.tv My thoughts on .tv

[claudedauman]

Hi Everyone,

I've recently started a blog, as some of you have noticed in my sig. I thought I'd post my current posting, as it relates to .tv. I hope you enjoy.

Claude

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Fighting change is another way of living in the past

Tonight I walked from Beverly Hills to West Hollywood to pick up dog treats for my 18 year old Pekingese Poodle mix Mallie. In some circles she is referred to as a Peek-a-poo but I'm way to square to refer to her as that. Ever since I was a lad, I have had this issue.

I had the most amazing parents, Martha and Sid Dauman, may they both rest in peace. They would take my brother and me to some pretty swanky places every now and then, when we were little boys. At the tender of age of five, I had the presence of mind and self respect to order a "Ginger Ale with a splash of Grenadine," instead of a Shirley Temple. I would do it the same way today, if that were still my drink of choice. But it is no longer my drink of choice. As with almost everything else in life, change is constant and unrelenting. More so now than ever.

Some people are opposed to change. Some feel that because .com is king and has been king; it will always be king. I'm not entirely sure myself, but change has been doing pretty well over the years.

I highly suggest that one considers some of the other options out there such as .net, .tv, .org, .me and .co. Let me be clear; I am not saying run out and start buying up these extensions, as they are the next big thing. I am not saying that .com is going down. I am suggesting that you take them into consideration. In certain applications a well selected .tv, such as Be.tv, can be the foundation of an incredible branding opportunity which might even lose some impact if burdened with a .com. Keep in mind we have all been quite familiar with the abbreviation TV for many years prior to .com hitting the scene.

The time to build your outrageously cool .TV brand, is not after 60 Minutes does a feature on how popular they are becoming, or when .TV graces the covers of Time and Newsweek. The time is now, during the haze of confusion, when things are slowly heating up, when insiders are speaking softly, about change.

Thank you for visiting. Please come back soon.

 

[gr8trfoo]

I will say that .com is coming down.

Unfortunately I think that goes for all domains as well, .tv included. The writing is on the wall. New technologies have arrived and will continue to emerge that make domains superfluous relics of the past. Will domains disappear entirely? Hell no! There are still people with landlines and toll-free numbers still get airtime. But there's a very short window and rapidly diminishing window left in which to utilize a good domain, in any ext, as a brand.

As far as .tv, well I'm biased. I've sunk a fortune into them and watched more than half that value disappear. And yet I still buy more! However I DO NOT buy any on speculation of an increase in value to resell. I'm pretty sure that anyone doing this is more likely than not to lose their investment. I am buying names which I feel possess branding power that I can put to use while the opportunity still exists.

I'm really making a bet on myself more than I am on .tv because I am certain that if I am not able to succesfully execute my plan than most of the .tv's I've accumulated will wind up fetching almost nothing in the resale market and I'll be out almost a million on account of it.

 

[tj1897]

The writing is on the wall. New technologies have arrived and will continue to emerge that make domains superfluous relics of the past

If you have the capacity to sink a million into domains you sir I am sure also have the wherewithal to weigh up the looming risks – and if you are still buying dot.tv I take that as a vote of confidence. However I’m intrigued by the finite window of opportunity you’ve alluded to and the nature of the browser /www killing killer app that’s looming large. As someone that has eyes only for dottv I’d love to know your thinking!

 

[DnEbook]

I will say that .com is coming down.

Unfortunately I think that goes for all domains as well, .tv included. The writing is on the wall. New technologies have arrived and will continue to emerge that make domains superfluous relics of the past. Will domains disappear entirely? Hell no! There are still people with landlines and toll-free numbers still get airtime. But there's a very short window and rapidly diminishing window left in which to utilize a good domain, in any ext, as a brand.

As far as .tv, well I'm biased. I've sunk a fortune into them and watched more than half that value disappear. And yet I still buy more! However I DO NOT buy any on speculation of an increase in value to resell. I'm pretty sure that anyone doing this is more likely than not to lose their investment. I am buying names which I feel possess branding power that I can put to use while the opportunity still exists.

I'm really making a bet on myself more than I am on .tv because I am certain that if I am not able to succesfully execute my plan than most of the .tv's I've accumulated will wind up fetching almost nothing in the resale market and I'll be out almost a million on account of it.

With that budget why not start developing ?

...good luck

 

[JB Lions]

If you have the capacity to sink a million into domains you sir I am sure also have the wherewithal to weigh up the looming risks – and if you are still buying dot.tv I take that as a vote of confidence. However I’m intrigued by the finite window of opportunity you’ve alluded to and the nature of the browser /www killing killer app that’s looming large. As someone that has eyes only for dottv I’d love to know your thinking!

