A top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name, the letters immediately following the final dot in an Internet address. The TLD for “THEATRE” is .theatre. This TLD is classified as a Generic top-level domain (gTLD), which means it is intended for general use by users across the globe. It’s managed by the Donuts Registry, a company that owns and operates various TLDs with a focus on specialty domains.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which is responsible for managing and coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that every address is unique and that all users of the Internet can find all valid addresses, recognizes .theatre as a gTLD. ICANN launched the new gTLD program in 2012 to improve innovation, competition, and consumer choice in the domain name space.
The .theatre domain extension was released to the General Availability on March 8, 2016. As with other recent TLDs, .theatre aims to provide a new environment for the online theatre and performing arts communities to share and promote their work beyond what the traditional .org or .com domains could provide.
The .theatre TLD is open for anyone to register, but it’s particularly beneficial to theaters, acting schools, performers, critics, and ticketing businesses. For example, a theater company can use a .theatre domain to share showtimes, sell tickets, post reviews, and more. On the other hand, an acting school or performer can make use of the domain to highlight courses or performances and offer an online portfolio of their work.
While it offers a specific context for site content, which can aid in SEO efforts, each registrar, like GoDaddy, sets its pricing for registering a .theatre domain. However, a potential registrant should be aware that gTLDs typically retail higher than the standard .com or .net domains.
Sources:
- ICANN New gTLD Program (https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program)
- Donuts Inc. (https://donuts.domains/what-we-do/top-level-domains)
- Registry Agreement – .theatre (https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/theatre-2015-07-06-en)
- New Top Level Domain Launch Dates (https://web4africa.com/new-top-level-domain-launch-dates/)
- What is a domain name extension (https://www.godaddy.com/help/what-is-a-domain-name-extension-665)
