Broadcast lit can actually work for what you're wanting to sell this as, so I'll give you that point. But where are you looking that ended up with a $55/yr TLD? Unless you're bootstrapping from absolutely nothing, that's an investment worth making imo.
Not dismissing your product here, as a journalism nerd I think it's a novel concept and approach.
Indeed I am bootstrapping from basically nothing. I have this horrible tendency to leave a job right when I have just a few months of runway. It really puts my feet to the fire :)
pen.com is going to fet a pretty penny, I imagine in the higher 10,000s if not more. With funding, it becomes feasible. And to correct myself, FM domains cost $79/year not 55, so that's where I am. Got lucky in finding the short name.
Not dismissing your product here, as a journalism nerd I think it's a novel concept and approach.