.tv Having your .tv realization moment...

[snoop]

A little story:

I remember when I was in my teens, in the early nineties, I was a huge Amiga fan. I used to buy all the magazines (probably spent $50 a month), oodled at the machines in the shops, think about buying every add on out there and would recommend the machine to friends. I was a fanatic, a one eyed supporter, loyal.

Around 1992-1993 I decided it was time to upgrade from my Amiga 500, a great machine but I wanted something better. If I remember rightly I was going to spent something like $1500 on a new Amiga 1200, it had a 20mb hard drive, I think was about 15mhz and 2 gb of ram. The machine wasn’t cheap and addons were somewhat limited and pricey. I was getting very close to buying one and living that dream was about to head to the shop. I was flicking through the computer section of the local newspaper. At that time you could get a 25mghz 486sx with 4mb of ram and a 80mb hard drive for about the same price.

That is when I had my realization moment.

“I’m getting less than half the machine for the same price”
“Wtf am I doing?”

Because I am a fan of something I’d buy a machine that most sane people would consider outdated and overpriced? Is that rational?

That was when I decided my misplaced sense of loyalty was costing me money and it was time to ditch that loyalty. The Amiga isn’t my best friend, my brother or an employer who has helped me out, it is freaking piece of machinery!

I headed out to the local shop and bought a PC, I never regretted it though to this day I still check out some of the Amiga sites online.

So the question is, how much is your loyalty to .tv costing your hip pocket? Are you making bad financial decision for emotional reasons? Do you see yourself as an unpaid .tv ambassador?

Reg fees at least double, poor performing tld, after 10 years it never quite turned out as expected….hmm is this the Amiga of the domain world?

 

[eyedomainous]

C,
Seems like you took your game to the next level since we last spoke. I am impressed, and I don't say that often.

Thanks, Kevin. It has been awhile so I hope I got a little better. And, since we are both Angelenos in the tv domain game we should talk from time to time. The last new media mixer, a couple weeks ago, was a killer on the roof of the Standard.

---------- Post added at 03:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:54 PM ----------

How does that make for an "ad network". It is a scrolling text bar which links to an email address. At best it is a very basic form of advertising. An "ad network" on the other hand acts as a middle man between between those who want to host advertising with those who want run advertising. I think an accurate description would be that you are selling advertising directly, not acting as an ad network.

Right, effectively they pay royalties to broadcast the music and monetize it with advertising, that is the business model - buy that high quality content and put ads in between it.

I did ask before but is the content (eg the NBA stuff) even licensed? Not that the NBA is going to be bothering suing you as opposed to youtube, but how many hotel chains will want to unlicensed content from some guy on youtube (whoever it was who uploaded it) streaming into their hotel rooms?

Namepros doesn't aggregate posts like you are aggregating youtube content, the content here is created by users for the forum specifically. That is different to just rehashing the same content from youtube. Simply taking youtube content and sticking it on another site has no real value, it is duplicate content, anyone can do that. Trying to get people to post original commentry on a site or creating original content yourself is far more difficult, which is why it has value.

Ad Network: True, it is an in-house ad network. I say 'network' because the text ticker is on a growing network of LA sites. The plan is to roll-out a cross-platform 'tv text ticker' ad network service. Yes, text is "very basic" but it is also one of the top online ad formats, expected to grow 45%this year. Yes, it links to an email addy now because the target audience is watching it in hotel rooms and can't click it anyway. Soon, it will link to an advertiser's page for online viewers.

NP Format: I think its fair to say NamePros is the YouTube of domain posts. Members write post; on YT they would video the same post content. Upload and viewers respond. The fact that NP does not allow users to aggregate and embed 'conversation threads' on their websites, like YT does, means conversations don't have the same 'viral' ability, or monetization potential. But it would be a good idea.

