MTV Now Owns A Bunch Of College Newspaper Sites’ Domains

Sorry I didn’t hit on this earlier this month when this news first hit, but I’ve been busy.

Many years ago, I worked for a company that provided an online content management system for folks. When we started taking on a ton of college newspaper clients, we spun those of into another company that eventually became another company who then sold management of over a hundred of its college newspaper clients to another company (long after I left there).

The thing is that now, the parent company of that other company has been bought out (official press release) by MTVU, an MTV Networks-owned channel geared toward college students. While this would be fine and dandy, from the little bit I know about College Publisher, I know it registered a lot of the domains in their own name, meaning that the domains for many of these sites are now the property MTV/Viacom.

For example, the Oregon Daily Emerald, where I spent many years and was in charge of the original registration for that domain, now has an MTV-owned domain. When they agreed to let College Publisher take over ownership of their domain, I have no idea, as it certainly wasn’t that way when I set it all up years ago. Update at 10:40: Just got an email from the advisor at the Emerald after I pointed this out to her (she’s an old friend of mine), and they said that when they signed up for College Publisher, they made sure there was a clause to make sure domain registration could be change into their name. The change to their name never happened, so she called College Publisher, who said it would be changed later this week. If any of you have similar clauses in your contract, I’d make a phone call.

Update at 11:30: Got this off the College Media Advisor’s Listserve. This is from some folks at College Publisher. I’m starting to understand their reasoning for why they do what they do, but I still wouldn’t feel comfortable with this:

All we ask of newspapers is that our technology team be able to operate the domain name record as the technical contact of the domain name. We ask this so that we can make emergency DNS changes (if needed), among other important technical changes. I’ll give an example: in 2003, a backhoe hit several T-1 lines that connected to our datacenter during construction related to Boston’s Big Dig. We had our servers up in another data center very quickly, but we had to change all the DNS records for the sites on our network on the fly, so that newspaper sites would resolve again. Because we managed so many of the domains on our network, we were able to successfully and quickly execute on this. In addition, “ownership” is not something of great relevance to us. We generally pay for domain name renewals whether we are the owner (administrator) or the technical contact, so ownership is not a prerequisite for our willingness to pay the year fee. It is also not a prerequisite that we own the domain name in order for a newspaper to join the network — we work with plenty of newspapers that own their own domain name.

There is no nefarious plot here, and as someone who is technically inclined, I’m sure you know how common it is for hosting/technology providers to be domain name administrators and technical contacts. In the rare occasion that a newspaper has left our network, we have transferred their domain over to them, no questions asked. We view ourselves as stewards of both the newspaper’s domain name and their online content, for the duration of our relationship with the given paper. I can’t tell you how many times student webmasters have gone on summer vacation, and domain renewals are allowed to lapse. This preference is the result of first-hand experiences we’ve had over the years in this market.

It would obviously be very stupid for MTV/Viacom to try anything with these domains, and I doubt they would. I just know I’d sleep better at night if my domain wasn’t owned by a billion dollar corporation.

From my few minutes of investigating (I have a day job, folks), it appears that most of the MTV-owned domains are the ones that are on College Publisher servers. For the most part, the domains that are on the ispi/Digital Partners/New Digitial Group web site are registered to the client, not to the service provider. And obviously many of the domains below are not part of this deal, as I do know that New Digital Group works with sites other than college newspapers. But for the most part, if MTV now owns a domain, it’s one of the domains on the College Publisher servers.

Obviously there are exceptions to that rule, as there are several sites on the College Publisher servers that are owned by the client and there are a few sites on the Digital Partners/New Digital Group server that are owned by the service provider. I do know that when I worked at ispi/NDG/DP that it was our practice to register the domains in the client’s name, not ours (that was one thing we actually used in our sales materials, as our competitors did the opposite).

Below are the domains that I came up with via DomainTools that (as of right now) are hosted on the two main Web servers for each company. If anybody wants to go through them and see who owns what, knock yourself out.

