.tv is the Internet country code top level domain (.TV ccTLD) for Tuvalu. The .TV domain name is popular, and thus economically valuable, because “TV” also happens to be an abbreviation of the word television. This dual identity has helped .TV domains evolve into one of the most recognizable web domain choices for video-focused websites.

In 1998, the government of Tuvalu sought to capitalize on the .TV domain extension, later signing agreements with the International Telecommunication Union, Information.CA, Idealab, Verisign, and currently GoDaddy to expand the .TV internet domain. Except for reserved names like com.tv, net.tv, org.tv and others, anyone may register second-level domain .TV names.

By 2019, 8.4% of the revenue of the government of Tuvalu came from .TV domains, with hundreds of thousands of .TV domain websites registered globally. Google treats .TV as a generic top level domain (.TV TLD) because “users and website owners frequently see the domain as being more generic than country targeted,” allowing .TV domain sites to rank internationally.

Benefits of .TV Domains

SEO Implications of .TV Domains

Using a .TV domain does not negatively affect SEO. Google and other search engines treat .TV domain names like any other generic domain TLD, allowing them to rank worldwide based on content relevance and backlinks.

The key advantage is perception: the .TV domain extension carries a strong video association, which can improve click-through rates for video-related searches. As with any domain name registration, content quality and link-building matter far more than the extension itself.

Is a .TV Domain Right for Your Business?

A .TV domain name works best for websites branding themselves primarily as video platforms. This is why Uscreen uses a .TV web domain for its own site.

If a website contains only a few videos and is mostly text or images, a .TV domain may not be the best choice. However, if users visit primarily to watch video content, .TV domains can be highly effective.

Video-centric platforms like GeekBeat.tv demonstrate how .TV domain sites can successfully combine video with text-based content such as reviews.

.TV Domains for Video Subscriptions and Marketing

A .TV domain extension is particularly beneficial for subscription-based video services. These .TV domain websites often deliver video as a primary paid offering. Guitarcast, for example, uses a .TV domain to teach guitar lessons online.

Some businesses also add a .TV subdomain to support marketing or educational video content related to their main products or services. In these cases, formats such as “mysite.com.tv” help integrate .TV web domain content without disrupting the primary site structure.

Are .TV Domains Safe?

.TV domains are considered safe and legitimate, similar to other well-established top level domains. The .TV domain TLD is managed by Verisign, a reputable registry operator.

.TV domain registration is available through accredited .TV registrars, such as Wix. Registering through a trusted domain registrar ensures proper management and security of your .TV domain website.

As with any web domain, safety depends on best practices: strong passwords, two-factor authentication, updated contact details, and secure hosting. The .TV domain extension itself does not determine website legitimacy.

.TV Domain Extension FAQ