Now, if you ran a domain blog and were able embed a NP thread, around keywords or themes, that would be a good thing. The fact that "everybody can do it" is what allows things to "go viral" and those that are good at it would be able to make a business out of it, like some have on YT. BTW, I think you would do well if you could aggregate domain forum threads, embed them on a site, have a conversation around'em, and yes... monetize around the embed; and the forums would do good as well, getting more eyeballs for sponsors and attracting more users.

"pay royalties to broadcast": This is a good example of how you look at something with an intent to find a way to piss on it. Let me simply say... I curate the best tourism promos, or commercials, from restaurants, clubs, locals, venues etc.. Radio and TV stations DO NOT PAY ROYALTIES FOR COMMERCIALS, they actually get paid. As I do on some of the spots. Many of the spots come to me because I have a channel that serves a highly prized market... travelers in hotel rooms with money looking for something to do. I refuse to run the vast majority of videos that are pitched. The "NBA stuff" is part of a new "I Love LA" promo... that they, and the local TV station that produced it, want to go viral... and 'tipped' me of its presence... like so many other premium content providers do. Some have even approached hotel management to get their stuff on the channel. Its a new day and a new (media) game.

Everybody also has a brain. Its how you use it that makes all the difference.

Again, snoop, Thanks for the look. I honestly appreciate constructive criticism. Not that thats what your doing. Though, some of it was constructive. Perhaps, I do need a more Web 2.0 look on my landing pages. But, my clients like it... and it works. Funny thing is some say its "too flashy" others say its "too retro".

-eye-

---------- Post added at 03:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:06 PM ----------

Interesting thread ... while still trying to figure out the whole "TV network" of YouTube™ videos serving hotels in the future, etc., I'm sure it was a realization of sorts for that poster; and while the extension is pretty much languishing (in both general adoption/recognition and under the massive oppression of its Registry) - kudos should be given to those that develop and promote their niche ".TV" domains / websites. :gl: :imho:

All the best,
Jeff

Thanks for the look and input, Jeff.

YouTube is for TV domainers what "Hollywood" is for TV stations... a content superstore. The key is to pick the best shows / content that serves your market... then 'feed' that content to that audience in a way that adds value.

 

[snoop]

So, in that sense, i not only give ED kudos for showing everyone his hand with one of his development projects unlke others who show nothing, but also for the overall concept and dealmaking he has done to date on the project.

Agree, it is alot better than what most have done who talk of development (nothing), but the claims are highly exaggerated in my view.

 

[freedom30]

...but the claims are highly exaggerated in my view.

..and what view would that be doc, tunnel vision?

 

[snoop]

Now, if you ran a domain blog and were able embed a NP thread, around keywords or themes, that would be a good thing.

It is just duplicate content, doesn't really add anything.

---------- Post added at 02:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 PM ----------

This is a good example of how you look at something with an intent to find a way to piss on it.

No I just asked because it was content someone has uploaded, rather than content the NBA had put there.

 

[equity78]

Content adds something if positioned in the right way. You Tube is a content source.

I have always believed you could use the you tube content to build a site. No one can view every video on you tube. Now you can say just go to you tube and do a search for the topic.

But I will get videos mislabeled,poor content not even produced to be able to be understood,and some words have more than one meaning. So if I take the time to review each video used and the viewer now has a site with no quality issues and no mislabels that is value IMO. You can bring a better viewing experience and make money on the site. Is is technologically revolutionary ? NO, Can it better the experience and make money ? IMO absolutely 100 %. Again IMO

 

[eyedomainous]

Is [th]is technologically revolutionary ? NO

I don't want to be combative, and this thread has pretty much run its course... but there is one last thing I was wondering... how do you know what technology I am using?

As there is no way you can possibly know what technology I am using to keep an IPTV video player streaming 24/7 into a CATV system, I just had to ask.

Truth is, what I developed is a trade secret; as the biggest technical obstacle I had to overcome was how to keep the free, 'off the shelf', video players playing around the clock. Try it sometime; See how often they "time out". And, NO... I am not using an auto 'page reloader' as that kinda destroys the viewing experience.

