Dennis Publishing acquires bit-tech.net
I am delighted to announce that bit-tech.net has taken another giant leap into the next chapter of its life. We have been acquired by Dennis Publishing.
bit-tech has been on an incredible journey for the last seven and a half years, and those of you who have been with us since the original days of 2001 will have seen the website go through many evolutions.
bit-tech.net initially came about as a place for the then underground modding community to show off their creations. Following feedback from the loyal readership, the site quickly spread its wings first into more regular hardware reviews and then into gaming content with that added bit-tech twist.
In 2005 we teamed up with Hugh Chappell, who at the time also owned TrustedReviews, to take a big step forwards. Hugh invested his time and money into bit-tech, which enabled us to move from running the site in our spare time to becoming a professional publication with offices and facilities to match.
Since then, we’ve seen several changes including myself taking oven the helm as Editor and waving goodbye to our close friends at TrustedReviews, after the publication was acquired by IPC Media almost a year ago to the day.
But despite these changes, the ingredient we believe we’ve kept consistent throughout bit-tech’s life is the passion and enthusiasm for technology and everything that surrounds it. We do this because we’re enthusiasts and we share the same passion for technology as you, our readers, do.
We have enjoyed massive growth in the last three years especially and that’s not only down to the blood, sweat and tears shed by everyone who has worked so incredibly hard for the site, but it’s also down to the support we’ve had from both the industry and our loyal readers. I’d not only like to thank all of my staff—and Hugh for believing in us—but on behalf of all of us at bit-tech, I’d also like to thank every one of you for making the site what it is today. That includes all of the times when you’ve chewed our ears when we got it wrong, the time you’ve spent providing valuable feedback whenever we’ve asked for it, and most importantly of all, reading the content we’ve created.
Over the course of this year, we quickly realised that in order to accelerate at the rate we believe we can, the business needed to take another step forwards – and this is where Dennis Publishing will come into play. For you, our readers, there will be very little initial change – I will remain at the helm as Editor of bit-tech and the entire team will continue producing the same great content you know and love.
I believe Dennis is an excellent match for bit-tech – the publisher already has a number of leading brands in the technology sector, including PC Pro, Custom PC and IT Pro. There is a great deal of synergy with what we already do and most importantly, I feel Dennis is the one publisher that truly understands the enthusiasts' market and will enable us to continue growing at the rate we have been.
The entire team will be hired as Dennis Publishing employees and will continue to work in the existing Ascot offices – you can read more of the details over on Dennis Publishing's website.
If you have any thoughts to share with us regarding this announcement, please do so in the forums!
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138 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplySeriously though, congrats guys.
Time for some cheesecake?
I don't know anything about your new overlords but I guess their acquisitions of Bit-Tech proves they have good taste.
Long live Bit-Tech!
Could bit-tech become the next Ars-technica ? In some ways it already surpasses it.
Congrats guys, didn't see this one coming.
Lay-offs. I recommend you lot unionize. Fight for your rights!!!1
Only one remark: Don't change!
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/9172/photo10111547dr6.jpg
Now where's my raise? :p
Cheers Bit-Tech
They should ship it to Dubai or I'm going to be mad >:(
Good job BT ;) Well done. ;)
This is awesome! Congrats guys.
congrats!
Where's your raise? Where's my raise!?!
If it weren't for us angry users who misbehave and char-grill the hell out of everyone else you mods would have nothing to do. As a self-selected and elected spokesgod for these people, I demand recognition. And cake.
I just hope that Dennis aren't the type to interfere much. They've got a winning formula and I really don't want to see Custom PC online (mainly because it already exists.)
Hmm.. Actually, the press announcement looks like they're only interested in broadening the reach of their advertising, so I suppose we'll just end-up with a broader array of advertising.. Back on Flashblock it goes then. :)
This calls for a large celebration involving many cheesecakes!
:D
I have many a time enjoyed reading yours and Nexos posts. Usually the threads are taken over by you guys disagreeing with each other. lol But interesting reading. :)
Grats to the team though I hope things won't change too much :)
Does this mean we'll be charged 6 quid and get a dvd full of unwanted software worth £3000 every month?;)
Dennis do Micromart, my computer rag of choice, so I'm happy.
Personally, I'm hoping for Viz comics on bit-tech
I understand your scepticism and, yes, only time will tell with what happens... However, from the meetings I've had so far with James Tye and Barry Cronin, I don't think a lot of things will change. They bought the business because of what it is and they want to make it bigger and better.
