Will High Definition DVDs benefit old TV programs?

[chas_m]

Actually, my standard-def DVDs of (mostly British) shows look GREAT on my new HDTV ... probably because of my upscaling Toshiba prog-scan DVD player.

OBVIOUSLY no amount of upscaling is going to make SD look like real HD, but it certainly makes many of these older shows (currently watching Sapphire & Steel) look better than they ever did on my old TV (very sharp, good blacks, nice balanced colour), and some of the 16:9 SD DVDs (like the new seasons of Doctor Who) look terrific as well. I'm seeing LOTS of detail I didn't pick up before.

Again, watching something that is truly HD is so stunning I find myself watching shows I would have never bothered with before (documentary on Siberia? My GAWD that's a beautiful/awful place!), but unless it's a documentary it had better have a good story or all the HD in the world won't save it.

[SteveJobs]

I just want them to put a crapload of standard definition or lower video on the higher-capacity 'hd' discs. I don't care for any higher resolution images. The audio is what makes a good movie experience, imo.

[pixelzombie]

[quote deckeda]Wow, I totally forgot some TV shows were shot on film. Yeah, if they could find originals or first-gen copies for example, those old shows might just look great in HD!

Actually, hi-def discs will benefit todays' TV shows also, because a lot of it is shot in 1080p --- which isn't broadcast.
i was very surprised how well the Honeymooners dvd looked on my LCD tv...