Farewell...

[Markymark]

Do feel like the age of the Message Boards has died, Even Digital Spy is struggling to keep there userbase from posting political stuff 24/7. I can see them closing down there message boards soon actually.

I think that is true, as I've said many times about sites like TV Ark etc, they've been overtaken by social media and other platforms. 

Why build and configure and host a web forum when you can use Reddit or Discord etc? Why host a website of video of old TV when YouTube etc will host it and give you a wider audience?

It's nothing really to do with what people's views are, it's about the ending of web 1.0

There's also a quality gap, to get a own hosted site looking and working as well as the big boys takes some talent and time. Rob and Asa had both and made quality products (although to be honest I never got on with the most recent incarnation of TVLF). Anything less than that and people aren't interested, they're used to the slickness of Facebook, Twitter etc

I got into 'forums' in 1998 when my car engine blew up. A colleague at work introduced me to Usenet, and a car maintenance group. From there I ended up on the Tech Broadcast, and Digital TV Groups (as well as other groups unrelated to 'telly'). I'm still there, along with some of same people from 24 years ago, but they're not what they were.
Usenet is pretty much impossible to view on a phone or tablet, which is why only the die-hards (of my generation) are still using it.

I think Digital Spy Forums will be probably switched off in the near future (Hearst came close to doing that about 5 years ago I recall)

Anyway, thank you to those who have made this forum an enjoyable and productive experience, and thank you to those of you that have answered or responded to my questions, and points, (both on and off group)

And thank you Rob. It's a shame some individuals have carried on being playground bullies, into their so called adult lives, don't worry about them.
I'm also sorry Rob to learn of the huge body-blow your local community suffered yesterday, perhaps this is maybe an opportunity to direct your energy into a more positive and grateful direction.

[Internationalman]

I know it sucks right now, but as Rob said, more uplifting tone. So guess what?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiWBfv5cWN8&t

[Rdd]

Rob, thanks so much for creating, admin-ing and moderating this place, you successfully re-created the blue place so well and gave us another year and a half we wouldn’t otherwise have had to discuss tv and presentation. Best of luck in your future endeavours.

[intracube]

This is a real shame.

Managing a community with this many people is difficult enough as it is, but having to deal with everything else that you mention is understandably too much.

I've enjoyed reading the forum from time to time, but due to a busy and difficult year I haven't been active here. Was hoping to drop back in at some point, but that sadly won't happen now.

Thank you for stepping in after TVForum closed and for all the work setting it up and running it. Also thanks to the moderators, of course.

All the best.

[DJGM1974]

I echo what most people have already said in this thread. While it is a shame this forum is closing down so soon, mental health has to be a priority. For those morons that have bullied Rob into closing this place, well I hope you're happy with what you've done, you sad pathetic individuals. I won't use stronger language than that, they're not worth it.

I'll stick around until the very end, but I probably won't post anything else here after I've done typing this. I think my biggest contributions were starting The BIG Breakfast thread as a direct continuation from the one at the old "blue place", in anticipation of last year's one-off special, and then more recently, the screengrabs from NBC's coverage of the final round of The Open golf tournament.

Whatever happens next, and whatever replacement forum is most viable after this place closes, for now at least, so long, and thanks for all the fish!

[epsilon]

I'm so sad to hear that TVLF is closing and angry at the reason why. It is so unfortunate that there are individuals around who are so willing to spoil the fun for others. Understandable that the forum is closing, it is totally unacceptable that Rob should have had to put up with this behaviour.

I haven't been very active here, presentation isn't my main interest but TVLF and TVF before it have always been my go to forums for reading about presentation and related issues. Unfortunately, I have spent more time lurking and reading than I have spent posting and it is a little late in the day to try to address that.

Thanks to Rob and the mods for doing such a great job of taking over from TVF and to the posters for keeping me entertained and informed. I will miss this place.

[Victor]

I wanted to chime in to express my gratitude to Rob and the moderators as well. A lot of your free time went into this forum. It was a wonderful place to visit in the past year and a half.

A successor forum is something I don't have a strong opinion on, other than that as a community we would probably be well advised to choose a path where we are not dependent one person's time and commitment. Something like Reddit or Discord seems like a reasonable option. Every time a forum like this closes, there is a risk the community fractures.

[Robertclark125]

Thanks for everything Rob, I've passed my comments to you privately, but here Ill just say - thanks and good luck! People should behave like civilised humans!

I've had my team rustling this up for the past day or so... https://www.boxforum.co.uk/

It is not finished, but it is open and users are asked to give it a try and provide feedback.
We haven't seen any other firm alternatives so wanted to throw our hats in the ring.

Very nice, and sort of solid! Looks similar to the current TV Live Forum theme, good job!

I've just joined, looks similar so should be easy to navigate.

[LukeHarrison]

Can't believe I'm writing this after what only seems days after my farewell post on TVF. Again, like over at the blue place, I haven't been particularly active in conversations, but I've enjoyed reading and was so happy that we had a place to migrate to. Now, I'm not so sure where people are going to wind up. As it seems there's two or three forums being set up, it seems that it's all getting a bit fragmented.

I hope that one of them winds up taking off, but lets wait and see. Forums are about the last link I have to my youth and so to see them fading is rather sad. I must take an archive of Darren Meldrum's MHP just in case anything happens to that!

Thanks to Rob and the team for all they've done, it's a real shame it's had to end like this but, it is what it is. Got to look after yourself Rob, running an online pres forum is not worth making yourself badly over.

Hopefully we'll see you all on the other side somewhere. Is there one replacement forum that everyone plans to move to or is it a case of trying them all and seeing what happens?

Thanks again all, it's been a pleasure!

