.tv Business Or News - Which one will go first...if at all?!

[MillersCrossing]

Having read an interesting article by Kevin on Allthings about News.TV, it got me thinking as to whether News or Business could ever be SOLD to the business community at that $500,00 renewal fee and if yes...which one will go first and how long it would take to get there...

IMO, it will need to drop to 250,000 for either of them to be considered.......

In fact...if Versign were clever it would offer both for free to the biggest players in the business and news communities on condition that the winner chosen used the name exclusively for all its internet interactive website content...

Such huge exposure would do more for .Tv than .tv could ever do for these huge businesses......

 

[TheBulldog]

Something you said is something I have always thought.....some of these "premium" names need to be just given away to the right people. Let's say that news.tv was given to say CNN. Think they wouldn't run with it? Yes, they might take a year to get it ready, but they would run with it.

And IMO, the premium price on names should never be above 1000. Anything above that just scares people. Would they pay that in aftermarket? Sure. Would they pay that knowing that no one else has touched it and that it won't be worth that much? No. As a business person, you look at your inventory, in this case domain names, as a commodity. Unless a commodity has a proven track record or tangible sales record if you will, most businesses are hesitant to try new EXPENSIVE products.

But would they test drive one to see if there is interest? You bet your ass they would.

 

[MillersCrossing]

Unless a commodity has a proven track record or tangible sales record if you will, most businesses are hesitant to try new EXPENSIVE products. QUOTE]

And the disaster at BUD.TV only adds to that - we know where they screwed up, but the business world doesnt care about reasons, they care only about results......

Very well put Showbiz

 

[equity78]

The thing missing in the equation is Verisign does not care they made a $45 million Investment and they are giving nothing away for free waiting for that is just a pipedream IMO.

Secondly the notion that many companies do not know about .tv is a farce, many do Scott Higgason told me he approached all the big Media companies DIsney, Time Warner, IAC, Viacom, NBC, CBS some of these companies use .tv for some of their properties and other properties they don't.

Disney used COLDPIZZA.tv for their ESPN network, They have no interest in rebranding ESPN to ESPN.tv from the .com

Viacom uses MTV.tv for MTV Europe but no interest in rebranding CartoonNetwork to use the .tv

Time Warner owns TNT and TBS TNT uses .tv Tbs does not TIME WARNER is aware they could reg TBS.tv

Versus rebranded to use .tv VS.tv

SPIKETV.com not SPike.tv

Microsoft redirects Microsoft.tv to Microsoft.com/tv

This is an old conversation Media companies know about .tv and use it when they feel like using it.

E network knew about E.tv I talked to someone who talked to someone higher up and they had no interest in E.tv

USA Networks knows about USA.tv they never paying Verisign $100,000 a year and guess what? It will never be given away to them (NOR IMO SHOULD IT)

People in your office may not have heard about .tv, women in clubs may not but MEDIA companies have.

Guess what the NFL the biggest sport in the US knew about .tv and they dropped NFL.tv along with all 32 team mascot domains in the .tv extension.

Richard Rosenblatt ran Myspace and sold it to News Corp, he could not get them to use Myspace.tv they went with Myspacetv.com you think News corp going to pay $450,000 to register News.tv ?

 

[MillersCrossing]

thats a shxx lot of info you have at your fingertips Eq!!

Nice of u to share.....

 

[TheBulldog]

I think the point equity is that with the prices the way they are, these bigger companies just don't see it as a wise investment when they already own the .com. If they could pick up the tv at a reasonable cost like all the other extensions, then they probably would.

In the mean time, they know the name is sitting there. And if someone does buy it, say for example DallasCowboys.tv. Now some fan buys it and puts up a site about the Boys. Well the NFL could come after them for TM infringement. Which they would if the tv extension takes off and they see it as suddenly viable for them.

Or they could just go after them and have it shut down. Much like any of those you mentioned above that haven't done anything. They don't have to when they can continue to use the .com and know that they can shut down any possible tm problem tv sites for less money in court costs than to actually buy the name from Verisign.

What is a tm case? 1500? If that is less then Verisigns premium fee then here is what is a possibility. Someone buys USA.tv for 100K. USA network then could file a tm case for $1500 and have a shot at having the name just given to them in court without having to compensate the original owner. They now own the name for a fraction of the cost. They can dev it or just sit on for a year. If it works for them, they would go to Verisign and negotiate a REASONABLE renewal fee. If they don't get it, they let the name drop. Idiot number 2 buys the name. Idiot number 2 then gets taken to court and loses the name right back to USA network for the 1500 court costs. Cycle repeats.

So that is my take. The premium pricing, IMHO, is hurting what could be a thriving market. It would be a hell of a lot easier to sell 1000 $250 premiums, then 2 or 3 $100K premiums.

