The top-level domain (TLD) “.media” was introduced as part of the generic TLD initiative by The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the governing body for domain names. ICANN designed .media as a space on the internet specifically for multimedia websites, businesses, and anyone connected to the creation, distribution, or consumption of digital media.
The .media TLD is managed by Donuts Inc., a domain name registry created in 2011, which holds the largest number of TLDs in the internet industry, including .media. Donuts Inc. officially launched the .media TLD on May 14, 2014, and it has been available to the general public since then.
The .media TLD is designed for a wide range of users and uses. For example, it provides a perfect web address for television and radio broadcasters, production companies, musicians, artists, designers, writers, news publishers, bloggers, and other creative professionals and organizations who want to showcase their work online or share media-related news or services. Popular media-related sites like Spotify or BBC could potentially make use of the .media TLD.
In addition, anyone who shares multimedia content regularly—like podcasters, vloggers, and influencers—may also benefit from using .media for their websites. It serves to create an exclusive space on the internet for media-related content, thereby helping users easily identify the purpose and content of the website based purely on its domain name.
As with all domain names, .media is subject to availability, i.e., a .media domain name is only available if it has not been registered by someone else before. Registration takes place through various domain name registrars, which act as the middlemen between ICANN and the person requesting the domain.
According to nTLDStats.com, as of January 2022, there are over 43,000 registered .media domains worldwide. This number is growing steadily, reflecting the ongoing digital transformation in today’s business and media landscape.
In conclusion, .media offers the opportunity to establish a unique and memorable online presence for anyone involved in the media industry, thus setting the stage for effective branding and marketing.
Sources:
- ICANN (icann.org)
- Donuts Inc.‘s official website (donuts.domains)
- nTLDStats.com
- “Domain Name Stat Report February 2022,” by Zion Market Research
- “A New gTLD Kills a Pioneer Domain Name!”, by Domain Name Wire.