James became CEO of Dennis after working his way up from Editor of PC Pro - and I think that helps to highlight Dennis' focus on content. The one thing that won't happen is layoffs... they've acquired bit-tech because of the people behind it, because they're the ones that have made the product successful. You guys (and girls) have helped to make the product successful as you've been there to give us a beating when we've needed it, and to pat us on the back when it's necessary. For that I can only thank you all! :)
I respect that this probably won't eliminate your scepticism, but I hope that you'll bear with us. I remember the scepticism surrounding the original investment from Hugh and I believe we eliminated that over time. All I can ask for is your trust, as I'm certainly hoping that we'll just make bit-tech better with the help of Dennis!
Haha, now that would be awesome :D
I've often enjoyed the pleasure of reading some of Dennis's other publications, so this should be good ;)
Not too sure on a printed publication though... I would buy it, especially if it came with free thumbscrews... but I suppose Tech is best kept on computers?
Good luck for the future, hope it matches the past success!
Congratulations guys :D
And did you have to give them Hiren's soul as surety?
Bigger is not better. Every time you "broaden the appeal of the site" it attracts another hoard of morons and lowers the average intelligence of the userbase. I think this will be good for bit, but bad for those of us who come here to find a higher grade of people than is the average on the web.
That said, Custom PC is a good magazine, so hopefully it won't be as bad as I'm afraid it's going to be.
We're better at poker than that ;)
I'm hoping we can keep the average intellect high while also expanding the site. That'll be dictated by the content and we plan to keep that the same.
You guys better not have move my desk :P
I hope you guys didnt forget to keep bindi his job
Great work guys, I hope happy times are ahead - despite the current financial situation.
hope this pans out for the best. rofl at bindi's comment....note: your desk is in the car park
but it usually is.
gratz folks! gluck with the new company!
Thats why you shouldnt take time off. :p They moved your desk to the garden shed so you can get your freak on like a crazy Bindi you are :)
You aren't :p
Tru dat!
Also:
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7556/sugarsoldbittechon1.jpg
1. no magazine exclusive content. If its there, it should be on BT's site.
2. Forced bias. There is already alot of news on Intel on Bit's site for the last 4 months... or just a lack of news and new for/from AMD?
To be fair, a good 60% of that is just Nexxo
The knock-on affects for Bit-tech, I assume, will be a bigger budget, and a 'better relationship' with manufacturers. This means there should be more reviews and more inside information. Anyone who is a subscriber to both the aforementioned magazines will notice the crossover in consumer and gaming hardware reviews. This will be probably extended to Bit-tech.
I do hope you continue to write more features, though. Custom PC has dropped significantly in quality with staff changes - I've been a reader since issue one. And, the editorial content has been replaced with ads, ads and more ads. Perhaps I'm just outgrowing Custom PC, but I think PC Pro is much better value for money. And, they've lots of editorial content - Dick Pountain's Idealog column is especially interesting to read. His column last month actually makes me want to buy his book!
Congrats Bit-staff, but I have to say it: don't f*ck this up. ;)
I get more of one then you, sanity money for controlling Tim, Geoff, Jamie AND Hiren!
#1 - Don't change BT. (Seriously, CPC online is a total mess. -Check out the number of bots in the member list.)
#2 - If there is a BT mag in the future, You MUST have a Relix swimsuit issue every year.:P
Well I hope the staff and their content don't go to shite the same way about every other takeover has conceded. And, oh, by the way, wish you all the best. Really.
Hopefully with ATI and Deneb (which look pretty interesting) they can get back in the game.
Trust me, Tim will never, EVER let that happen.
Bit-tech, I love you ;)
PC Pro, CPC, Micromart and Bit-tech :| as long as I see detailed reviews saying how crap, crap gear is, I will be happy...!
I have re-typed this part about 5 times now - I think I will leave it blank instead...
Well based on pure conjecture and speculation: The reason Dennis Publishing acquired Bit-Tech is a specific reason. You don't just go out and buy another company for the heck of it. In this case it seems to be twofold, 1. Establish a web presence, as evidenced by comments in this thread, Dennis really doesn't have a high quality web presence yet 2. Increase the number of readers of Dennis publishing sources. Both of these factors lead to an increase in future revenue for Dennis over other options available to them. If for whatever reason Bit doesn't meet the goals of Dennis because of any number of factors it is likely they will make changes to Bit in order to achieve said results. While I'm certainly happy with Bit as it currently is the acquisition by another company brings in additional views and influences that may or may not grow Bit in a similar manner in the future.
In the end companies buy other companies for two reasons, either increase revenue or cut costs. In most cases both occur through reduction of duplicate services and enhancing the offering to customers. Maybe over the short run Bit isn't going to change but it's rather silly to buy a company and change nothing. Hopefully things work out.
(mine totally is,but my nick is <span style="color:#00f">Firehed</span> and now the gig is up)
Whatever you do, PLEASE put more emphasis into modding section. There are no how-to articles any more, barely any guides, and nothing as mind-blowing as what led me to bit-tech in the first place.
please, please, PLEASE remember what set bit-tech apart from other tech news sites - the modding. Revitalize the modding articles!!
