budget-conscious shoppers find the best tech deals.

--Stocking Stuffers -- Ideas for products ranging from $25 to $100 that can fit into holiday stockings.

About CNET (www.cnet.com)

CNET, a property of CNET Networks, Inc., is dedicated to helping people buy and use personal technology to enhance and enrich their lives. CNET's award winning editorial staff reviews thousands of products each year, providing expert and unbiased advice on what products to buy. The site also offers help and how-to features enhanced with video content that visually shows consumers how to get the most out of technology once they own it. And, with an extensive directory of more than 200,000 products and price comparisons, CNET also gives consumers the most up-to-date and efficient shopping resource on the Web.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a premier global interactive content company that informs, entertains, and connects large, engaged audiences around topics of high information need or personal passion. The company focuses on three categories -- personal technology, games and entertainment, and business technology -- and includes such leading brands as CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, MP3.com, GameSpot, CNET Download.com, CNET News.com, Webshots, Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the U.S., Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 12 countries.

(1) Consumer Electronics Association Annual Holiday Survey