CNET takes regional approach in China

We were interested to see China Stock Blog reporting CNET CEO's Shelby W. Bonnie's comments on the company's 10 years in China. There are a number of interesting take-aways, but 2 in particular caught my eye:

1. Bonnie speaks of the business as one over which there are some question marks: "We continue to believe that our ten-year presence in the print business in China remains a strategic asset for us". For me the "continue" is a clear sign that some people are asking questions about whether the effort is worthwhile.

2. The second paragraph talks very clearly about different positions in Shanghai and Beijing. This in interesting. Most business and technology publishers focus purely on establishing national positions. China is very large (obvious comment of the day) and very fragmented (perhaps less obvious and a crucial issue to understand in business planning there). CNET appears to accept that the businesses it has there are effective at a local level but less so nationally. Others should review their own businesses more honestly in that light.