Five years of 4:3TV - The Retro Channel

[Sam Tyler]

It gives us great pleasure to announce that 4:3TV - The Retro Channel is five years old today!

It is hard to believe that five years have passed since we started this forum and we are overwhelmed at what a success it has been!

Through constant development, and a fair bit of maintenance too, our corner of the web has continued to grow and grow covering topics in TV, film, music, motoring and so, so much more. The breadth of experience and knowledge throughout the threads make this a superlative resource for so many to refer and contribute to.

Right from the outset and still to this day our principle is to attract quality not quantity of members and thankfully this has paid off with so many regular contributing members not just posting but posting interesting and informative posts for everyone's benefit. We've always maintained that the two-stage member approval is the way forward for us and while some prospective members may have rejected the forum for that very reason, they have been keyboard warriors that we wish to do without anyway. The success of the system is demonstrated by the fact that whilst members may have a difference of opinion, all views are accepted and appreciated without cross words.

The forum's success is therefore down to all members and we would like to thank all members for their huge contributions, the moderating team of Del-Boy and The Saint, and my personal thanks to Gene for being the kingpin of so much of 4:3TV's success.

We are rapidly approaching our 10th 4:3TV meet in little over two weeks time and once again Gene has dealt up a cracking weekend for us. For those regular squad members it has become more than a TV or film meet, it is also an opportunity to catch up with good friends that our common interests have bought together. Certainly for new squad members they will be made to feel very welcome and their only regret is bound to be that they've not attended a meet before.

Five years of 4:3TV - The Retro Channel, long may it continue.

Sam

[Gene Hunt]

It's absolutely amazing how quickly these 5 years have gone!

It's been a marvellous 5 years too and that is thanks to you great members who log in and post something of interest on such a regular basis. I've been on a number of forum(s) over the years but I've never been on one with such a great member base as 4:3tv. For that reason alone, I shall certainly be keeping the 2 step registration in operation to ensure we don't get the keyboard warriors and trolls that seem to bring down so many other online groups.

A few weeks ago, I was asked by a member of 4:3tv if there was or could be such a thing as a "night mode" on the forum, which would be easier on the eyes when viewing the forum in dark surroundings. This got me thinking as I'm sure such a thing would be beneficial to more members on here. So, I set about creating a brand new forum theme from the ground up. Keeping true to our retro roots, I spent 2 weeks creating the "After Dark" theme. Staff have been running this theme for a week or so now so they can report any niggles or glitches to me, but I'm happy to say it is now good to go and is available to all members as a celebration of 5 years of 4:3tv.

Simply go to "Profile" at the top of the page and click on "Edit Profile"
Then click on the "Settings" tab and scroll down to where you see "Forum Theme".
Select the theme you want to change to (in this case "After Dark" and then click on "Save Account Settings" at the bottom.

Thanks once again to each and every one of you for helping make 4:3tv the success that it is.

Gene.

[Steve Austin]

Time certainly flies when you're having fun!!  Thanks to Gene, Sam, Del & The Saint as well as all the members on this tremendous forum for making it varied, interesting and idiot free 

[Sparky]

Love the Night Mode skin Gene!

Great work!

[Dirty Epic]

Happy Birthday 43:TV indeed!

It’s so true that these last five years of 43:TV have certainly flown by but each day has all been worth it for what you can put in and get out of it.

Personally I’m very proud to be a member of 43:TV. As Sam says we’re all a little different to each other but that’s what makes it work and we all contribute something new, interesting and different to the 43:TV which has made it so much more better that say a forum on a single topic, film, TV or band/musician that you see out there and some forums sometimes make the mistake of when some members maybe get a bit over-obsessive, possessive of it all when that’s not the reason for it all in the first place. In the last 5 years we’ve seen the content on the forum expand leaps and bounds into so many area’s like retro, film, TV, music, sport, general chit-chat as well as the beer and banter in The Railway Arms which for the un-initiated is a right laugh and a bit of light relief from the usual restrictions (stiffness) you get on most forums too.

The proof is we’ve got a core of quality members from all over the world who’ve made this forum the success it is today and driven many things forward. I’ve enjoyed many of the posts which have developed over the years and would much sooner have it this way than thousands members either dipping in and out or worse forum of cliques and keeping things an exclusive club which is certainly not the case on 43:TV!