It's not. This "The writing is on the wall. New technologies have arrived and will continue to emerge that make domains superfluous relics of the past" doesn't really make any sense.

 

[garptrader]

Personally I believe our world is .COM obsessed and that brandable .COMs with little to no search volume are overrated. It doesn't make sense to me to pay thousands of dollars for VisitCity.com or TheKeywordKeyword.com or iKeywordKeyword.com when better/purer keywords are available (for a price) in .Net or .TV. As I look at the domains that small businesses and bloggers which follow me on Twitter have, .COM still rules.

 

[gr8trfoo]

With that budget...

if you'd said "having *had* that budget" then there wouldnt be a question.

you must not have read what i wrote. the million is sunk. gone. spent. what i have now is a collection of names that couldnt be sold here for more than 20-30k if even that much. matter of fact half the names i regd or bought have been dropped and only maybe 1 in 10 of those picked up by anyone else.

maybe i just bought crap. that could be it, eh?

...start developing ?

"start developing" what?

develop is something i've heard domainers say forever but i've rarey seen anything substantial (let alone profitable) come from it. what i have seen instead is a LOT of wasted money, time, and effort.

what i intend to do is build a business, one that just so happens to use .tv's as brands.

---------- Post added at 10:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 AM ----------

It's not. This "The writing is on the wall. New technologies have arrived and will continue to emerge that make domains superfluous relics of the past" doesn't really make any sense.

you must not have an ipad, eh?

i'll tell you something thats no speculation, domain traffic is not on the increase. my traffic names are not getting any bigger. there was a time when this was not so, good generics daily avg would gradually increase over time, from the late 90's to till about 2006. but no more. not using my names as benchmark at least.

i dont think domains will ever go away completly- not until we all become hive-minded cyborgs (thats about a million years away right? or is it 40?). but they will steadily diminish in value and usefulness in reaching the masses. the process is already happening and it will only get worse. if you dont see it then too bad for you - but hey - i've got plenty of good generic .com's to sell ya!

 

[DnEbook]

I did develop Blonde/tv and Bikinis/tv until i woke up one day and found they had been hacked ...........bummer

At the time i did not know how to make a back up, but they were very much video based and i still feel the future lies in that format.

My suggestion to all is pick your best and take a chance ......develop

 

[JB Lions]

"you must not have an ipad, eh?"

What's an ipad have to do with domains diminishing?

"i'll tell you something thats no speculation, domain traffic is not on the increase. my traffic names are not getting any bigger. there was a time when this was not so, good generics daily avg would gradually increase over time, from the late 90's to till about 2006. but no more. not using my names as benchmark at least."

That's your traffic. I'll tell you something that's not speculation. Domain counts are going up, not down.

"i dont think domains will ever go away completly- not until we all become hive-minded cyborgs (thats about a million years away right? or is it 40?). but they will steadily diminish in value and usefulness in reaching the masses. the process is already happening and it will only get worse. if you dont see it then too bad for you - but hey - i've got plenty of good generic .com's to sell ya!"

You mentioned the ipad, as if those apps you see don't have websites. All this new stuff you're seeing isn't a replacement for the internet/domains etc. It's an addition. I think you're basing your outlook on your personal experience with your domains not getting type in traffic like they used to, not a way to judge this.

 

[garptrader]

I believe type-in traffic is on the decline. Why would you type in keywordkeyword.com when often you will just land on a parked page? I never use direct navigation unless it is for a known site - Amazon.com, Godaddy.com, SEDO.com, Twitter.com, etc. Has social media usage increased? Of course. But is search traffic an aging dinosaur? I don't think so. Now if type-in traffic is on the decline and only a small percentage of phrase search volume, what should that indicate about the value differential between .COM and other brandable TLDs (.net, .tv, .org)? Some of my developed sites probably have more traffic than the parked .COM. If the game is about targeted traffic one could possibly argue a developed .Net or .TV which ranks well and has meaningful traffic should be worth more than the undeveloped .COM. OK many will disagree with that statement but which is worth more - a vacant plot of land or a mall, apartment complex, residential community, office park, etc?

 

[SKG]

There is talk that cable will eventually go a la carte. Should this happen the masses will learn to accept paid channel programming, IMO. This is not an overnight occurrence and it will take a lot of time. Once people start searching for shows it is very likely their search method will change from ie typing in car versus car tv for shows regarding cars. The key then becomes to own domains relevant to what one might search for in relation to online video content. Whereas it is very hard to get first page ranking for your .tv keyword by simply typing the keyword let's say punk it is not as hard if you type in punk tv.

