“distracted” to protect its brands’ domain names — CNN too

Firm doesn’t register domains for popular segment.

Remember how CNN started iReport, and then only when it became very popular paid dearly for the domain name? To the tune of $750,000?

It may have done it again, as one DNW reader pointed out to me today.

CNN has a segment called CNN Distraction that’s getting a lot of attention. It features videos it describes this way: “CNN may have built its reputation by covering the news, but this stuff is definitely not news.. just freakin’ awesome.”

Examples include some ducks crossing a highway and a cat showing up on a TV news set.

Yet the firm didn’t bother to register CNNDistraction.com or CNNDistractions.com. They’re right now unregistered.

If these were generic or descriptive domains that cost a lot of money, then I could understand CNN taking a pass on them. But they aren’t even registered. If Distractions really takes off (and judging by the number of kitten videos it might), it may be sorry it didn’t spend $20 to register these domains.

In the meantime, I’m going to stick with the “hard” news CNN covers, such as these headlines right now on the site:

Woman records bobcat eating pet
More on Anderson’s eyeburn
There’s more to life than BBQ
An iPhone case you can eat
Teen: Pink toy ovens exclude boys
9 tales of celebrity tax troubles