Well, this news is a long time coming for most Star Trek Fans. Apparently, CBS is hard at work remastering the Next Generation as an HD offering, and for Aussies using a VPN, will beam it via Netflix this fall.
While no official announcement has been made, the rumblings got a Geordi-sized boost earlier this month when actor LaVar Burton, he of the visor fame, tweeted that the remastering progress being made on a few select TNG episodes was going very, very well. Also complementing all that was Netflix’s pre-existing relationship with CBS, which saw the DVD and streaming service beaming all Star Trek series episodes to customers.
The remastered HD TNG episodes could arrive as early as this fall on both Netflix and Paramount’s Epix station, which coincides nicely with the purported start of filming for the rebooted Star Trek movie franchise. Cross promotion is so 24th century! [Digital Bits via Slashdot - Thanks, Matt]
EckyThump
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 10:35 AMOnly problem is, the SciFi channel has kicked the living crap of the series, to the point that I’m no longer interested in seeing it again! again! aga….! HD or no!! #{
Peter
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 10:56 AMAnd I just finished buying the set too
Lolwut
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 6:29 PMWill it be in widescreen?
EckyThump
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 7:22 AMIt wasn’t shot in wide screen, at least that I can recall, so I doubt it will be released in wide screen. probably ruin it anyway! #]
David Shears
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 1:30 PM@EckyThump
STTNG was shot on 35mm film (which is widescreen) and then converted to 4:3 when transferred to tape. If we are lucky, the producers and DP may have made filmed the show “16:9 safe”, which means that the shots were made specifically for 4:3 but could be released at a later date in 16:9 if needed.
This is how Seinfeld was shot back in the 90′s, which is why the HD version of the show looks so much better than the original tape version
EckyThump
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 2:02 PMOk thanks for that, it’s a pity they haven’t released it in 16:9 sooner in that case, because I’ve seen it too many times in the original TV format to really want to see it all again! But for those not jaded by PayTV repeats, have fun! #]
lulz
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 7:56 PMWe don’t know if they’re just up-ressing and DNR’ing what they have, or going back to the film and re-scanning.
They’re doing SELECT episodes so perhaps it is the latter, but in doing so, they would have to re do ALL the CGI, and re-edit it too.