The quality is all there and I’ve certainly been steered towards a lot of good things I now enjoy which I’d never have considered before either. I hope the things I contribute to the forum do the same. I’ve not always had the time to do this recently but I love it when I put together posts for film/TV which haven’t really featured on the site before and drive a lot of interest for other members. I tend to focus on the more grittier side of film/TV but I’ve also enjoyed what other members have posted when looking at light hearted stuff too. I’ve also enjoyed my F1 posts too and with the season – hopefully, about to start this will no doubt develop over this year too. Music has also been a great area we have on 43:TV and it show’s the various tastes we all have, the interesting programmes and features on bands/genres we may like and the TOTP stuff all having a great relevance and things to enjoy – even if my music taste may not be to everyone’s taste LOL! :lol:

Where do I start about the meets? They’ve all been brilliant and have taken us far and wide beyond the Hammersmith haunts of The Sweeney too. I’m sure the forthcoming LoM meet is another we’ll look back on very fondly about too and they’re all down to the hard work, planning and organising of our Guv Gene who does so much to ensure we have a great time and make them much more than looking at a few locations and having a few jars too. Nice one mate although the latter liquid lunches do help with building up the craic and fun we’ve had on them over the years too.

To those of you who’ve not made it to a meet yet I fully recommend them and hopefully you will enjoy it.

I’ve built up so many good friendships which have continued and developed over the last 5 years of 43:TV and long may these continue. As I said before we all contribute and I think get good things out of 43:TV and the positive thing about it is I feel I can do that in a friendly, accepting space which values our differences and doesn’t have the infighting, snobbery and clique keyboard warriors which ruin many forums and social media generally.

Again extra special thanks to Gene for driving 43:TV forward and making it the great forum it is now. We perhaps take for granted and don’t value the hard work and effort Gene put’s into all this which isn’t always easy and does take up a lot of time and effort. Thanks again Guv and it’s very much appreciated by me.

Big thanks to for Sam, Saint and Del for being Gene’s right hand men and great moderators on the forum too. Again it’s all much appreciated lads.

I suppose it won’t be long until we celebrate 10 years for the forum as indeed time flies but I’m sure we’ll hit this milestone and the forum will continue to go from strength to strength over the years too. Long may it continue!

[Arthur Pringle]

Can't add much more than Dirty's post, a great forum that, although a labour of love for Gene & co., requires time & effort to maintain, happy 5th birthday.

The After Dark theme looks the business

[Vienna]

Congratulations go to 4:3TV - The Retro Channel on its fifth Birthday! 

It is amazing how time has flown by and thanks to Gene, Sam, Del, The Saint and all contributing members for making it the No.1 online retro forum!   

Long may it continue to be so!...

Vi

[The Saint]

5 years have flown by, well they say time flies when you are enjoying yourself!

The success of 4:3TV has been amazing, the spectrum of topics covered and the breadth of knowledge on here is second to none.

All contributing members bring different things to the forum, but all help to make it the on-going success that it is 

None of this would be possible without our guvnor Gene, the time, effort and planning he puts into 4:3TV is immense - from behind the scenes work, to the location threads that are the bible in terms of TV and film locations, to the legendary location meets that have seen us in Newcastle, Elstree, London,  Windsor, Nottingham and in a little over 2 weeks time in Manchester.  Thanks Gene, we would not be here without you!

Thanks also go to Sam and Del Boy for all their work and contributions

Here's to the next 5 years 

The Saint

[Windy Miller]

Amazing. Happy 5th Birthday to 4:3tv, and all who sail in her.

Thanks to Gene, Sam, Del & The Saint for making it all so brilliant, and a wonderful place to be a part of.

Looking forward to the next five years.

[John Steed]

Congratulations on reaching the milestone of 5 years 
As mentioned earlier, the difference with 4:3TV and other forums is quality of members and posts rather than just quantity and it certainly does make a difference. I have been a member of other forums for cars that I have owned etc. and have deleted myself from them because of the number of "idiots" that frequent these forums.
4:3TV is different …. it is such an interesting and informative site with many members who have become good friends. Long may it continue! 


Steed