G4techTV is excited to announce the fifth annual Best of CES awards. We'll select the 12 best new products making their debut at CES 2005. The contest is open only to exhibitors at CES 2005 and only to those products that are introduced at CES 2005 or available for sale after December 1, 2004. G4techTV will consider contest entries submitted by December 13, 2004.
Finalist Information
- Finalists will be announced the afternoon of Friday, January 7. A press release will be sent out and the list of finalists will be posted on www.g4techtv.com.
- Finalist kits containing logos and signage will be distributed Friday, January 7. Note to finalists: Please ensure that the appropriate representative is available at this time to receive finalist kit.
There are two ways for your product to be evaluated for G4techTV's Best of CES:
1. Direct product submissions to G4techTV prior to CES.
2. Hands-on judging at the CES show conducted by G4techTV judges.
G4techTV's 2005 Best of CES entry form
Participate
Being a finalist in G4techTV's Best of CES awards is a clear indication that your product is one of the top new consumer electronic products to be released in 2005. Winning a category award automatically brands your product as one of the hottest new products to be available in 2005.
Both finalists and winners will be able to promote their product's status on the show floor with appropriate signage provided by G4techTV.
Worldwide Coverage
In addition, finalists and winners will receive unprecedented exposure on G4techTV. G4techTV is the one and only 24-hour television network that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. The network is available in 50 million cable and satellite homes nationwide and in several regions around the globe including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. Our network will provide significant coverage of finalists and award winners in live programming originating from the show floor G4techTV.
Finalists and winners will receive digital artwork for inclusion in their ads and product packaging material. The G4techTV and CES awards logo will be an instant brand of quality and capability for consumers.
Winners will also receive a trophy award for display in their offices, reception areas, or other locations.
Finally, the media relations departments at both G4techTV and CES will ensure that all media covering CES 2005 have complete knowledge and understanding of winners and finalists. It's likely that many of those journalists will focus on Best of CES products in their own show coverage.
How G4techTV's 'Best of CES' differs from Innovation Awards
The Innovation Awards focus on the design of the most innovative products of 2005, including products already on the market. Judges look at pictures, video, and text descriptions of products but do not conduct any hands-on evaluation.
G4techTV's Best of CES focuses on the best new products that are exhibited at CES 2005 and considers only products that have not yet shipped or are just starting to ship. The products that are selected are those most likely to be coveted by consumers in the coming year. In addition to reviewing product information, pictures, and video, the judges will test each product hands on.
Categories
G4techTV's Best of CES awards are handed out to the top products in each of the following 12 categories.
- Audio To Go: Includes portable digital audio players, portable satellite radio receivers, speakers, and headphones.
- Video To Go: Includes video players, DV and analog camcorders, portable DVD players, and portable displays.
- Game On: All things gaming related. Including platforms, portable gaming, gaming rigs, surround sound audio, gaming displays, and peripherals.
- Ultimate Audio: For the real audiophile. Including sophisticated amplification equipment, tube amps, audio processing, high-end speaker systems, and ultrahigh-quality media players.
- Ultimate Video: High-definition TVs and display technologies including rear-projection TVs, projectors, DLPs, LCOS displays, and high-end video components.
- Audio and Video Essentials: Consumer-level amps, all-in-one home theater systems, PVRs, consumer level 5.1 audio systems, and components.
- Whole House Entertainment: Media servers and receivers. Includes devices that manage, distribute, and aggregate all your home digital media.
- Smart House: Everything for wiring your home. Includes wireless and Ethernet networking gateways, routers, and peripherals. Kits to automate your home appliances, lights, and security. Also includes hardware and software to control such conveniences.
- Picture Perfect: Anything that helps you take or print better pictures. Includes digital cameras, photo printers, scanners, photo-finishing devices and services, ink, and paper.
- Road Warrior: Portable systems and mobile wireless devices. Including Smart Phones, handheld GPS devices, handheld computers, wireless add-ons, 3G handsets, and other portable data devices.