On one of College Publisher Servers (Update: Here’s another server with College Publisher’s sites):

1. aboveunderground.com

2. accentadvocate.com

3. alcornchronicle.com

4. asuherald.com

5. asuphoenix.com

6. avionnewspaper.com

7. babsonbusinessjournal.com

8. beaconnewspaper.com

9. bsudailynews.com

10. bucks-news.com

11. californiaaggie.com

12. campuschronicle.net

13. capahaarrow.com

14. centralmania.com

15. colgateforum.com

16. concordy.com

17. cpstaging3.com

18. cpstaging6.com

19. cpstaging9.com

20. crcconnection.com

21. csucauldron.com

22. cuatower.com

23. dailycollegian.com

24. dailyemerald.com

25. dailyfreepress.com

26. dailygamecock.com

27. dailyhelmsman.com

28. dailyillini-test.com

29. dailylobo.com

30. dailynebraskan.com

31. dailynorthwestern.com

32. dailysundial.com

33. dailytarheel.com

34. dailyvidette.com

35. dailyvidette.org

36. drurymirror.com

37. dthonline.com

38. easternstatesman.com

39. elmhurstleader.com

40. emorywheel.com

41. emorywheel.org

42. equinoxnews.com

43. fordhamlefthook.com

44. gccompass.com

45. gccvoice.com

46. gwupilot.com

47. harbus.org

48. hartfordinformer.com

49. hbucollegian.com

50. isubengal.com

51. jacconline.org

52. keeneequinox.com

53. kirkwoodcommunique.com

54. knightnewsonline.com

55. ksusentinel.com

56. lanternonline.com

57. lavozdeanza.com

58. lbccvikingnews.com

59. leprovoc.com

60. logosmagazine.com

61. longviewcurrent.com

62. loyolamaroon.com

63. lslonline.net

64. lsureveille.com

65. lugazette.com

66. mainecampus.com

67. maristcircle.com

68. maroon-news.com

69. matctimes.com

70. mcctartan.net

71. mcgilltribune.com

72. mediaethicsmagazine.com

73. merrimackbeacon.com

74. miamiamusement.com

75. minoritytoday.com

76. mirrornewsonline.net

77. missouri-miner.com

78. mtsusidelines.com

79. muhlenbergweekly.com

80. mustangdaily.net

81. navigatornews.org

82. ndmcolumns.com

83. newsrecord.org

84. nineronline.com

85. nsucurrent.com

86. nu-news.com

87. outlookpress.org

88. oxnardcollegeobserver.com

89. pacertimes.com

90. pcbuc.com

91. pclionsroar.com

92. pirateslog.org

93. ppqonline.org

94. psucollegio.com

95. pucchronicle.com

96. pvpanther.com

97. quadrangleonline.com

98. ramcigar.com

99. rockhurstsentinel.com

100. saintanselmcrier.com

101. sanmatean.com

102. sbvcarrowhead.com

103. sjuhawknews.com

104. sjulawforum.com

105. slccglobelink.com

106. slulionspride.com

107. smccorsair.com

108. smithsophian.com

109. sternopportunity.com

110. studentpressreview.com

111. suffolkjournal.net

112. svcreview.com

113. testcp11.com

114. testcp12.com

115. testcp13.com

116. testcp14.com

117. testcp15.com

118. testcp16.com

119. testcp17.com

120. testcp18.com

121. testcp19.com

122. testcp20.com

123. testcp31.com

124. testcp34.com

125. testcp37.com

126. testcp40.com

127. texasbusinessweekly.com

128. the-standard.org

129. the-telescope.com

130. thecaupanther.com

131. theclariononline.com

132. theclockonline.com

133. thecoraddi.com

134. thedailyaztec.com

135. theemorywheel.com

136. thefamuanonline.com

137. theguardianonline.com

138. thehamiltonherald.com

139. thehilltoponline.com

140. thehornettribune.com

141. theimpactnews.com

142. theimpactonline.com

143. thejambar.com

144. thejusticeonline.com

145. themontclarion.org

146. themuleskinner.com

147. thencccommuter.org

148. thenews.org

149. thenewsargus.com

150. thenortherner.com

151. thepolitic.org

152. theprospector.org

153. thequindecim.com

154. therip.com

155. theseahawk.com

156. theseahawk.org

157. thespartandaily.com

158. thesuffolkvoice.net

159. thetalon-online.com

160. theticker.org

161. thetoweronline.com

162. thetrident.org

163. thewestgeorgian.com

164. tnsoxford.com

165. trinity-times.com

166. trinitytripod.com

167. uahexponent.com

168. udallasnews.com

169. unews.com

170. unewsonline.com

171. universityindependent.com

172. uscspartanburg.com

173. usfbusinessquarterly.com

174. usforacle.com

175. usishield.com

176. ustcauldron.org

177. utdmercury.com

178. uwtledger.com

179. venturacollegepress.com

180. wcuquad.com

181. westernfrontonline.com

182. wkuherald.com

183. wucollegian.com

184. yucommentator.com

Still on Digital Partners Servers:

