Waves on the Web as ‘.tv’ comes to the fore

Due to the increasing popularity of uploading video clips to the Internet, the Web domain “.tv” is gaining status as more people choose it over “.com.”
According to domain registration companies, the number of applicants for .tv domains from January to Aug.1 of this year was 1,460. That’s three times the number from the same period last year.
Industry insiders say that the rising demand for .tv domains is because of the growing number of video Web services. For instance, famous Korean video portals such as Say Channel, Mgoon, MNcast, Pandora and Africa all have .tv domains. In addition, e-learning and online home shopping Web sites are also seeking .tv domains.
The trend applies more to sites that host self-made video clips, otherwise referred to as user-created or user-generated content. Interestingly, major broadcasting stations have not yet implemented .tv domains.
Priced at 60,000 won a year for use of the Web address, .tv domains are approximately two to three times more expensive than other domains.
“Dot TV is very easy to remember and has a strong identity compared to other domains,” said a spokesman for Gabia, a Web service company and domain registration agency. “As video Web portals such as YouTube become popular around the world, demand for .tv domains will probably increase.”
Also, .tv domain users are more inclined to keep their addresses, compared to those who use .com or .net, according to the Internet domain name managing company VeriSign.

By Wohn Dong-hee Staff Writer [wohn@joongang.co.kr]