H2005/David's run and game has just given this forum the biggest possible plug, and in the best possible place; on DOND itself.

Aside from actually giving out the web address on screen, DOND/Endemol seem happy to have given us the highest possible level of exposure. Anybody slightly internet savvy could easily find us after watching the game yesterday. I haven't checked, but I am sure H2005's appearance on the show must have attracted many new members, the fact that the forum crashed during the show says it all. We now even know that The Banker himself reads threads here (hello Mr Banker!). If the editors wanted they could have easily have removed any mention of this forum from his shows, the producers could have told H and Noel not to mention it during his run if they wanted.

No offence intended, but the two official DOND forums and the DOND Facebook page are rubbish compared to this place, this is the place to discuss DOND, and we are getting more contestants posting here than ever.

I know this forum has always been and will always continue to be a fansite, run by the fans for the fans, but considering all the above I reckon this forum now has DOND and Endemol's unofficial approval.

Well they dont seem as scared of it as they used to.

Given that they "borrowed" the definitions for their official page, they must hold us in high regard.

Now maybe, they havent always.

I agree.

I should mention one thing though. In the past, Endemol employees have lurked around the place and generally caused intense unease within the forum - there was no way that an Endemol worker on here would be "smiled" at. It was almost like that phrase, "in enemy grounds" or whatever it is. They were seen as intruders and most of us here were of the opinion that they were up to no good. And the fact is, they probably weren't.
But, now with the publicity and exposure of the site fully to Endemol, and its 2 to 4 million viewers, does this really mean we have their approval - does this mean that, for the first time ever, fans and behind-the-scenes employees can now get along perfectly? Does this mean that us and Endemol are now, and finally, "in the same boat" so to speak - no more competition/stealing phrases etc? Are we in heaven??

And if so, then I say a very big welldone to David.

The fact they also put a review of David's game on their site as well, with the headline even featuring his screen-name.

They were no doubt expecting people to do a search for DOND websites when it was mentioned on the show in the hope that they might go to their official site as well. I noticed they did put a link to their official forum at the bottom of the article.

Endemol seem to be more at ease now regarding DOND content and the fact they allow (technically) people to upload YouTube videos as well.

At the end of the day it's all publicity for the show.

Yes.

I suppose then that this is the end of the totalitarian and tyrannical Endemol era. Well, what can I say apart from that it took far too long, and has nothing to do with Endemol's maturity and sensibility (two qualities they have never been able to acquire) but more to do with David himself as a fan of the show, getting on there and simply shocking them into submission. I don't know quite how I could explain this, but put simply, in my opinion it was not down to Endemol in the slightest, and had David not appeared on the show I reckon things would still be just the same.

Regarding publicity, I think that now it's a question of publicity for both main sites (this one and the official one), rather than the previous situation of, "You're not allowed so much (x), you can't do (x)" ETC ETC, in other words I think the situation is now that everyone's comfortable with each other if you know what I mean and we can all get along alright.
And if [i]that[/s] the case, I don't know about (or of) anyone else who actually cares but I'm ecstatic.

Endemol would prefer for all of us to be on their official forum I am sure but know that would never happen

But the fact that this forum is run so professionally by Kestral and David (H2005) and that so many contestants post here, they probably are quietly pleased at the publicity for the show.

I think they've realised how successful David and Kes are and only wish they could do as good a job themselves!

To be fair, there has been a period in the forum's history when it wasn't always too respectful to the show, and particularly to some of the contestants who appeared on it. Thankfully those days are now gone, and I'd imagine that Endemol have recognised that a place like this helps the show far more than it might harm it.

I genuinely believe that without the banning spree last year, the forum would have been very different and that David would not have been chosen to play. The forum would have been seen as a clearer threat to Endemol and that would have put them off.

Seeing as links to this forum are now permitted on the (soon to close) C4 DOND forum, I think my question has been answered!

http://community.channel4.com/eve/forum ... 2900070511

Until recently any links posted there were deleted immediately.

So, the C4 official DOND forum closes down just one month after H2005's game was broadcast. Coincidence or no coincidence?

Shall we find out using 22 identically sealed boxes?

It definitely is great on here.

For h2005, I think that is an even more impressive icing-on-the-cake moment than winning Box 4!

It's not just the DOND forum. Channel 4 are closing down all of their forums due to budget cuts as "the forums cost several hundred thousand pounds a year to run".

http://community.channel4.com/eve/forum ... 6600360511

I expect most of that was spent on the wages of the moderators.

Endemol would love to have a community like the one we have here but unfortunately for them, they were too late. I wouldn't say that Endemol have given this forum any 'approval' as such but I would say that they undoubtedly realise they are fighting a lost cause with their own. The fact that David's online persona was mentioned added some orginality to the game and I thought it was great that it was all left in.