Will High Definition DVDs benefit old TV programs?

[DewGuy]

Will High Definition DVDs (either HD or BlueRay) benefit old TV programs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s or will it just make more of the flaws evident?

[JoeH]

If the old programs were done on film, and the original film still exists in usable shape, then it may benefit the old programs after a new transfer. But that depends on how well sets, costumes and the like were done. If they only did them good enogh to show up okay on TV, then all of the flaws will show if they do not clean up the images.

[blusubaru]

It would benefit if you could put a whole season on one disc in standard definition. I'm guessing most older programs were not shot on film, so they would have to go through the same upconverting process of standard dvd's when played on HD.

One of the earliest examples that I could find of a tv show using film was Dragnet, which began airing in the 60's.

[deckeda]

The only way I can think they might benefit is if, in the transfer process, some fancy up-converting is done in such a way that's more sophisticated than typical players or TVs can do on the back-end.

But the assumption here is that old, analog NTSC signals suck in comparison to HD no matter what you do. Technically, yes, but that position assumes you're getting everything out of the original signal you can.

Anytime you have to convert formats and media, the transfer process is important too --- not just the original and ending formats or media.

For example, when DVDs first came out, they often paled in comparison to LaserDiscs, which can't actually hold quite as much data. But after a little while, the transfer process improved.

It might even be the case that if today a new version of a popular '90s movie was re-released on DVD that the new DVD might look better --- same original source, same lo-rez DVD format, but better picture. We've often seen just such a thing happen with music CD re-issues.

[elmo3]

It's like JoeH said: the producers and staff of those TV shows created an environment that was suitable for NTSC TV of the time. They didn't spend a penny more than was necessary to satisfy that requirement. The makeup, the sets, the special effects, etc. were all aimed at what was necessary.

If you transfer that film to HD, all of the detail will come out and you'll spend your time being disappointed at how cheesy the sets look and at how bad the makeup looks.

Sometimes, it's best to leave things alone. If it was created from scratch for hi def, great. If not, don't try to make it hi-def.

I remember seeing the 20 year anniversary showing of Grease in the theaters. By 1998, theaters had switched to sound systems that were designed to show off THX sound and the like; the sound system was designed for the films of the time. They went together. When they tried to play a 20 year old musical through those sound systems, a 20 year old musical that was designed for 1978 theater sound systems, it was AWFUL. Almost unbearable.

The Grease soundtrack and the sound systems of 1978 were a matched set. The TV sets of old NTSC broadcasts were matched to low-def viewing. Don't try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

[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.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote elmo3]If you transfer that film to HD, all of the detail will come out and you'll spend your time being disappointed at how cheesy the sets look and at how bad the makeup looks.
Hell, they look cheesy now.
The only thing that saves the old Twilight Zones, and Outer Limits is great stories.
You could tell great stories around a campfire with sock puppets and still captivate an audience.
Special effects and CG alone don't make a story, case in point, Star Wars 3, what a hunk of junk, nice CG though!

BGnR

[elmo3]

BGnR and I are on the same wavelength here.

It's the story, stupid.

I'd rather keep my ReplayTVs and watch the story. Y'all can switch to HD DVRs and look at mountain sunsets and oooh and aahhhhh all you want. It's not about the picture.

Of course, I read quite a bit. I'm very comfortable in dealing with the story as opposed to the visual representation. It's my theory that HD is being driven by non-readers, while readers just don't care and never will.

A good story being shown on a very distant station, received through snow and other interference on an analog TV, will always be better than a bad story being delivered perfectly on a closed 1080p hi def/optical drive system.

[Seacrest]

There's old shows in HD.
And then there's Maude...in HD.

[DewGuy]

Thanks everyone. I had a pretty good feeling that old shows probably wouldn't hold up to high definition release very well but wanted to make sure I was on the right track.