Also, keep in mind, the current technology standard used for local tourism presentations on in-room hotel tv systems is a DVD... produced once or twice a year (which, BTW, only features some major attractions and advertisers, is rarely over a 30 minutes, and is often outdated by the time it gets out of post production -especially in today's "real time" LIVE world, so after playing it for a month or two, in a boring loop, the hotel pulls it... leaving guests to rely on brochures from the rack).

So while I did not want to toot my own horn, I can't let that statement stand... as several hotel owners have called the service "revolutionary".

Edit: Also, What makes you qualified to say?

 

[*AllThings.tv*]

C,

Don't waste your breath. Save your time and energy and continue to do what you do best. Snoop will argue with you until his fingertips are sore. Been there, done that.

 

[snoop]

C,

Don't waste your breath. Save your time and energy and continue to do what you do best. Snoop will argue with you until his fingertips are sore. Been there, done that.

Actually he is responding to Equity's post.

 

[equity78]

Claude I was talking about using youtube, which is what I thought Snoop was saying was not new and calling it duplicate content and worthless. I love the idea and am sure how you are controlling the hotel rooms from your home is quite revolutionary. Best of luck.

 

[*AllThings.tv*]

EQ is open minded, but C shouldn't feel the need to defend anything to anybody within this community.

 

[equity78]

I replied Kevin, just got in was out all day. I meant YouTube, that is what I thought Snoop was calling worthless and duplicate content. I know Claude knows tech and was the first one giving props earlier in this thread.

 

[*AllThings.tv*]

No worries. I expect a lot of changes in attitude in the next couple of days from the general audience. I know that I like to rail on snoop--primarily because he is the guy that sticks himself out there--but my patience has been worn away by those who visit this site simply to dissuade others. It was the efforts of various members interested in the extension who fought hard to counter the constantly negative voices. It was only then that the negative members began qualifying the broad negative statements they used to make. Obviously, some of the negative members will argue that they haven't changed their tune one bit, but the fact is that most have. At the same time, those of us, including myself, who have been positive about the extension have been making more specific statements about the extension with similar qualifications, i.e. the premium names represent a greater risk than most other extensions and the premium pricing may or may not be holding back the extension.

If the road to the future was certain, every single person reading this would be rich. Chances are that if you are rich, you wouldn't be spending your time on namepros (though I recognize that being 'rich' is completely subjective). With that said, the recent news related to the first auction of dot tv names that were previously premium is a sign that Verisign is interested in taking the extension to the next level.

I know this post is somewhat off topic, but the overall point that I guess I am driving at is that we don't know how this event factors into Verisign's long term strategy for dot tv. Will there be more auctions in the future? Will premium pricing eventually go away for premium domains that have not yet been registered? Will premium pricing be abolished completely for all premium names regardless of whether they have been registered or not? Will premium names simply be available at a fixed price with a relatively low annual rate?

These are all questions that nobody has the answers to, but regardless of what Verisign does, I remain as confident about my past dot tv acquisitions as I did the day I acquired them---all except for the decision to register maniac.tv. That was more of a lapse of judgment and getting caught up in the moment, but I expect to put it into use...some day. My opinion about the extension is that it still remains a potentially great opportunity and I will continue to acquire names that I feel have value factoring in whatever their annual renewal costs.

The fact that I rely on the Internet for my livelihood coupled with my knowledge about branding and real estate (location, location, location), gives me the confidence to proceed in spite of the chance, however great or small, that I could lose it all. Of course, this could all be an incredibly costly education and something everyone wants to avoid, but we don't move up in life by playing it safe. Playing it safe only means that its not likely you will move back from your current position and it certainly doesn't mean that you will keep up with those who might be at your level today. To really move up, you (and by you, its the collective 'everybody') should seriously consider what steps they need to take today to be where they want to be tomorrow, which is likely a step ahead of where we are today.

