True. And I think the recent release of SeaQuest on Blu-ray – a series contemporary to Deep Space Nine with lower ratings and a smaller fanbase – makes a similar treatment of Deep Space Nine at least somewhat more likely. I'm not saying they will definitely do it, but a HD release – even with upscaled effects – is certainly a possibility. An admittedly tiny one, but still a possibility. Also, the fact that they were actively looking into redoing the effects for a HD release roughly a year ago – as per Gep Malakai here – shows that at the very least they did consider it something worth doing. I'm sure a year ago they were already aware of how TNG-R was faring profit-wise.
What major alterations do you speak of? It does matter if they have the original files though. It means they don't have to start from scratch. They used lightwave for DS9, and from my experience in game development, Lightwave is more than capable of importing .lwo files created in previous versions of the software. We've imported files up to ten years old in the latest version with no major issues, just minor tweaks or in some cases higher resolution textures.
And the fact that TNG performed well below expectations for Bluray means a series with far less ability to move merchanise is going to do better? If this was at all feasible, they'd be working on it already. The fact that there are no plans to touch DS9 or Voyager based on the poor performance of TNG says it all.
+1 Hey, I didn't know about SeaQuest! I'll have to check that out. I'd consider seasons 1, and 3 of that series if/when it comes out. Did it have a huge following down under? Odd that they're being released in Austrailia, but cool that they're region-free and available on amazon!
It is a little ironic that the editing/cutting technology during the late 80s, 90s, more modern than the one in the 70s and early 80s, is actually hurting these shows for a transfer to HD (same with "Frasier"). 60s, 70s, early 80s shows are already in HD due to their cutting on film, but the modern 90s shows stay in SD. The 90s is going to be the SD decade, while everything else before and after is available in HD (or is going to be).
I'm sure there are people who frequent this board who could easily investigate the veracity of this...I saw someone post this in the comments section of a status on the Deep Space Nine in HD facebook group:
Wasn't it confirmed TNG was shot on 35mm film? I see no reason DS9 would have been produced any differently. Plus I would think the film masters would be in the same place as the TNG film, which was mostly reused for the TNG-R project. Smells a little funky to me.
Yeah. It's just a strange and elaborate thing to just "make up." That's why I thought it was worth seeing if there are people in-the-know who could easily confirm/deny it.
Basically every single detail is completely, hilariously wrong! As BeatleJWOL already mentioned, DS9 was shot on 35mm film (primarily Eastman EXR 500T 5296 & 5298). The original camera negatives (certainly not prints, as none were made) aren't stored at Paramount in Hollywood, CA, but rather across the country at the Iron Mountain facility in Boyers, Pennsylvannia (a former limestone mine) where all the TNG footage was shipped from and transferred to HD tape at CBS Digital in Los Angeles. From what I understand, at the very least the DS9 pilot episode boxes were inspected and certain VFX elements were shipped over so they could reconstruct the necessary station and runabout shots needed for "Birthright, Part I" and "Timescape." Everything was returned to storage. Betamax was an analog consumer videotape format developed in the mid-1970s that lost the videotape format war to VHS and wouldn't have been used on DS9, regardless. DS9 was edited on digital component (D1) master tapes for its entire run, just like TNG, which switched to that format in its 4th season (from the old 1" analog Type-C videotape).
Makes me wonder, has ANY series on TV ever been shot on 70mm? It is pretty rare in feature films as the cameras are difficult to use and it is hideously expensive to process (is my understanding) and the advantage of it for the small screen would be non-existent. Anyone have any ideas?
Re Betamax itself (not whether it was used on DS9), it was apparently superior to VHS in quality and continued in use by broadcasters and production companies for that reason. It may still be in use in some places...
I highly doubt it for the reasons you state. Even the proportion of 70mm-originated (as opposed to blow-up) cinema features to 35mm is tiny.
Thanks Maxwell Everett! The details about the type of media used are like technobabble to me. I was more curious about the idea that an employee possibly lifted it. But if the technical details are blatantly incorrect, then this was an obvious hoax post. Just not sure why someone would do that?!? Ah well. Thanks!
Because it's a good "excuse" as to why they wouldn't do it. "Well, we really wanted to! But when we opened the vault we noticed we had been burgled. So sorry fans. We heard your pleas and were ready to not only deliver a remastered series but also a brand new movie but someone else made it impossible."
Nah, they know if they pulled something like that we'd still ask for upconverted versions of the alleged pilfered episodes. Admit it, Squiggy. You love us.
It's news archives mostly. The quality is better and recordings last longer. I presume everything will eventually be digitlly converted or binned, but at the moment it's still in use. They're stopping manufacturing tapes in March 2016.
Yes, sounds like someone didn't know the difference between Betamax and Digibeta! I was roaring with laughter reading that post! IIRC broadcasters tended to use U-Matic rather than Betamax (though both were developed by Sony), which is better quality than VHS. Not sure how widespread that is these days, probably not very.
I got really pissed for a moment after reading this, then I thought "oh wait, how the heck would they manage to film all of a seven-season TV show in 70mm?" Lol, very dumb rumour whoever came up with it. They should have put at least some effort into it