Old shows with new HD transfers...

[sonnik]

I've noticed a handful of shows that have received a true HD convesion from the original film (shows that may predate HDTV). I'd like to know if I'm overlooking anything else...

- Old episodes of ER (predating HDTV) (TNT)
- The Equalizer (Universal HD)
- Northern Exposure (Universal HD)

Are any other series getting the HD treatment in syndication or on the cable networks?

[mercurial]

HDNet used to run Hogan's Heroes a lot... ;) :p

[geko29]

Knight Rider (saw it on UniversalHD a lot a year or so ago, not since then)
Star Trek: The Original Series (I think it was broadcast in HD, and it's coming out on HD DVD this year)

[mercurial]

Knight Rider (saw it on UniversalHD a lot a year or so ago, not since then)
Star Trek: The Original Series (I think it was broadcast in HD, and it's coming out on HD DVD this year)

Do you mean Enterprise?

[geko29]

Do you mean Enterprise?
No, I mean Star Trek: The Original Series. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, James Doohan, etc. It's being released on HD DVD on November 20th (http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Original-Complete-Season/dp/B000VDDDY6/ref=sr_1_8/103-2638429-7739061?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1188495176&sr=8-8), and is currently being broadcast (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/2305413.html), in HD where available.

The OP was asking for shows that have received an HD Transfer but were NOT originally broadcast in HD. Enterprise WAS originally broadcast in HD, but is not currently scheduled for release on HD DVD. FWIW, The Next Generation will NEVER be in HD because there are no film masters--the entire show was shot on BetaCam (330 lines of resolution :cry:).

[sonnik]

I don't think the TOS that is being broadcast is a true HD transfer. At least not in my market, it seems more like an upconvert.

I'm sure the HD Versions do/will exist, I just didn't think that's the version being syndicated.

[mercurial]

Sorry, when you said "Star Trek: The Original Series (I think it was broadcast in HD, and it's coming out on HD DVD this year)", it made me thing you were saying it was originally broadcast in HD and that you had it confused with Enterprise.

[geko29]

I don't think the TOS that is being broadcast is a true HD transfer. At least not in my market, it seems more like an upconvert.

I'm sure the HD Versions do/will exist, I just didn't think that's the version being syndicated.
They are syndicating the HD transfer, but it isn't available everywhere:
Will the episodes be broadcast in 1080i 4:3 HD and 5.1?
At the current time, the majority of affiliate stations cannot handle HD transmission unless they are live events (sports, news, etc.). As stations develop their capacity to air things in HD, CBS/Paramount TV will certainly be working with them towards that goal.


Sorry, when you said "Star Trek: The Original Series (I think it was broadcast in HD, and it's coming out on HD DVD this year)", it made me thing you were saying it was originally broadcast in HD and that you had it confused with Enterprise.
I should have been clearer, I meant when they started broadcasting it early last year. I didn't know (until looking it up for my 2nd post) if it was still being shown or not, just that it had been in 2006.

[mercurial]

They are syndicating the HD transfer, but it isn't available everywhere

Can someone please buy these stations some HD-DVD players? :p

[WinBear]

The TOS transfer was going back to the original film and scanning in each emulsion layer then digitally cleaning it up and replacing dated effects. It's a real HD transfer from film with upgrades. I imagine any show that was shot on film instead of direct to video that still has film masters can be upgraded this way if the studio or current owner wants to invest in the process.

[sonnik]

In ER's case, they seem to have actually changed the aspect ratio very well. Which leads me to believe that they framed the show for 16:9, despite initially airing in 4:3

[doom1701]

In ER's case, they seem to have actually changed the aspect ratio very well. Which leads me to believe that they framed the show for 16:9, despite initially airing in 4:3

Or could it have been shot wide, but framed and broadcast 4:3? That's how they did Babylon 5.

[sonnik]

I just noticed my cable box's DVR program guide shows "The X-Files" on TNT-HD as being a true HD program.

I have it set up to record to verify whether or not it's truly an HD transfer.

EDIT: Nope, it's not.

[aindik]

In ER's case, they seem to have actually changed the aspect ratio very well. Which leads me to believe that they framed the show for 16:9, despite initially airing in 4:3

Or could it have been shot wide, but framed and broadcast 4:3? That's how they did Babylon 5.

According to tvshowsondvd.com, the DVDs of season 1 of ER are in anamorphic widescreen. So, it sounds like it was shot in widescreen and then P&Sed for broadcast. Which is odd, because there was no distribution outlet for the widescreen version at the time these were airing.

