DS9 on blu ray?
- Thread starter borgboy
- Start date
There are certain things that are obvious mistakes and MUST be modified, such as:
- the second Defiant still having the first one's NX-74205 registry number
- all those ships with no names or numbers at all, particularly Galaxy-class ships in the battle scenes
But those are relatively few.
Sound like the logical thing to me and a golden opportunity. If there wasn't one, I'd be worried.
Which brings me instantly to the question foremost on my mind:
How are the TNG-R sales going?
I remember loud an clear the message along the lines, if you want to see DS9 in HD you'd better buy TNG-R first.
TNG-R sales figures would probably be the deciding factor.
Bob
I really can't give you a link, but I'm certain I read on this very board something to the effect that early seasons had sold like proverbial hotcakes - but sales had slowed down subsequently. I'm pretty sure a link was included.Which brings me instantly to the question foremost on my mind:
How are the TNG-R sales going?
I remember loud an clear the message along the lines, if you want to see DS9 in HD you'd better buy TNG-R first.
TNG-R sales figures would probably be the deciding factor.
I do know ENT Blu-ray sales have not been stellar. These indicators give me cause to question whether a DS9 and/or VOY Blu-ray project would be commercially viable.
As I said above, I hope I'm wrong - particularly with VOY.
Blu-ray sales are only a small part of it. The studio is future-proofing the series by remastering them. It's either that or they say, "well, I think we've made enough money with these shows, let's just let them die now." You really think there's a chance they'll do that? If there's any more money to squeeze out of these shows, rest assured they'll squeeze.
Just let them die? Well, to be honest, with DS9 and VOY, I do think that scenario is a possibility, yes.
As fans, many of us care about the longevity of Trek in all its incarnations, but I do think we're (not necessarily you, Hober) sometimes prone to overestimating the perceived value of it beyond TOS and maybe TNG.
I take your point reference additional revenue streams, but I believe those very same perceptions (and the reality) of DS9/VOY being far less successful hold valid in cold business decisions.
ENT is with us on Blu purely by virtue of its pre-existing readiness for quick and painless release - and on a technical level, they're pretty weak transfers.
An interesting footnote from the latest issue of the Eaglemoss Starships Collection, featuring the Cardassian Galor class ship:
All of the appearances of the Galor in TNG used the physical studio model, along with the early appearances in DS9. The CG model was made later in DS9's run.
Two key points that I took away from this:
1) CBS still has original CG files for the Galor class, which lends me to believe the "reconstructing the CG from scratch" to not be as big of an issue. (That's not to say it's trivial, but it's much better than starting from scratch or having to negotiate with now defunct effects houses)
2) The HD upgrade has already been completed for the Galor model, despite it not being needed for TNG, since it used the studio model. Granted, they could have made the upgrades as a safety precaution just in case the model shots were unusable (as has been the case previously), but I personally think this is a good sign that they're looking forward to giving DS9 the full HD treatment.
That said, the other issue this month was the Jem'Hadar Battlecruiser. They briefly discussed the CG model, but nothing outside of the scope of the series itself. They also released the Defiant and the DS9 station previously, which, IIRC, got similar treatments to the Battlecruiser. The CG was discussed within the context of the show, but no hints as to the current state of the model as was done for the Galor.
All of the appearances of the Galor in TNG used the physical studio model, along with the early appearances in DS9. The CG model was made later in DS9's run.
Two key points that I took away from this:
1) CBS still has original CG files for the Galor class, which lends me to believe the "reconstructing the CG from scratch" to not be as big of an issue. (That's not to say it's trivial, but it's much better than starting from scratch or having to negotiate with now defunct effects houses)
2) The HD upgrade has already been completed for the Galor model, despite it not being needed for TNG, since it used the studio model. Granted, they could have made the upgrades as a safety precaution just in case the model shots were unusable (as has been the case previously), but I personally think this is a good sign that they're looking forward to giving DS9 the full HD treatment.
That said, the other issue this month was the Jem'Hadar Battlecruiser. They briefly discussed the CG model, but nothing outside of the scope of the series itself. They also released the Defiant and the DS9 station previously, which, IIRC, got similar treatments to the Battlecruiser. The CG was discussed within the context of the show, but no hints as to the current state of the model as was done for the Galor.
I think, there could be a compromise situation (like for example done with X-Files): The film source material is scanned and cut mostly automatically by software (in 4:3 ratio). Scenes with special effects are upscaled (plus sharpened and color corrected to fit the HD material) - maybe some compromises there with green-screen areas replaced with the SD material (SD picture overlayed with the HD picture, but the green screen area cut out, like with a matte painting).
That would enable CBS to create a 80% HD version of DS9 and VOY for a reasonable price. So if a HD TV station (or internet stream service) wants to braodcast them, CBS can say: There you are.
But it wont be a high quality makeover like with TNG, it will be a quick'n'dirty transfer to HD for DS9 and VOY.
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No idea who you're referring to specifically, but I don't think it's necessary for members comments to be preceded or bookended with a variant of "IMO" in every post. Particularly as the TREK BBS is an opinion based forum.
Personally, I'm still crossing my fingers for the "full treatment" as it were - I'd love to see DS9 presented in the same way as TNG on Blu. But, I'd be willing to at least sample transfers of the type you're suggesting.
Indeed, a sampler disc à la TNG's "The Next Level" wouldn't go amiss!
I think that for most people, those issues really aren't a MUST. There really are only a handfull of continuity-buffs who have huge issues with those things, and CBS isn't going spend a shitload of extra money to have that fixed if all they have to do is re-render excisting files.
The earlier seasons of DSN would be slightly easier to do re-master as like TNG weren't they mainly shot on film with little use of CGI (true there some like Odo's morph) as for later seasons, from articles on places like Trekcore it seemes as if at least some of the CGI models were over-engineered for the needs of SD. So minimal work might be need on some of CGI models..
I think, believe and presume that apparently there could be the possibility that it has become necessary to, indeed, add an IMHO (or IMBO = In my biased opinion) after every sentence you write.
This has been a major criticism in another thread which has recently been closed (apparently because of aforementioned failure to suficiently add "IMHOs").
Bob
DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations" was upscaled for the original ST second season blu-ray. It's as good as it can possibly ever look -- which isn't very good. I doubt the studio was happy with it, and I've no doubt they'll go the extra mile and do DS9 the right way.
^ It was only included as a special feature so I don't think they spent much on it.
This has been a major criticism in another thread which has recently been closed (apparently because of aforementioned failure to suficiently add "IMHOs").
Bob
That wasn't why it was closed. You have no one to blame about its closing but yourself. And this has nothing to do with the topic of DS9 on Blu Ray.
If you have some personal beef with me that you felt the need to emphasize a reply I made in a topic that has been closed, I'd suggest you PM me with your concerns instead, as I have no intention of continuing this childishness with you in a public forum, or derailing this thread. And if you continue to bring up any issues you have with me in this public forum, I will alert a moderator of your behavior.
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