 

[namewaiter]

And the disaster at BUD.TV only adds to that - we know where they screwed up, but the business world doesnt care about reasons, they care only about results......

the good thing is they are still evolving ... they took down that splash/sign-up page and now try to hook people in by showing off their content first (imo until you don't have to sign-up at all it will be a struggle).

i know they have spoke of their disappointment with the site, but hopefully at some point after some more tinkering they can always relaunch with some new marketing.

news.tv would make much more sense, but the costs are still too high

 

[antonis12]

The thing missing in the equation is Verisign does not care they made a $45 million Investment and they are giving nothing away for free waiting for that is just a pipedream IMO.

Secondly the notion that many companies do not know about .tv is a farce, many do Scott Higgason told me he approached all the big Media companies DIsney, Time Warner, IAC, Viacom, NBC, CBS some of these companies use .tv for some of their properties and other properties they don't.

Disney used COLDPIZZA.tv for their ESPN network, They have no interest in rebranding ESPN to ESPN.tv from the .com

Viacom uses MTV.tv for MTV Europe but no interest in rebranding CartoonNetwork to use the .tv

Time Warner owns TNT and TBS TNT uses .tv Tbs does not TIME WARNER is aware they could reg TBS.tv

Versus rebranded to use .tv VS.tv

SPIKETV.com not SPike.tv

Microsoft redirects Microsoft.tv to Microsoft.com/tv

This is an old conversation Media companies know about .tv and use it when they feel like using it.

E network knew about E.tv I talked to someone who talked to someone higher up and they had no interest in E.tv

USA Networks knows about USA.tv they never paying Verisign $100,000 a year and guess what? It will never be given away to them (NOR IMO SHOULD IT)

People in your office may not have heard about .tv, women in clubs may not but MEDIA companies have.

Guess what the NFL the biggest sport in the US knew about .tv and they dropped NFL.tv along with all 32 team mascot domains in the .tv extension.

Richard Rosenblatt ran Myspace and sold it to News Corp, he could not get them to use Myspace.tv they went with Myspacetv.com you think News corp going to pay $450,000 to register News.tv ?

Look big media is like everyone one else. TBS uses .com because they have it. TNT uses .tv because the .com is a shipping company that will never sell, so .tv is the second best choice for a tv channel. Eurovision.tv is the same thing. The .com is gone. MTV uses it to separate out Europe from US.

I would not expect too much from established mega-brands. Sure they use it for speciality sites or tv shows (e.g. coldpizza) which makes lots of sense since coldpizza cost them $25 instead of trying to buy from the existing owner of the .com for XX,XXX.

cnn.com is a top 20 site online and, needless to say, a fantastic brand online and on traditional television.

What could they possibly gain by trying to rebrand (or launch another brand) as news.tv? Is there anyone who does not know what cnn is?

Also the myspace thing is funny. richard is competing with myspace with me.tv. I am not surprised at all that they are not going to help him promote his social network

the best use of a good generic .tv is for a new or unestablished entrant to use a great, brandable .tv to look good fast via the URL. Just like Sheeraz will try to do with sports.tv (as opposed to ESPN deciding to start branding sports.tv)

JMO

 

[SKG]

The thing missing in the equation is Verisign does not care they made a $45 million Investment and they are giving nothing away for free waiting for that is just a pipedream IMO.

Secondly the notion that many companies do not know about .tv is a farce, many do Scott Higgason told me he approached all the big Media companies DIsney, Time Warner, IAC, Viacom, NBC, CBS some of these companies use .tv for some of their properties and other properties they don't.

Disney used COLDPIZZA.tv for their ESPN network, They have no interest in rebranding ESPN to ESPN.tv from the .com

Viacom uses MTV.tv for MTV Europe but no interest in rebranding CartoonNetwork to use the .tv

Time Warner owns TNT and TBS TNT uses .tv Tbs does not TIME WARNER is aware they could reg TBS.tv

Versus rebranded to use .tv VS.tv

SPIKETV.com not SPike.tv

Microsoft redirects Microsoft.tv to Microsoft.com/tv

This is an old conversation Media companies know about .tv and use it when they feel like using it.

E network knew about E.tv I talked to someone who talked to someone higher up and they had no interest in E.tv

USA Networks knows about USA.tv they never paying Verisign $100,000 a year and guess what? It will never be given away to them (NOR IMO SHOULD IT)

People in your office may not have heard about .tv, women in clubs may not but MEDIA companies have.

Guess what the NFL the biggest sport in the US knew about .tv and they dropped NFL.tv along with all 32 team mascot domains in the .tv extension.

Richard Rosenblatt ran Myspace and sold it to News Corp, he could not get them to use Myspace.tv they went with Myspacetv.com you think News corp going to pay $450,000 to register News.tv ?

Interesting stats Raymond. Good points.

 

[equity78]

Showbiz as far as premium prices I agree I wrote something to Verisign about 1 and done and no premium over $1000. One person at Verisign not Scott when he ran .tv, but someone from Verisign said "We don't care what you domainers think as far as pricing this is a development extension" Then I said well make it feasible to develop with a reasonable registration fee. He was like the premium renewal fees are what attracted us to the .tv ext.


