When it comes down to breaking news about the domain industry, or the coronavirus, there is one undisputed rule of thumb: you can’t go wrong with owning the matching domain name.
In this case, the domain name BreakingNews.com belonged to Microsoft Corporation since it was acquired in 2009, and became a part of the MSNBC portfolio of domains. Microsoft sold off these assets in 2012 to NBC.
Comcast Corp, the parent company of NBC, bought out Microsoft Corp’s 50% stake in MSNBC.com for $300 million, to assume full control of the news website.
The domain BreakingNews.com now redirects to NBCNews.com, and nobody remembers who registered it in 1996.
Such is the fate of great domains and businesses, they often become the guiding lights that shine in the darkness, steering other sailing ventures to their destination.
