News: Channel 4 forums CLOSES!!!!!

[Ash]

Finally, Channel 4 have retired their online show discussions forums stating that it's a 'painful economic decision'. I frankly believe that Channel 4 are merely being lazy and utilised far too much moderation resource in preventing free speech rather than listening to their viewers and using the forum to its full potential, to gather feedback.

Here is their full press release...
http://blogs.channel4.com/platform4/2009/04/23/forum-retirement/

We're interested in your comments and of course invite you to mail any friends that used the C4 forums over to GetShipwrecked!

Regards, Ash & Co
GetShipwrecked.co.uk

[McMac]

It's a shame, but its been along time coming. Some sections of the forum were completely dead while others were barely surviving.

Although, it does mean that we are one less site short to advertise on.

[Suz]

Ive only just seen this thread, obvoiusly i dont look at the ch4 that much!!! but i cant believe they've done this, i mean it doesnt suprise me with how they cut loads of the forums, but still i think this is way too much of a harsh step!

They said ; "They need moderating and moderation is expensive; running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds a year."
I dont know anything about running forums, but y couldnt they just stop SO much moderation, why are they so annoying with all this. Maybe ash you could enlighten me on this?!

i liked looking at the spoilers on the hollyoaks forums and other stuff, they now expect you to register to lots of different sites! as if! you wanna look at things then go back on to the main page and look at other shows and pages! o well just stupid ch4 i guess! At least other (and better) sites like this will hopefully get more people.

[Ash]

Moderation does require a fair bit of time and attention - I run two popular forums, the other forum has a team of 10 moderators that are generally online almost all day, policing the forum, correcting typo's, deleting offensive topics, banning troublesome members - it can take some time BUT I manage to do this at NO cost by upgrading long term members of the forum to moderation, its free that way!!!

Channel 4 are simply lazy...!

[elle]

I feel sorry for anyone who has lost their job.

[Ash]

No one will have lost their jobs, moderating the forum was most likely a dual function of the C4 web developers.

[elle]

I'm glad to hear that.

[superwoman11]

doesnt surprise me

[Sirius Rose]

I think it's a good decission, it was just something on the side and by the sounds of their moderation they didn't care about it. I think the forum was giving them a bad reputation too. Its better if the leav the forums to the experts, lol!