I think I read that UHD's Knight Rider transfer was actually a 16:9 crop of the original 4:3 content. That was a bad idea IMO. UHD did it right with Northern Exposure, keeping it at 4:3 (1440X1080).

[doom1701]

In ER's case, they seem to have actually changed the aspect ratio very well. Which leads me to believe that they framed the show for 16:9, despite initially airing in 4:3

Or could it have been shot wide, but framed and broadcast 4:3? That's how they did Babylon 5.

According to tvshowsondvd.com, the DVDs of season 1 of ER are in anamorphic widescreen. So, it sounds like it was shot in widescreen and then P&Sed for broadcast. Which is odd, because there was no distribution outlet for the widescreen version at the time these were airing.

I think I read that UHD's Knight Rider transfer was actually a 16:9 crop of the original 4:3 content. That was a bad idea IMO. UHD did it right with Northern Exposure, keeping it at 4:3 (1440X1080).


Lots of stuff from that timeframe was shot wide, and cropped for broadcast. Usually it was framed for 4:3, even though it was shot wide, so no P&S would even be necessary.

[JYoung]

Or could it have been shot wide, but framed and broadcast 4:3? That's how they did Babylon 5.

According to tvshowsondvd.com, the DVDs of season 1 of ER are in anamorphic widescreen. So, it sounds like it was shot in widescreen and then P&Sed for broadcast. Which is odd, because there was no distribution outlet for the widescreen version at the time these were airing.

I think I read that UHD's Knight Rider transfer was actually a 16:9 crop of the original 4:3 content. That was a bad idea IMO. UHD did it right with Northern Exposure, keeping it at 4:3 (1440X1080).


Lots of stuff from that timeframe was shot wide, and cropped for broadcast. Usually it was framed for 4:3, even though it was shot wide, so no P&S would even be necessary.


No, I've seen comparison frames of the 16:9 and the 4:3 versions of Knight Rider. They are cropping the top and bottom to get the widescreen version.

[bigpuma]

According to tvshowsondvd.com, the DVDs of season 1 of ER are in anamorphic widescreen. So, it sounds like it was shot in widescreen and then P&Sed for broadcast. Which is odd, because there was no distribution outlet for the widescreen version at the time these were airing.

I think I read that UHD's Knight Rider transfer was actually a 16:9 crop of the original 4:3 content. That was a bad idea IMO. UHD did it right with Northern Exposure, keeping it at 4:3 (1440X1080).


Lots of stuff from that timeframe was shot wide, and cropped for broadcast. Usually it was framed for 4:3, even though it was shot wide, so no P&S would even be necessary.


No, I've seen comparison frames of the 16:9 and the 4:3 versions of Knight Rider. They are cropping the top and bottom to get the widescreen version.

Yeah, there is no question about Knight Rider, they had some strange crops cutting off hair etc.

[aindik]

According to tvshowsondvd.com, the DVDs of season 1 of ER are in anamorphic widescreen. So, it sounds like it was shot in widescreen and then P&Sed for broadcast. Which is odd, because there was no distribution outlet for the widescreen version at the time these were airing.

I think I read that UHD's Knight Rider transfer was actually a 16:9 crop of the original 4:3 content. That was a bad idea IMO. UHD did it right with Northern Exposure, keeping it at 4:3 (1440X1080).


Lots of stuff from that timeframe was shot wide, and cropped for broadcast. Usually it was framed for 4:3, even though it was shot wide, so no P&S would even be necessary.


No, I've seen comparison frames of the 16:9 and the 4:3 versions of Knight Rider. They are cropping the top and bottom to get the widescreen version.

I think doom was talking about ER, not Knight Rider.

[mercurial]

Yeah, there is no question about Knight Rider, they had some strange crops cutting off hair etc.

Hasselhoff's hair was easier to crop off back then.

[doom1701]

Lots of stuff from that timeframe was shot wide, and cropped for broadcast. Usually it was framed for 4:3, even though it was shot wide, so no P&S would even be necessary.


No, I've seen comparison frames of the 16:9 and the 4:3 versions of Knight Rider. They are cropping the top and bottom to get the widescreen version.

I think doom was talking about ER, not Knight Rider.

Yeah, guess I could have been more specific, huh?

[JYoung]

No, I've seen comparison frames of the 16:9 and the 4:3 versions of Knight Rider. They are cropping the top and bottom to get the widescreen version.

I think doom was talking about ER, not Knight Rider.

Yeah, guess I could have been more specific, huh?

Well, since you really meant ER.......
yeah, they started shooting widescreen then because while there was no real US market for 16:9, I believe that the foreign markets were starting to move to widescreen.