This morning TechCrunch covered the acquisition and launch of the domain name ScienceFiction.com by “Domain name investor and blogger Patrick Ruddell (aka Chef Patrick)”
In an article entitled “ScienceFiction.com Aims To Become The “TechCrunch Of Sci-Fi””
According to the story Chef Patrick bought the domain name off of Domain Capital for $175K after someone defaulted in their loan.
“”The goal of ScienceFiction.com is to offer top quality news, reviews and interviews about the world of sci-fi and fantasy.”
Ruddell tells me he’ll handle the business side of things, while one of his partners, who he adds has a journalism degree and has been writing for 20+ years, will take care of the editorial part of the equation.”
Its no small achievement to get your domain purchase covered by TechCrunch.
So congrats on that.
Interesting to note that no where in the story is does not say anywhere in the story that the Chef is employed full time for Moniker.com or that Moniker.com at one time had the domain under a brokerage contract.
However I’m told the domain was not under contract at Moniker while the Chef was employed at Moniker
Michele Van Tilborg husband, Dirk Van Tillborg is listed on the site on Partner & Editor in Chief.
Rob McClinton is listed as as a Partner & Business Development Manager of the company.
Rob is the Director, of Oversee Client Services & Registrar Operations.
I actually looked at the domain myself but passed on it, because as the title of the TechCrunch article illustrates, most people will naturally want to shorten Science Fiction to Scifi and thought you really needed both versions.
The statement the TechCrunch took its title from is the quote of the Chef in which he says:
“”Or, as Ruddell puts it (and not us): the “TechCrunch of Science Fiction”.”””
Yet when the story title went out TechCrunch shortened it to Scifi.
Despite that issue, with TechCrunch coverage the site is off to a great start.
Scifi.com is owned by NBC/Universal and forwards to SYFY.com which is the old Scifi network.
Big risk, but with gigantic upside. Hugely lucrative niche with intensely loyal fans. If they can use this domain to some how grab a piece of that pie, it has the potential to develop into a killer standalone business. Hope they have a strong strategy. 175k isn’t exactly peanuts for an independent.
Wish them well.
Very nice acquasistion,but i am with you Mike, i think most people now shorten to SciFi.
Wish him well with it though.
If you wait for the perfect domain match, it might not come anytime soon.
I congratulate Patrick for seizing the moment.
I’m sure the site will be very successful.
And that is how AOL will kill TechCrunch!
Wow, someone overpays for a domain and starts a blog.
Where is the “Tech” in that?
In French, Spanish, … ‘SciFi’ is UNKNOWN and “Science Fiction’ is the term!!!
It’s probably like compare Ad.com and Advertising.com, certainly great to own both but trust me, I will not pest if one day I only own Advertising.com (in a side note, I know it will never happen
Congrats to Patrick and his friends, the idea to create a portal around science fiction is certainly a VERY GOOD IDEA, there are millions fans in the world (starting by me who think it will be great to have more science fiction movies done each year).
Now it’s only the begining, they have the name and the motivation, their job will be to provide constant quality and original content so it becomes the Techcrunch of Science Fiction (as they suggest).
A true challenge, all my wishes!
Its great to see the launch of a site by a fellow domainer get some coverage on TechCrunch.
I agree with Francois.
“In French, Spanish, … ‘SciFi’ is UNKNOWN and “Science Fiction’ is the term!!!”
This also aplies to German & Italian. Common english language shortners like “SciFi” are only real popular in the U.S. ( only 7% of internet users)
The rest of internet users ( 93% ) will most likely use the correct spelling. Which makes ” the domain “SciFi.com” a piece of crap compared to “ScienceFiction.com”
The Chef hit platinum.
Wish em all the best…
BTW, what happened with RSS.com ?
Ohh, nothing.
Wanna
Actually I met with Ron at TRAFFIC and they are working hard on the RSS.com project.
It is taking them a lot long than they initially planned but I can tell you I have seen a beta version of it and they are HARD at work on RSS.com and it will be out in 2011.
there are no doubts, it’s a GREAT BUY and he has very good chances to resell it with a BIG PROFIT
I think RSS.com is more valuable not being in your hands. Your sites are SEO suicide. Left to you, RSS.com wouldn’t rank for RSS.com.
