Link Freedom Group (LFG) aspires to become a best-in-class, vertically integrated domain name registration authority, see linkfreedomgroup.link. This TLD is part of a carefully curated portfolio of strings that LFG intends to pursue in ICANN’s 2026 New gTLD Program. In assembling this portfolio, LFG focused on securing meaningful, memorable, and commercially compelling strings that resonate strongly with end users and offer long-term growth potential.
Over the past four years, LFG (Nova Registry) has successfully grown its flagship TLD, .LINK, from approximately 125,000 to more than 300,000 domains under management. This growth has been driven by innovative distribution strategies, the expansion of registrar partnerships, and a granular pricing model that has enabled .LINK to remain competitively priced while avoiding the significant fee increases implemented by some other registry operators.
LFG’s experience in the domain name industry has reinforced one of the key lessons from the 2012 application round: long-term sustainability is strengthened through portfolio diversification. By spreading operational costs and mitigating revenue fluctuations across multiple TLDs, LFG is better positioned to withstand market volatility and invest in continued growth. Accordingly, LFG believes that even obtaining a subset of the TLDs for which it has applied will establish a diversified portfolio capable of supporting long-term economic stability, operational resilience, and sustainable growth.
1. Mission and purpose: The mission of .podcast is to give the podcasting medium a namespace that matches its name. Intended registrants include individual podcasters and shows establishing owned web presence; podcast networks and studios; hosting, distribution, production and analytics services; advertising and monetization platforms serving the medium; and the directories, events, awards and publications of the podcast industry. Intended users are the listeners who seek shows and episodes, and the advertisers, guests and partners who engage with the podcasting ecosystem worldwide. Following delegation, the applicant will, as registry operator of the .podcast TLD, conduct a phased launch, implement all ICANN-required rights protection mechanisms, and distribute the TLD through ICANN-accredited registrars, supported by marketing and outreach to build awareness and adoption among the intended registrant and user groups. The TLD will be operated under a comprehensive DNS abuse prevention and mitigation framework covering the full range of abuse types, combining proactive and reactive controls. Abuse reports will be investigated and actioned in line with applicable policy requirements. The objective is to maintain .podcast as a high-quality, trusted namespace for registrants and end users.
2. Sustainability: Podcasting has matured over two decades from a niche format into an established global medium with millions of active shows, a professional production and advertising economy, and listenership that continues to grow across markets and languages. The word "podcast" is the medium's own name, used untranslated in many languages, and every new show, network and service created within the medium is a prospective registrant, giving the namespace a continuously renewing demand base. As independent audio publishing continues to expand worldwide, the purpose of the namespace grows with the medium itself.
The mission of .PODCAST is to provide a namespace associated with the concept of a podcast as a digital audio or audiovisual program. The .PODCAST gTLD is intended to serve a broad range of registrants and users, including individuals, businesses, organizations, communities, projects, and other entities that identify with, relate to, or wish to be associated with the concept represented by the applied-for string.
The purpose of .PODCAST is to enable registrants to establish online identities using domain names that correspond to this concept. To achieve this purpose, Velvet Taupe, LLC will make .PODCAST available for registration through registrars and other appropriate distribution channels; maintain a secure, stable, and reliable registry infrastructure; implement registration and operational policies that support the availability, security, and integrity of the namespace; and provide ongoing administration of the gTLD to enable registrants to register and use domain names within the namespace.
The purpose of .PODCAST is sustainable over time because digital audio or audiovisual programs will continue to play a fundamental and enduring role across society. As society, technology, and methods of communication evolve, organizations and individuals will continue to establish online identities associated with the applied-for string.