Antonis good points my point was its not that Media companies do not know about the extension. And I funny the funny thing is if Richard thinks Me.tv is real competition for MYSPACE. NOW THAT'S FUNNY

 

[hullswingerscom]

Business Or News - which one will go first....if at all..
not a chance in hell at the price

 

[domainacrobat]

WOW. Just saw Business.com sold for $350 million!!! It makes Business.TV look cheap for $500,000!!! You could register it for 700 years!

IMO this may spur someone to put up the money for Business.TV first!

 

[vincenzo]

WOW. Just saw Business.com sold for $350 million!!! It makes Business.TV look cheap for $500,000!!! You could register it for 700 years!
IMO this may spur someone to put up the money for Business.TV first!

Nah! Far better (and cheaper) for SEO to have businesstelevision.tv :imho:

- Vince

 

[MillersCrossing]

WOW. Just saw Business.com sold for $350 million!!! It makes Business.TV look cheap for $500,000!!! You could register it for 700 years!

IMO this may spur someone to put up the money for Business.TV first!

Disagree....it was a very interesting story about how two guys bought the name in 99 for under 10 million and created a business from BUSINESS.COM. That business got a huge boost from the type in traffic....

When you have customers walking through your door round the clock, some will buy what you are selling......and it was a real business that they created and sold on for $350,000,000 - not the domain name..

With close to nothing in traffic compared to the .com, BUSINESS TV would need to inject a large amount of money just to tell people that they exist in the first place.........cannot compare this business model to business.com..

Business TV is a brand - a nice brand - a very nice brand - but a brand nonetheless.....and to have to shell out 500,000 a year before you have even spent a penny marketing BUSINESS TV is just too much...50k tops IMHO.....

 

[Broker]

I predict the sellers of business.com will buy the .tv

 

[domainacrobat]

Disagree....it was a very interesting story about how two guys bought the name in 99 for under 10 million and created a business from BUSINESS.COM. That business got a huge boost from the type in traffic....

When you have customers walking through your door round the clock, some will buy what you are selling......and it was a real business that they created and sold on for $350,000,000 - not the domain name..

With close to nothing in traffic compared to the .com, BUSINESS TV would need to inject a large amount of money just to tell people that they exist in the first place.........cannot compare this business model to business.com..

Business TV is a brand - a nice brand - a very nice brand - but a brand nonetheless.....and to have to shell out 500,000 a year before you have even spent a penny marketing BUSINESS TV is just too much...50k tops IMHO.....

I respect your thoughts.

I am well aware of the transaction and what is involved. I know its not purely a domain sale. It is hard to tell where Business.com and their actual business weighs in on the $350 mil. From what I read they had good revenue every year as a business. But I have to say when you actually visit the site it is disapointing to say the least. An over glorified directory. Hardly an enduser use. The domain is what makes it work. Their business model is not unique in any way. They do have a PPC program but in comparison to the likes of google and yahoo its nothing. To me that makes the domain more valuable than thier business model. None the less it still may have an impact on Business.tv IMO.

I have a theoretical scenario:

- Someone buys business.tv has the money and regs it for 10 years; 5$ million.

- Then they spend $20 million actually developing and updating the site over 10 years, not just a directory.

- Now they start advertising it over the course of 10 years spending 5 million on advertising every year; $50 million.


- Now you have a branded functional site that generates its own income and return visits from a steady user base. All for only $75 million. Still a great bargain in comparison to business.com


Ok well maybe I better add in an extra $5 mil for lawyers. LOL!

 

[vincenzo]

I have a theoretical scenario:
- Someone buys business.tv has the money and regs it for 10 years; 5$ million.
- Then they spend $20 million actually developing and updating the site over 10 years, not just a directory.
- Now they start advertising it over the course of 10 years spending 5 million on advertising every year; $50 million.
- Now you have a branded functional site that generates its own income and return visits from a steady user base. All for only $75 million. Still a great bargain in comparison to business.com

Ok well maybe I better add in an extra $5 mil for lawyers. LOL!

Don't forget, that unless your advertising is very, very well executed, you could actually be generating more traffic for Business.com - based on user habits to try .COM first?

Hence, you would really have to create a brand revolving soley around business related television programms or videos (tutorials, courses?), and ensure users really understand that so they would search for both key words 'business' and either 'television' or 'video'.

Therefore, BusinessTelevision.tv would be a good complementary domain to bolster Business.tv

Just :imho:

- Vince

 

[RogueWriter]

Don't forget, that unless your advertising is very, very well executed, you could actually be generating more traffic for Business.com - based on user habits to try .COM first?

Hence, you would really have to create a brand revolving soley around business related television programms or videos (tutorials, courses?), and ensure users really understand that so they would search for both key words 'business' and either 'television' or 'video'.

Therefore, BusinessTelevision.tv would be a good complementary domain to bolster Business.tv

Just :imho:

- Vince

Or maybe BusinessServices.tv? Or BusinessMarketing.tv? Or MarketingBusiness.tv?