How’s SantaRosa.com doing for “Santa Rosa”? VisitFlorida.com ranks for it, but your flagship site doesn’t.
The word SEO shouldn’t appear anywhere on your site, really.
@ Wanna
I think RSS.com is more valuable not being in your hands. Your sites are SEO suicide. Left to you, RSS.com wouldn’t rank for RSS.com.
How’s SantaRosa.com doing for “Santa Rosa”? VisitFlorida.com ranks for it, but your flagship site doesn’t.
The word SEO shouldn’t appear anywhere on your site, really.
@MHB,
Your post gave me a great idea for a site. Hand-reg’d ScienceFictionary.com today
– TBC
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I would not have spent 175K on this name, if I had it, but I am not succesful, so what can I really say. If somebody has a vision, they should go for it. I am sure CP has a good plan for the name and I wish him the best of luck.
Actually I met with Ron at TRAFFIC and they are working hard on the RSS.com project.
It is taking them a lot long than they initially planned but I can tell you I have seen a beta version of it and they are HARD at work on RSS.com and it will be out in 2011.
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I have no idea what they’re doing with RSS.com, but if you want, Dave Winer’s beach place is literally like 2 minutes where where I’m sitting right this very instant in St. Aug Beach. Actually met him before via a common acquaintance. I could maybe-kinda put in a good word, if you want, presuming… ya know. It’s somehow related to RSS technology.
LS
I’m not involved in the project, Ron is a friend and keeps me updated on the site.
I just wanted to let everyone know that Wanna comment to the effect that the domain is just sitting around doing nothing is inaccurate
Shiphouse
Glad I could help.
Commissions and contributions are welcome
Shiphouse
Glad I could help.
Commissions and contributions are welcome
))::
is it a Record Price for a Science Fiction domain?
In the October 2007 Miami TRAFFIC-Moniker live auction it was a lot entry listed with a price range of $250,001 – $500,000 range …but domain auction prices and activity was a diffrent ball game back then
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Interesting that Moniker/Oversee is apparently giving da Chef leeway to develop and co-manage this “project” — Sweet setup !
If anyone deserves it’s Chef Patrick. He’s a good guy, and his was the first domain blog I started reading. He come’s off as an honest hard working guy, I just hope working at Moniker has not corrupted him in any way.
Wow that’s not exactly an endorsement of Moniker. Pretty harsh.
@ Dean
I just hope working at Moniker has not corrupted him in any way.
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LOL,LOL
I cant resist a honest pun
Merry Xmas
Curious if this was an outright cash deal or a restructure/financed through domain capital since the who is has not changed. Care to comment Patrick? Is Moniker involved in this at all? Either way best of luck to you and the team. Happy Holidays to all.
@Landon
I think Alfred Hitchcock said it best,
“I never said all actors are cattle; what I said was all actors should be treated like cattle”
A Merry Christmas to you as well.
might resell this domain for an x,xxx,xxx.xx price?
@WebBuyThe.com
Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’ve been assuming…. a restructured/refinanced deal with DC still as as the primary lender, but a new mortgagor on the virtual property….. when referring to da Chef, TechCrunch’s quote: “he dropped $175,000 on it” – may have a bit of spin, sizzle or “extra mustard” on it. I would guess that one or more the “partners” also have an equity stake and/or co-borrower position along with da cyber Chef…… Though, with proper focus, I do think there is some pretty good upside to this “property”.
Come to think of it, da Chef did have a bit of a SciFi quailty to him when he was wearing the blinking lights around his head (seriously) during the cocktail party at the Brooklyn T.R.A.F.F.I.C. domain show in Oct. 2009 – LOL – …he really has quite a propensity or knack for attracting attention and/or creating buzz.
has CP said what he wants to do with this domain?
Chef Patrick made a formal, detailed announcement on his blog about is departure from Moniker/Oversee.net
http://www.chefpatrick.com/goodbye-oversee-chef-patrick-is-back/
Quotes:
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” I won’t bore you with job specifics, but since taking the position I have sold well over $3 million dollars in domain names including the million dollar sale I wanted.”
To sum up that story, I went to Oversee for an education and walked away with a bachelors in domain brokerage.
“Moniker and I part on good terms.”
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Congrats to the Chef