NtldStats.com, a website that tracks new generic top level domains (gTLDs), recently showed that the total number of new domain names is falling.
On October 11th there were 24,798,469 total registered new domains according to NtldStats. On October 12th the tracking website recorded they were 24,784,485. That is a loss of 13,984 domains in one day. Just shy of 14,000 domains have been deleted from the total number of new gTLDs.
This wouldn't be anything to get concerned about under normal circumstances. However new gTLDs are not operating under normal circumstances. They operate under separate rules from legacy generic top level domains (gTLDs) and country code top level domains (ccTLDs). These new new gTLD registries hold back premium domains, take back domains at will from registrants, and raise prices when/as they please. The new gTLDs are not what consumers and companies are used to.
Often domain registrations can ebb and flow whether they are legacy gTLDs or ccTLDs like .CA, .UK, .AU, etc. However new gTLD operators often uses NtldStats total registration number as a “sign of success”. The total number of domains on NtldStats is a highly cited figure.
The upcoming deletions, domains that will enter availability for anyone to register, are over 1 million. That is roughly 4% percent of all new gTLDs according to NtldStats. The falling numbers should concern new registries and registrars that champion new gTLDs.
If these numbers continue to fall, they can't claim success. Even if there are some bright spots in the industry. These new gTLDs companies rise and fall together. Whether they want to admit it or not.
Many domain registrars are running current promotions selling new gTLDs for under $1 dollar. So you would expect to see registration additions to outpace domain deletions.
Does this mean the new gTLD market has become oversaturated? Are people just tired of seeing buying new domain garbage? Hopefully this is the case and people are coming to their senses, realizing that new gTLDs are not worth a $1 registration fee or any renewal fee.
I think it is a bad sign that many of these domains can't generate interest to be registered. The only way to get domain investors interested is to offer teaser domain registrations. Many consumers drop domains when they get the renewal email one year later. Discussion forums are full of people making these complaints.
Will we see more domains dropping vs new gTLDs being registered? Is this the beginning of the end for ngTLDs?