1. 34st.com

2. acuoptimist.com

3. ameseats.com

4. asurampage.com

5. asustudentvoice.com

6. bccanews.org

7. bctigernews.com

8. beachandbaypress.com

9. blackcollegeview.com

10. blackcollegeviewonline.com

11. bmtech-uk.com

12. brooklynexcelsior.com

13. chattanoogapulse.com

14. choralworld.net

15. collegelifedaily.com

16. collegelifedaily.net

17. collegelifedaily.org

18. crimsonwhiteonline.com

19. crusaderonline.com

20. dailybarometer.com

21. dailypennsylvanian.com

22. dailyvanguard.com

23. davidcityumc.org

24. delawaretroopers.org

25. diamondbackonline.com

26. digitalpartners.com

27. dpalumni.com

28. drewacorn.com

29. ducourtbouillon.com

30. easterneronline.com

31. ecollegetimes.com

32. ecomplete.com

33. elvaq.com

34. entertainmentmanagementonline.com

35. fsunews.com

36. fsview.com

37. genevaumc.net

38. gothenburgtimes.com

39. hahnforgovernor.com

40. hahnfornebraska.com

41. hahnfornebraska.net

42. hahnfornebraska.org

43. hsuoracle.com

44. huskerdeals.com

45. huskernews.com

46. ispi.net

47. jhunewsletter.com

48. jsuflash.com

49. jubilee-ocs.com

50. kaleo.org

51. lajollavillagenews.com

52. landinstitute.com

53. landinstitute.net

54. landinstitute.org

55. livinglincoln.com

56. livinlincoln.com

57. louisvillecardinal.com

58. luclarion.com

59. midwestlivestock.com

60. millsweekly.com

61. msureporter.com

62. mypembrokeshire.com

63. ncatregister.org

64. ndvsac.org

65. netroopers.org

66. northcreekneighborhood.com

67. ntctroopers.com

68. nyunews.com

69. oberonentertainment.com

70. oudaily.com

71. paisano-online.com

72. peninsulabeacon.com

73. randb.com

74. rdhdance.com

75. rdhdance.org

76. reflector-online.com

77. regishighlander.com

78. reportermag.com

79. riponcollegedays.com

80. samagama.com

81. sandiegodowntownnews.com

82. sdnews.com

83. seminolechronicle.com

84. southerndigest.com

85. southpointecc.org

86. spectator-online.com

87. statepaper.com

88. surgicalimages.com

89. thecahp.net

90. thecahp.org

91. thedailyonline.com

92. thedragon.biz

93. theeastcarolinian.com

94. theemzone.com

95. thegramblinite.com

96. thegwpatriot.com

97. thehornettribune.net

98. thehullabaloo.com

99. thejohnsonian.com

100. thenorthernlight.org

101. thepinelog.com

102. theplainsman.com

103. theracquet.net

104. thesimpsonian.com

105. thevoyager.net

106. tigersroar.com

107. tsumeter.com

108. ucfindependent.com

109. ucgoldentrianglenews.com

110. ugatoday.com

111. umcgeneva.org

112. umcneb.org

113. uncmirror.com

114. unogateway.com

115. unoprivateer.com

116. usarollersports.com

117. usarollersports.net

118. usarollersports.org

119. usavanguard.com

120. vacaesrey.com

121. vanderbiltorbis.com

122. yuobserver.com

123. newsnetnebraska.org

Update: Thanks to Bryan M.’s comment, I’ve found another server for College Publisher that hosts a bunch of their sites:

1. americanjurist.net

2. bandmonline.com

3. baruchgradvoice.com

4. bcheights.com

5. bennettbanner.com

6. bentleyvanguard.com

7. berkeleybeacon.com

8. bgnews.com

9. blackvoicesonline.com

10. brockpress.com

11. browndailyherald.com

12. bsccomment.com

13. campustimes.org

14. cardozoinsider.com

15. carolinianonline.com

16. cccangle.com

17. cerritosjournalism.com

18. chaffeybreeze.com

19. claremontindependent.com

20. collegemedianetwork.com

21. collegian.com

22. commonwealthtimes.com

23. coyotepressonline.com

24. cpnewslink.com

25. cpstaging1.com

26. cpstaging10.com

27. cpstaging4.com

28. cpstaging7.com

29. critograph.com

30. currentsauce.com

31. cybersilhouette.com

32. daily49er.com

33. dailyorange.com

34. dailyskiff.com

35. dailytargum.com

36. dailytitan.com

37. dailytrojan.com

38. dakotastudent.com

39. dastoronline.com

40. districtchronicles.com

41. docketonline.com

42. easttennessean.com

43. ecorsair.com

44. enmuthechase.com

45. eraunews.com

46. gcsunade.com

47. gonzagabulletin.com

48. gonzagawitness.com

49. gsusignal.com

50. guilfordian.com

51. gwhatchet.com

52. highlandernews.net

53. hofstrachronicle.com

54. houstonianonline.com

55. indianastatesman.com

56. inpoliticallycorrect.org

57. kansascityaurora.com

58. kirkwoodstudentmedia.com

59. ksgcitizen.org

60. kykernel.com

61. lakelandmirror.com

62. lavalleystar.com

63. lhueagleye.com

64. loyolagreyhound.com

65. loyolaphoenix.com

66. marshallparthenon.com

67. mclabeacon.com

68. mitsloanfifteen.com

69. mountimes.org

70. msucontraband.com

71. msuspokesman.com

72. ndsmcobserver.com

73. nevadasagebrush.com

74. newarktargum.com

75. ngcskyliner.com

76. njitvector.com

77. orion-online.net

78. pacepawprint.com

79. pacepress.org

80. piedmontnavigator.com

81. prattccbeavertale.com

82. princetonspectator.com

83. pulsemagazineonline.com

84. qcknightnews.com

85. readbuzz.com

86. roundupnews.com

87. rustorian.com

88. rwcactivist.com

89. ryunlv.com

90. sbstatesman.com

91. sccollegian.com

92. signal-online.net

93. smsuspur.com

94. sonomastatestar.com

95. spectatornews.com

96. srumosaic.com

97. studentvoiceonline.com

98. studlife.com

99. suujournal.com

100. tchnews.com

101. tcudailyskiff.com

102. technicianonline.com

103. testcp1.com

104. testcp2.com

105. testcp21.com

106. testcp22.com

107. testcp23.com

108. testcp24.com

109. testcp25.com

110. testcp3.com

111. testcp32.com

112. testcp35.com

113. testcp38.com

114. testcp5.com

115. the-mass-media.com

116. theaccent.org

117. theallstate.com

118. thecounterweight.com

119. thecowl.com

120. thedakotastudent.com

121. thedepauw.com

122. theechotimes.com

123. thefurmanpaladin.com

124. thegeorgetownindependent.com

125. thejudicium.com

126. thekenyonvoice.com

127. thelaf.com

128. thelantern.com

129. theliberty.org

130. theloquitur.com

131. themhnews.com

132. themichigantimes.com

133. theminaretonline.com

134. themountainecho.com

135. themountaineeronline.com

136. themustang.com

137. theonlinerocket.com

138. theorion.com

139. theorion.org

140. theperiscope.org

141. thepowwow.net

142. theprofileonline.com

143. thesandspur.org

144. theskylineview.com

145. thestalliononline.com

146. thetigernews.com

147. thetraveleronline.com

148. thetriangle.org

149. thevistaonline.com

150. tnhonline.com

151. torchonline.com

152. touroindependent.com

153. ualbanyezine.com

154. ucdadvocate.com

155. uctangerine.com

156. universitychronicle.com

157. usmfreepress.org

158. utahstatesman.com

159. utcecho.com

160. uwmleader.com

161. versusmag.org

162. villanovan.com

163. virtualreporter.org

164. volanteonline.com

165. waltonian.com

166. webujournal.com

167. westerncarolinian.com

168. westerncourier.com

169. whartonjournal.com

170. wsusignpost.com

171. wyoindy.com

172. uconews.com

Update on 8/17: Here’s an interview with College Publisher’s Paul Pennelli about the purchase.