Disclosure: Yes, I own Punk.tv used in this example.

 

[gr8trfoo]

What's an ipad have to do with domains diminishing?

uh, people have less need to type-in their destinations?

That's your traffic. I'll tell you something that's not speculation. Domain counts are going up, not down.

the number of domains may be increasing but that doesnt mean their usefullness rises in tandem. how much new registration activity has to do with impulsive speculation and how much with actual websites? thousands are still rushing in looking for that easy pot of gold. i got news for them - it never was that easy!

13 years ago people thought i was a nut for proclaiming domains to be the best investment opportunity available. but in hinesight its easy to see i was clearly right. now people think i'm a nut for saying that domains best days are behind it. whatever.

All this new stuff you're seeing isn't a replacement for the internet/domains etc. It's an addition.

since when did domains = internet? the dns was always just a way for humans to better navigate the internet.

of course theres an internet presence behind every facebook page and ipad/droid app, etc, etc - but how are people reaching them - thats the point. and what new technologies might arrive any day that make typing in a domain a thing of the paast???

the value engine behind the domaining phenomenon was always TRAFFIC! take the traffic away and you take away 90% of what made domain speculation profitable.

this explains why .tv will never be a profitable speculation overall. it simply will NEVER have the kind of pure type-in traffic that .com once had. yes there will be some winners, a very fortunate few. but most people entering .tv will lose every dime they put in.

I think you're basing your outlook on your personal experience with your domains not getting type in traffic like they used to, not a way to judge this.

oh boy. why do discussions like this ALWAYS have to get personal? wtf.

believe whatever you want.

i'm still buying names (mostly .com's - (picked up a SWEET generic typo from watching tv last month that earns 10 bucks a day!)) but speculation in domains is a dead end and speculation in .tv even deader.

IF you have a definite use for a good .tv then theres still a few years to make some hay with it. like claude said when starting this thread

.tv can be the foundation of an incredible branding opportunity which might even lose some impact if burdened with a .com

my feelings exactly. the plan i have in mind i wouldnt work on .com's, even if acquiring the equivilants were possible. this is why i still make an occasional purchase in .tv and why i'm willing to pay more than most for what i want. but i have zero illusion that i'll ever be able to resell for a profit. except in the most extraordinary of circumstances i would not buy a .tv with the hope of reselling as goal.

 

[MicroGuy]

13 years ago people thought i was a nut for proclaiming domains to be the best investment opportunity available. but i was clearly right. now people think i'm a nut for saying that domains best days are behind it. whatever.

I don't think you're nuts. I think you're dead on the money. And thank you for the great insight which you have so generously provided through out this thread.

 

[JB Lions]

"people have less need to type-in their destinations"

And that might affect your type ins but not what we're actually talking about.

"how much new registration activity has to do with impulsive speculation and how much with actual websites?"

Any more or less than some other time?

"now people think i'm a nut for saying that domains best days are behind it."

Those people would be right. Again, most people's opinions are based on their own reality, so maybe your best days are behind you.

"but how are people reaching them - thats the point."

I pointed that out to you. Option. If I'm mobile, I will access the internet a little differently then when I'm at home. I'm on my desktop right now, nice size screen, keyword built for a human and I'm on this website, thru a bookmark.

"the value engine behind the domaining phenominon was always TRAFFIC! take the traffic away and you take away 90% of what made domain speculation profitable."

Eh, how about having good names people want, regardless of traffic? Traffic is just one aspect. It's still very profitable today, maybe not for you.

"oh bot. why do discussiond like this ALWAYS have to get personal? wtf."

Wasn't personal at all but if I'm hitting home, you might take it that way.

"but speculation in domains is a dead end"

Nonsense, as I pointed out above. Maybe for you again.

Back to your original comment:

"domains superfluous relics of the past"

It's silly but I've seen that type of silly here before. Nothing new.

To give you an aspect of another industry where you here the same kind of thing, affiliate marketing. You always have some people thinking it's dead or dying and when they post that, it usually is. For them.

 

[DnEbook]

domains still have lots of growth in australia with a record achieved on a droppped name last week'investmentproperties.com.au' $125,000 We are now starting to see late night commercials for godaddy and crazy domains (with pamela anderson) I think the cctld tide is still actually turning and general awareness growing every day

 

[twomoon]

It's interesting conversation. I would agree mainly with Finster. The thing that probably the best times for the domains (domaining) are in the past, is making me crazy, but I think it's the reality.
The second thing that is making me crazy that the rise of .tv (no premiums, many sales etc.) is coming among with the fast development of new technologies.

