The top-level domain (TLD) “Eurovision” is an Internationalized domain name (IDN) ccTLD, particularly ‘.eu’ standing for the European Union. The term ‘Eurovision’ in the context mainly refers to the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU’s) telecommunication network, known for broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest annually.
The advent of TLDs sprouted with the creation of the Domain Name System (DNS) that was invented in the early 1980s by Paul Mockapetris. TLDs are essentially the last section or the furthest section to the right in a web address or an email. For example, in the domain name www.google.com, “.com” is the TLD. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for overseeing and managing the TLD system.
Since 2005, individual countries’ specific TLD “.eu” has been available for use by individuals, businesses, and organizations across the European Union. The “.eu” domain was established by the European Commission, and its management and registry were entrusted to European Registry for Internet Domains (EURid). These domains have been popular for those wishing to express a European identity or market presence. Even non-EU countries like Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein have been allocated their respective TLDs.
Now focusing on ‘Eurovision’, it’s the term coined for the broadcasting network set up by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and more popularly known for the Eurovision Song Contest. Though there isn’t a dedicated TLD for ‘Eurovision’, EBU utilizes its own “.ebu” top-level domain. The EBU includes 115 member organizations in 56 countries and 30 Associates in Asia, Africa, Australasia, and the Americas. The EBU acquired its TLD “.ebu” via ICANN’s new gTLD program where organizations could apply for their TLDs.
In conclusion, while there is no specific domain “.eurovision”, the Eurovision network operates under the umbrella of EBU’s “.ebu” TLD. The term Eurovision most known for its song contest, signifies Europe’s unity, diversity, and cultural exchange, and it’s represented on the internet with the TLD “.eu”.
Sources:
1. ICANN: Understanding the Domain Name System (https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dns-2014-01-09-en)
2. EURid: The .eu domain (https://eurid.eu/en/)
3. European Broadcasting Union: About EBU (https://www.ebu.ch/about)
4. ICANN: gTLD Applicant Guidebook (https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb)