[NancerOnTheLIVEForum]

Well.....  I am f***ing pissed off.

When I joined TV Forum and later TV Live Forum is because I wanted to be in a place with people like me. People who get excited over tv press and new graphics and branding.  Yes my family and friends tried to understand and be enthusiastic but they never got it like I did.  Discovering a place where there is people like me made me feel like I wasn't alone, I wasn't mad or silly. I just had a niche interest and that's ok because there is a community of press lovers like me.  But what has sadden me is how events of the last 2 years or so have turned out.  Not just here but at the blue place to.  I don't give a s**t about your politics, I don't give a s**t if the forum is not looking like you wanted, I don't give a s**t if you think the licence fee should be scrapped, I don't give a s**t if you think there should be a radio section, I don't give a f**k if you hate GB News.  What I care about is what TV Forum and TV Live Forum was set up for in the first place, TV PRESENTATION!!!  What has become of some of you.  This is petty behaviour.  I have three year olds in my family that behaves better than some of the people on this forum.  WHERE IS YOUR F***ING RESPECT! It f***ing pisses me off because we've now lost a community, A place where we were with people who are just like us. We had so much to be excited by; The BBC finishing it's rebrand, Launch of ITVX and maybe a new look for ITV channels, new look GB NEWS, new look BBC News just to name a few.  And now we don't have a place for all of us to join in and talk about this stuff.  So far I have counted four new forums.  There is no way we will all keep an eye on them and no way they can keep up and keep going on so few members.  The single place where the community of press loves talk is now come to an end.  What and sad and pathetic end to this era. Such a shame, Such a waste!

Thanks you to those who have made here and TV Forum a great place.  It was a great while it lasted.

Bye all.

Rob isn't closing the forum because of us, he's closing it because of people outside of the forum.

[Liam]

Could we have a poll on the next step please? We only have a few days, we have Reddit (r/tvforum & r/UKTVPres), Discord, or another traditional forum ran by someone on here? 

I tried to set one up but can’t see the option… Personally with Reddit we can have it private, have a team of Mods (so if one goes it won’t close down), have megathreads including live discussions, we can flair posts in the way we’re used to ie News, Pres, Programmes, Websites & also flair our regions… we can also have sister subreddit for mocks & a gallery of sorts?

I’m in the current mod for UKTVPres which I set up when the old place went… but couldn’t do it alone  

It would be nice to know where we’re all officially going 

[Brekkie]

You take the step you want to take. We don't all have to move on in one big group. As much as it is a shame that this community may not move on as well perhaps two or three smaller online communities might have a better chance of finding their footing moving forward.

[Moz]

Good to see people stepping up and offering alternatives, I do fear we splinter the community here, It would be best to have just one replacement ideally?

Agree. I think the Clean Feed/TV Pres forum is the one for me. You watch everyone else flock to the others now!

[Brekkie]

Rob isn't closing the forum because of us, he's closing it because of people outside of the forum.

Let's not just brush it off as completely that.   Whilst it is a key factor we all need to look at our own behaviour too and how we can ensure those running sites can enjoy them as members too, rather than just constantly having to be in moderation mode.  I know I've given Rob headaches at times over the last 18 months and I know those who've repeatedly reported posts everytime they see something they disagree with or view as "political" will have done so too.  

It's also very clear that although it came from a good place and was with the best intentions the pages of discussions yesterday about people taking over the forum, buying it off Rob, why isn't he just getting the mods to run it etc. was somewhat disrespectful to the decision Rob had clearly communicated too considering he had never put that option on the table and people were essentially running with it for pages without considering Rob's views at all.  For it to come up again after Rob had clearly reiterated his position wasn't great too, and it's incredibly sad Rob doesn't feel able to be a part of the community he has provided so much for in it's final few days.


A bit worried though Rob has said he is going to raise a glass "to each and everyone of us" on Monday considering that's over 1500 members.   That's a hefty bar bill (that Donate button below will help with that) so it's a good job his radio show isn't until Saturday!  

[shropshireguy28]

I think that is true, as I've said many times about sites like TV Ark etc, they've been overtaken by social media and other platforms. 

Why build and configure and host a web forum when you can use Reddit or Discord etc? Why host a website of video of old TV when YouTube etc will host it and give you a wider audience?

It's nothing really to do with what people's views are, it's about the ending of web 1.0

There's also a quality gap, to get a own hosted site looking and working as well as the big boys takes some talent and time. Rob and Asa had both and made quality products (although to be honest I never got on with the most recent incarnation of TVLF). Anything less than that and people aren't interested, they're used to the slickness of Facebook, Twitter etc

I got into 'forums' in 1998 when my car engine blew up. A colleague at work introduced me to Usenet, and a car maintenance group. From there I ended up on the Tech Broadcast, and Digital TV Groups (as well as other groups unrelated to 'telly'). I'm still there, along with some of same people from 24 years ago, but they're not what they were.
Usenet is pretty much impossible to view on a phone or tablet, which is why only the die-hards (of my generation) are still using it.

I think Digital Spy Forums will be probably switched off in the near future (Hearst came close to doing that about 5 years ago I recall)

Anyway, thank you to those who have made this forum an enjoyable and productive experience, and thank you to those of you that have answered or responded to my questions, and points, (both on and off group)

And thank you Rob. It's a shame some individuals have carried on being playground bullies, into their so called adult lives, don't worry about them.
I'm also sorry Rob to learn of the huge body-blow your local community suffered yesterday, perhaps this is maybe an opportunity to direct your energy into a more positive and grateful direction.

I think Digital Spy will be ok, its better now they have got rid of the general discussion, I will just probably stick to that now, but if there is another site that members from here go to I will sign up, will wait a couple of months though to see which one is more popular