As for speculation in .tv. Yes, the situation with .tv won't be ever the same as with .com domains.

I think many people think that after premiums went away, the situation in .tv extension is like the beginning of .com era. I meant almost all one worders are taken, the prices are raised. But it never be the same as with .com domains.
I meant ANY one word .com worth much money now, and I'm sure NOT any one word .tv would worth much money in the future.

As a .tv domainers we need to predict in what potential developers (endusers) may be interested in .tv. It's harder than to invest in .com's.

I always was thinking that generally - the future of interner are brands. Not only dull generic keyowrods but easy to remember brands (every really bif project is a brand: youtube.com but not videos.com, google.com but not searchengine.com etc.). The same is with .tv.

Finalizing I want to say that the period we are living in is a good and bad in the same time. 2 years ago I was thinking that .tv is a really BIG opportunity. With all that apps etc. I don't I'm not sure it's a really BIG opportunity.

But there is no other way, we are in it, so I'm still buying/registering .tv's cause something in my heart is telling me that I'm doing right.

Of course all is IMO. I don't have ipad, I use my phone only to call people, some of new technologies are sort of out of my understanding + I think i'm a still newbie in all this business.

 

[GoneWalkabout]

Thanks Claude for the pause for thought. Much appreciated. I have personally started to try and get my tech-free time whenever I can so I can enjoy some of the simpler things in life for a moment or two.

Things are heating up for .TV - but that doesn't mean those who own blahblah.tv are about to make a million. Those who will succeed will already have a plan for their names and understand the purpose to which they will/could be successfully used.

I always think Fin is nuts - but that has nothing to do with what he is saying here (LOL) - he is just generally nuts. However, in this case I think what he is saying is actually correct. The Use of domains is changing and we all have to adapt.

Many companies try to get to people using the simplest, most popular, method of delivery. How many times have you seen facebook.com/company on a product or billboard or advert instead of the company web address.

This doesn't mean that domains are dead, just that they are not as important in some cases as they once were.

I spoke with a guy this week who is using TV.company.com for his televisual content instead of using the company.tv format. He was happy with this, but his televisual stuff didn't amount to much anyway.

In contrast I spoke with two different groups who wanted their televisual presence (their films about a local area) on the internet - both ONLY wanted the name company.tv

The main thing to me is that anything televisual has a better chance of success using .tv


... or youtube!

We live in moveable times my friends, enjoy the ride!

(some may get sick, some will enjoy the thrill and end up as a rollercoaster hero!)

 

[tj1897]

Many companies try to get to people using the simplest, most popular, method of delivery. How many times have you seen facebook.com/company on a product or billboard or advert instead of the company web address.

700 million users sure do incite a lot of knee jerk pages on FB. Businesses need to control their brand / experience and traffic beyond cookie cutter pages so these social network pages are unlikley to remain exclusive destinations or even cut down the number of destinations that are built out.

For .tv the appeal is in the branding opportunity so this is we are hoping an alternative channel /avenue that is increasingly pursued - cant see demand rising for some of the other extensions though in the emerging internet landscape.

Who doesnt want their own tv channel after all? Its a huge ego/brand play - ustream got 75million funding to peddle this very dream.

 

[JB Lions]

"How many times have you seen facebook.com/company on a product or billboard or advert instead of the company web address."

For interaction. Most of that is just used as a traffic funnel to their website, that's their foundation.

"I think many people think that after premiums went away, the situation in .tv extension is like the beginning of .com era. I meant almost all one worders are taken, the prices are raised. But it never be the same as with .com domains."

With that, .com you can do anything with. .tv is kind of limited. I think what it is with this extension or any new ones are people just missed out on the .com so they think this is their chance. You have to be realistic with it. You can make money in most extensions but if you're thinking .com part 2, no.

 

[claudedauman]

I am so grateful for all of the stimulating opinions. Being mortal beings, certainty makes it difficult to be certain about anything.

My take is that the next revolution will be fueled by advances in wordpress and the ease of creating web sites and blogs. I speak about it in my blog post entitled, WordPress, a domain name investor’s best friend." I see a day when we will have billions of active web sites.

In addition, as competition in the tablet marketplace heats up, as is happening already, phone apps might become less important one day, than we would expect. Since I purchased my iPad, i'm surfing far less on my iphone. I also usually prefer not to use apps on my iPad but rather to type in directly to the website.

And I'm still typing in url's an awful lot. Maybe I'm just getting older, but maybe I'm getting a little wiser too.

So grateful for all the feedback.

Claude