 

[snoop]

It was the efforts of various members interested in the extension who fought hard to counter the constantly negative voices.

You say that like they have done something good though?

The thing is some are constantly negative, some are constantly positive, some lean to the side one way or the other. But the actual perfomance of this extension has been dismal. Some made a profit, but their numbers were limited, and the top end was stories about people making 6 figures over several years.

Most people in the domain industry saw years ago that this extension was a lame duck because of the pricing. It looks like things might change now at least in a small way, but lets not kid ourselves that that the people making negative comments should not have. Your "patience has been worn away" whilst at the same time the people who listen to you have seen their bank balance wear away.

 

[*AllThings.tv*]

Your "patience has been worn away" whilst at the same time the people who listen to you have seen their bank balance wear away.

If people read my posts on this forum, read my posts on other sites, read my blog posts about the dot tv extension, and did more due diligence, they wouldn't be in this poor position that you portray. This isn't the buy/sell experience domainers have experienced in other extensions. It is a developer's extension, or at least it has been. Buying the right names and selling them to the right people is critical. You can't expect to flip premium dot tv names to other domainers. That strategy was proven a failure before I even arrived on the scene.

 

[snoop]

It is a developer's extension, or at least it has been.

That is exactly what it has been. Pity then that people would be positive for years on it on a forum about "domaining".

 

[*AllThings.tv*]

The forum might be about domaining, but it is also about development:

Web Design & Development - NamePros.com

 

[MillersCrossing]

You can't expect to flip premium dot tv names to other domainers. That strategy was proven a failure before I even arrived on the scene.

Really?? I flipped all my premiums and non premiums and made over 100k ++ only after you were around. in fact i only started making my money from .tv after the night that you had that discussion with me and ATL to get in on it.tv.... so did johntv - sold/flipped/bought - and many others - all after you came on the scene.... i think some fact checking may be in order.....

---------- Post added at 10:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 PM ----------

Buying the right names and selling them to the right people is critical.

I agree but didnt you drop fast.tv - a 10k premium?

 

[*AllThings.tv*]

I was speaking as a rule of thumb. There are exceptions to any rule. It was a 10k premium to the outside world. I negotiated a smoking deal with my good friend at the dot tv corporation when I came into the game, but you are correct I did drop one premium and spent the funds on my first GEO. :D It was a great move on my part.

 

[eyedomainous]

Claude I was talking about using youtube, which is what I thought Snoop was saying was not new and calling it duplicate content and worthless. I love the idea and am sure how you are controlling the hotel rooms from your home is quite revolutionary. Best of luck.

... using YouTube? ooOH!

(nevermind):red:

Thanks!

 

[freedom30]

So while I did not want to toot my own horn, I can't let that statement stand... as several hotel owners have called the service "revolutionary".

Edit: Also, What makes you qualified to say?

There are those on this board that you are unable to sway(not that you want to) so let them remain in the 20th century.

You have indeed used this pristine example of how this technology will be of benefit to this extension(and all extensions, really) and I would guess that the vast majority here, especially the newbies that actually grasp the implications of technological advances as they may be more aware of its benefits than the crusaders here, see it clear as a bell.

It is quite amusing to see the dusty Snoop vainly attempt to dismiss this novel approach so off handedly without even comprehending what is involved in producing such an exciting project. You used lahoteltv.COM and Benzdorf of course ollotv.COM but some clowns here just saw the term TV and it was like waving a red flag in front of an antagonized, gored bull. That is the type of tunnel vision that exists for those that are so vehement against this extension. In effect by dissing your achievement they may just be manifesting their latent fear of progress in general, and that is what it just may be more than anything else.

So let the hounds remain on earth and bay at the moon while we set out to explore it, so to speak.

Once again, eyes, our deep appreciation for your contribution of what is out there for us to explore, if we choose to venture forth!