SPECIAL PROJECTS

Last month we reviewed a Web site with the new domain name of .tv.

This month, we will take a closer look at the origins of .tv and review some "news.tv" sites in News Online. Turn off your radio and tune into the INTERNET PROSPECTOR for a listen at some of the .tv Web sites.

When you see the letters "TV," you think television. On the Web, this translates to broadband, streaming video and audio.

Where did this domain originate? The country of Tuvalu had been assigned .tv as its country domain. In turn, Tuvalu signed a perpetual agreement with .tv Corporation (http://www.tv), which has the exclusive registry of the .tv domain. .tv Corporation provides Web identity and registry services for the .tv domain. In return, Tuvalu uses the proceeds from the agreement to enhance the lives of its citizens.

According to .tv Corp., many media content-providers have registered names with this new domain. Some registrants mentioned include Bloomberg, Reuters, Ziff Davis, HBO and Cox Broadcasting, along with U.S. broadcasting network affiliates and many others.

Registered does not mean up-and-running. The .tv domain is still in its infancy. So, pull out your search shovels, because it takes some digging to find functioning .tv Web sites.

One of the more interesting finds is Einstein.tv at http://www.einstein.tv/uk/. Einstein.tv offers science and technology programming indexed by Space, Technology, Earth Science and Life Science. Think of the headline news of science and technology, with some live breaking news content.

Another interesting site is Street.tv (http://street.tv/), a style entertainment page. If you are researching the fashion industry, this could be a fascinating read. Also, Street.tv produces documentaries, and creates programs for television and online networks. Hmmm, a possible prospect.

Of course, extreme sports (like http://reelfresh.tv) and music video pages (like The Viewing Lounge at http://www.tvl.tv) have jumped on the .tv wagon. There are travel cams or Web portals to the world (http://flyonthewall.tv). And you can watch "television" shows at sites like http://redeglobo.globo.com/ (and http://www.nederland.tv/).

.tv seems to be a growing source of information for the researcher. But does this mean I will be able to add a sound byte or video of a prospect to my profiles? Yes, the capability is now.

Pamela J. Smith