CBS dumps fresh top level domain names

Firm nixes its .cbs and .showtime domains.

Broadcaster CBS is terminating its .cbs and .showtime top level domain names.

In a letter informing ICANN of its decision to terminate its registry agreements, the firm stated, “Despite efforts over the years to use the CBS TLDs in line with CBS’s gTLD applications, the firm is not actively using the CBS TLDs and therefore requests their early termination.”

CBS had only registered nine domains in the extensions, and only three were active when it informed ICANN in June.

The cancellation is interesting given that one of CBS’s competitors, Fox, is one of the more active users of its dot-brand top level domain. Fox had 185 second level domains in its TLD as of April. That stated, many of these domains are used for login pages, forwards, or do not right now resolve.

In other dot-brand cancellations, Lifestyle Domain Holdings is terminating .frontdoor and .cityeats.

ICANN opened comment periods for these four cancellations on August 28, allowing people to oppose ICANN’s decision not to transfer the domains to another party.