- Over Land Over Sea: Anything that goes in your car, boat, or RV. Includes car stereo systems, car alarms, mobile entertainment systems, satellite antennas, fixed navigation systems, and other in-dash systems.
- Accessories: Peripheral devices and software that enhance the other categories without replacing them. Includes innovative apparel, adapters, carrying cases, and add-ons.
Best of the Best
- Best of Show: One overall Best of Show award will be given out. The winner from each category is eligible for this award.
Product Evaluation Criteria
Our judges will only evaluate products and prototypes that are being exhibited on the show floor of CES 2005. Products will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
- Wow factor: Does the product create an entirely new market or category, or does it completely change the economics or capability of an existing category?
- Usability and usefulness: Does the product solve a real problem or address a real need? Will customers purchase it? If they do, will they be ecstatic about their new device?
- Value: Is it affordable within the constraints of the category, or is it just so expensive that no one will ever buy one?
Judging Process
Judging will take place at CES 2005, but products submitted directly to G4techTV prior to CES will also be evaluated. A team of two judges will be assigned to each category. Prior to and during the first two days of CES, our judging teams will meet with the manufacturers.
Friday morning, our judges will select three finalists in each category.
On Friday afternoon, finalist awards suitable for placing in show booths will be handed out.
Judges will make the final determination for the winning product in each category on Saturday, January 8th. The judges will also pick one product from among the winners to receive the Best of Show award.
Who Are the Judges?
Our judges are culled from the ranks of professional product reviewers. Our product reviewers come from G4techTV and other well-known media organizations. All judges have extensive experience evaluating, purchasing, and using products in the category they are judging.
Non-disclosures
The judging panel and G4techTV will sign and be bound by non-disclosure statements. All non-disclosure statements expire January 6, 2005, when CES 2005 begins. To get your NDA signed and returned before submitting your entry, contact G4techTV's Best of CES contest coordinator at 310-979-5140.
How to enter
Download, print, fill out, and then mail all three pages of the 2005 Best of CES application.
Download page 1 of the entry form
Download page 2 of the entry form
Download page 3 of the entry form
(The entry form is a PDF file. Download Adobe's free Acrobat Reader to view and print PDF files.)
Mail all entries to the following address:
G4techTV's 2005 Best of CES
G4techTV
12312 West Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, California
90064
You can email questions only to bestofces@g4techtv.com. Again, all entries must be mailed.
All entries must be received by Monday 5 p.m. Pacific, December 13, 2004. Entries must be received by mail. No online or fax-based entries will be accepted. We encourage the use of overnight mail services to ensure that entries are received. There is no fee to enter G4techTV's Best of CES awards. To submit your product, you must submit an entry form, two complete press kits, along with product photos and Betacam video to G4techTV.
Eligibility and Rules
In order to be eligible for G4techTV's Best of CES awards program, the product must be:
- Displayed publicly and openly on the CES 2005 show floor.
- Available for purchase after December 1, 2004.
- Prototypes, pre-releases, and beta products are acceptable. The unit must be in complete working order.
- An individual product can only be entered in a single category. If you feel your product falls into more than one category, pick the category that best describes your product's primary function. G4techTV reserves the right to move a product to a more appropriate category.
- Multiple products may be entered in a single category, but each product may only be submitted in one category.
Planning
Because the finalists will receive significant coverage on G4techTV and during the awards program, we encourage exhibitors to bring at least one extra unit of each product entered into the awards program. G4techTV will need to videotape the product in action for G4techTV CES 2005 coverage. Having more than one unit of your product will increase your product's chance of appearing on G4techTV's programming, both nationally on our cable network.
Where to direct questions about G4techTV's Best of CES
- By phone: 310-979-5140
- By email: bestofces@G4techTV.com
About G4techTV
Formed by the May, 2004 merger of G4 and TechTV, G4techTV is the one and only 24-hour television network that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. The network is available in 50 million cable and satellite homes nationwide and airs 24 original series. Headquartered in Los Angeles, G4techTV is owned by Comcast Corporation. To learn more, log onto www.g4techtv.com.
