History of the Extension
.tv is the country code for Tuvalu, a Polynesian island state in the Pacific Ocean. Approximately halfway between Australia and Hawaii, it is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There are six atolls and three main islands, making up a total land area of 26 square kilometres, with a population of just over 10,000.
1996 marked the introduction of the .tv domain extension. In exchange for financial compensation, the country entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with a Canadian group in 1998. .TV Corporation International was formed in 1999 by US-based Idealab, which managed the extension. As a result of the extension, Tuvalu earned $1 million in revenue which was used to aid its entry into the United Nations.
From 2001 to 2021, Verisign operated the .tv extension as part of its acquisition of .TV Corporation International. 115 premium names were auctioned by Sedo in 2010 for the extension.
When a new contract was negotiated in 2021, Verisign declined to continue to operate the .tv extension, and GoDaddy Registry recently completed the transition.
For now, the prices remain the same, though there are periodic promotions like the one we just saw.
Most Popular .TV Domains
One of the most popular .tv extension sites is Twitch.tv. Most of Twitch’s content is gaming or esports-related. Amazon operates Twitch Interactive as one of its subsidiaries.
According to SimilarWeb rankings, Twitch.tv is the 32nd most popular website in the world.
MLB.tv, another high-volume site, redirects to MLB.com for streaming US Major League Baseball.
How Might A .TV Domain Name Be Used
There are several ways in which a .tv domain could be used:
- specialty TV channels
- documentary makers
- influencers for YouTube, TikTok or similar channels
- television stations
- streaming services
- ’how to’ video producers
- educational television
- bands or performance artists
- tech products related to television
How To Buy a .tv Domain
It is extremely easy to register a .tv domain. The first step is to choose a domain registrar from which you can directly purchase your domain name. It is easiest to do it this way. You may search for the .tv domain that you have in mind here: https://shop.active-domain.com/register/index.php
Check that the domain you want ends with .tv when you search for it. It’s yours to register if it’s available. In the event that it isn’t, our system will suggest similar domains for you to choose from.
Is a .tv Domain Right For You?
There will be some businesses that won’t be able to take advantage of the .tv domain. Websites that promote themselves as video content creators, however, can use the .tv domain to differentiate themselves from their competition and establish their brand. You can even use a subdomain .tv address for this purpose.
In case you’re still unsure, you can purchase both a .com and a .tv domain and forward the secondary address to the primary address. If need be, this will give you more flexibility and give you a chance to change your mind.