(TheForceField.net ) January 13, 2007 — Gizmodo, a web site dedicated to the news and reviews of tech gadgets, pulled a prank at CES last week that got a member of their video crew tossed from the show. The stunt, involving the use of a device called TV-B-Gone that can disable televisions and monitors using their IR ports, caused confusion on the show floor, interrupted live presentations and ruined a press conference conducted by Motorola.
A member of Gizmodo's video crew was provided TV-B-Gone and traversed the showroom, turning off Televisions and monitors while attendees and reps were in the midst of demonstrations. Gizmodo videotaped the prank and posted it on its web site. Motorola was conducting a press demonstration at the time and the stunt essentially shut it down. Motorola was reportedly angered by the stunt and is currently considering actions against the blog site.
Reaction by fans of the site was mixed. Some thought the prank was funny, others were alarmed that such a stunt would give bloggers a bad repution with CES, who only this year reluctantly afforded bloggers and the "New Media" press credentials to access the event. Bloggers and podcasters have generally been looked down on by the mainstream press elite as unprofessional and lacking credibility. Many bloggers are concerned the stunt will undo their reach toward achieving such credibility.
On Friday The Consumer Electronics Association, the organization who hosts the event, identified and banned the individual responsible from the show. The CEA, Motorola and other companies affected by the prank are considering other sanctions against Gizmodo as well.
Gizmodo publisher Nick Denton pulled the video from the site at the end of the week and posted a terse retraction. "It was too much fun, but watching this video, we realize it probably made some people's jobs harder, and I don't agree with that (Especially Motorola)." Denton wrote. "We're sorry."