Via Domain Name Wire:

"Live Current (OTCBB: CMNN.ob), an internet company that owns premium domain names such as Cricket.com, Boxing.com, Brazil.com, and Perfume.com, has inked a ten year $50 million deal with DLF Indian Premier League, a cricket organization.

Live Current will become the exclusive online provider of content from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the DLF Indian Premier League. This signifies the first cricket-related content and distribution relationship by Live Current as the Company plans to build and launch its Cricket.com asset as the future cricket “DestinationHub” for cricket fans globally.

As part of the deal, Live Current will guarantee $5 million in revenue sharing payments each year for ten years. This is a massive deal for a company that took in less than $10 million in revenue in 2007. New company management is clearly sending a high growth message to shareholders."

Press release here which includes much further info about the other aspects of this deal, including content development, distribution, and guarantees.

While not purely a domain deal, it is something domainers should pay close attention to. When you own some of the best domains in the world there are only few ways to maximize their potential:

1. Sell individually within the domain industry (wholesale)
2. Find an end-user (retail)
3. Develop
4. Partner with industry leaders

In term of scalability of a large prime portfolio the most attractive option, even though not the easiest, is to partner with industry leaders, as Live Current has done so well here. It brings the best money in, the best potential, and while it does take skills and work and at times, (as here) requires bringing other skills to the table, the rewards are well worth it.

This is what I think is the next big opportunity for the professional domainer - partner with others or invest in others.

Source: Posted on TheConceptualist by Sahar Sahid -- Reprinted with permission -- April 17, 2008