Hi, long time reader, first time poste,,,, er, nm, Um, almost nail on the head for me. Another thought that is swimming in my head is this: What happens when a piece of merchandise is sent out for review?
When one side of the company gets it, will BT still get to review it? If so then: Does BT have to at least pretend to back up what the other company says? Or: Does BT still get to do an unbiased slap em' if their wrong review? Making BT readers lose out on a review.
Will the company sending the "thing they sent" say they've already sent it to one Dennis company, why send it to two? Making BT readers lose out on a review.
Oh, and gratz on the deal. And gratz on keeping it a secret; how long have you known? Not like your not good at secrets, with all the reviews you handle you haven't upset too many media release dates.
Last, I would buy a sub to the mag, as long as It isn't a complete copy of the site, or that the site loses out reviews' n info for the mag. So I guess that I would hate to sub to a mag that is full of stuff that I already read on BT.net; and I would hate to have to wait for stuff on BT.net for the mag to get published, mailed, and delivered.
I check BT at least once a day during the week, most times more than that. At work, at home, at friends house. I will read news and sometimes articles at work. And read forums and longer articles at home. I even had the chance to give one customer a discount at my store for mentioning BT!!! I would absolutely drop BT if it became the mirror to Tom's hardware. I purchase custom pc and pc pro every now and then when I have spare change in my pocket, and am somewhere that they actually carry them. But to be honest, most of their reviews were already covered in some part by BT, long before I saw their mag; and the mags have more ads in them than actual usable information.
I control them in real life! I'd like to see you try the same.
I hope bit DON'T do a hard publication, it'd destroy the company,
We have a new column from Cliff this week, so no worries. ;)
If I was a direct competitor (not naming names, of course) I'd be pretty worried. :)
I hope you and I are on the same wavelength, and if we are it goes to show that advertising every single inch on a page does not improve the business :P
It's good that the hard work put in may very well pay off with this move.
First a "more professional" look for the site, then a big turn towards the american market, then a big loss in test thoroughness
I just hope that doesn't happen to you.
What could happen...
Dennis has professional testers for 3 magazines, so does their content come to you? Does your content go to them? any way somebody is going to be unhappy about it.
Last example was ArsTechnica, bought by Condé Nast last Spring.
Even The Inquirer (I know, I know...) lost its appeal after being acquired by VNU.
Congrats guys! Amazing news. Very proud.
So now we get more reviews of hardware then?
:)
CPC and Bit-Tech under the same managment. Yay!
Now all I need is more FOLDING ORIENATED hardware / driver reviews from the bit-tech staff, and of course a points-per-day type score for each of the graphics cards that you review :)
Please! :)
it's funny; in my previous job we did publishing workflow stuff for both IPC and dennis. they were our biggest (and fussiest ) customers.
do you all get red and black stripey jumpers now?
Well not really (I work for TR/IPC, ex-bit-tech shareholder as of last Friday). Bit is enthusiast and TR is consumer so totally different markets even if there is a slight overlap in some areas. Dennis's PC Pro & IT Pro are a rivals to TR though.
"Hi! I'm Tim!"
Anyways, congrats to you all. Keep doing what you love in the way we love to read about it!
Dont change your ways though, as you can see a lot of us are a bit worried. BT has something great going on, which is the feel of a village. Don't become a city!
Much of the last months worth of columns are about big corporations sucking the life-blood out of small ones. Ofcourse that is all aimed on the topic of gaming, but it does raise some unpleasant questions. Be sure to not fall in the same trap.
Remember, none of use want more professionalism, we want more cheesecake!
Drink one on it mates!
(I actually DO have cheesecake, this is not a lie)
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7947/cheesecakeld8.jpg
My concern is for ya'lls health. Obsesssed with cheezecake. Should be a 12 step meeting for that somewhere. Or you may have to find sponcership from Levi and a good belt company.:):)
Jase
Looks yummy. Can i have a slice?
don't be silly. cheesecake is good for you.
Congratulations, Tim are you trying to strike up a deal on cheesecake with Tesco also?
The point im making slowly and terribly is bit tech is the only tech site where its obvious each and every article is important to the writer/reviewer and you get a true feel for whatever is the subject complete with overly techie information when needed and simplistic "this sucked... like seriously don't buy it, it will beat your children." when necessary. On top of this offering of truth which flows from the bit tech troff im slowly learning that the community here can only agree on one thing and that's that WE LOVE BIT TECH and whatever you guys do in life I wish you success, and I truly hope that success stays here at home where you belong :)
We'll do our best to uphold our end of the bargain ;)
You have all our support. Go forth and cake-ify.
All the best and keep up the great work. :-D
There are some rather nippy features in that mag.
And why is the link missing at the bottom?
(I'm so going to recieve punishment for this, but it was SO worth it.) :D