I've been away from TV.com for 24 hours... this blog is in response to the Gone Dark user community initiative to send a message to TV.com about the problems and issues that we the users are having with the site since the new layout was introduced.

1. The look - Replace the white background with a more soothing colour so I don't have to wear my sunnies when reading this site and make the font a little bigger and darker so it's easier to read.

2. TV show scores - Restore the ability to rate shows in tenths of a point (such as 9.9 etc.)

3. Localised content - Give users a choice between US and localised content, don't force everyone into localised content.

4. Formatting - Make the emoticons work in comments again and allow the B and I html tags to be used (the site can always programmatically replace them with strong and em tags on save if you want to use strict XHTML rules).

5. Fix the bugs - The standard functionality of the site has been compromised for a new look. That's not cool! The top annoyance for me right now is that the text field used for 'Quick' forum posts doesn't have scrollbars enabled which makes it very difficult to use for long posts as you have to use the arrow keys to scroll down to see what your typing.

And finally, please consult with the user community before making these kind of changes in future; and better yet ask them to opt into beta testing the changes before they are released to the general public.

Thanks for your consideration.

Catchy title... sounds like a cool name for a TV Show? Maybe a rouge black ops spy show with espionage and intrigue... yes, that would be good.

But this blog is not about TV, but rather about TV.com. Since the change of the site many bugs have been introduced which have made using the site difficult if not impossible for some features. If you're not 100% pleased with something that has changed on this site since the revamp then join us and Go Dark on September 30 then return on October 1 and blog about what you want changed to make this site better.

I'm not advocating a return to the previous TV.com layout, there are actually some things about the new layout that I like, but what I am mostly annoyed about is that the community was not consulted about the changes that were coming and there was no open (opt in) beta test conducted with the user community before these changes were introduced. Had such testing and consultation occurred then many of the issues could have been mitigated prior to the public release of this new TV.com.

When it was announced that a new look was coming I was somewhat enthusiastic about it, but I wasn't expecting that a new look would also mean fundamental changes in the features of the site as well, and much less that existing features would become broken or removed all together. I'm sure TV.com staff are working hard to fix the issues for us, but it is regrettable that they didn't take more care and consideration in releasing these changes in the first place.

So that's my final word for now... I'll be back on October 1.

'nuff said

Not that I expected it to be better than the UK version, but I just didn't think it would be _that_ bad. I'll not be watching another AU episode. I predict the AU version will be cancelled by the end of the first season. Can't wait for the new UK episodes.

But more importantly... Go Dark people... if you have issues with this new TV.com site make your voice heard on September 30.

This is a re-post of Glenn11523's blog...

We've all heard from many of our friends complaints and grumblings.

Some of our friends have already left.

Many feel disenfranchised and even more are considering whether to stay or not.

Then it occurred to me that to simply leave the site is the playground equivalent to taking your ball and going home.

If you don't like the way the game is being played, then make your opinion known.

A site like tv.com is dependent upon users.

That user base and support is what makes the site possible. From the user base comes the data that is fed to advertisers ("we can help you reach XX of people by buying ad space on our site...").

CBS has rolled out a new version of tv.com that it seems not many of us are fond of. Blinding white background, small grey text, difficulty posting blogs and comments, the list goes on (and on, and on).

Meanwhile we bleed out users. Some of them have been around (like me) since before this site was even tv.com.

Should we complain about it? Hundreds have, it hasn't really made an impact.

Should we leave? Maybe, but I think we should at least let our voices be heard first.

So, I suggest:

September 30 - TV.com Blackout Day!!

For 24 hours, don't log into the site, don't contribute, don't edit, don't post, don't show up at all.

Let those that run the site see just how many of us are not happy with the way things are going and more importantly show those at CBS just how many of us are feeling this way.

The reason? It makes perfect sense that if they see a potential to lose a vast number of users (thus spoiling their ad rates, since who wants to pay a lot of money to reach a small number of people) that they may take our dissatisfaction more seriously and actually do something about it in a more timely fashion.

Of course if general apathy ensues and/or if people don't see the value of a blackout day, then CBS and tv.com can merrily continue on their present course safe in the knowledge that eventually we'll all just resign ourselves to the futility of having an opinion.

So.... if you agree to participate in a 24 boycott of logging into tv.com on September 30, 2008

I urge you to repost this blog and invite all your friends to do the same.

I am not some rebel out to cause trouble for trouble's sake. I am a user who feels let down by the way things have gone around here recently and if all the hype about "we listen to you" is true, then by our collectively going silent for 24 hours and showing them in real terms just how many people are dissatisfied I hope that tv.com will find a way to really solicit our feedback about what we want to see improved.

The first step is to agree to participate. If that is well received, then I suggest on Wednesday October 1, 2008 when we return, we post a blog with our top 5 things (more if we have them, less if that's the case) of things we want to see changed.

My feeling is that this might get their attention and actually get something done.

Are you on board with the idea? If so, please repost this and tell your friends.

This is how I've decided to deal with my frustration as opposed to just "taking my ball and going home."

September 30, 2008 - I won't be here for 24 hours! Repost if you won't be either.

Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell have very recently been talking about making a big screen Veronica Mars movie! Yes you did read that right! Hopefully it will only be a matter of time before V graces the silver screen at a theatre near you. If you've been living under a rock and are just becoming aware of this news then you can get the full article here...

Show your support, write to WB asking them when this movie will start filming. Spread the word to all your friends, strangers on the street corner, shout it from the rooftops

Veronica Mars... the b!tch is back... to be continued!