HD on Cable to Blu-ray Release Times

[slick1ru2]

I have seem some great HD movies the past year or 2 that have yet been released on BD. Now some did come out later or are about to be released. Cinemax and HDNET movies seems to show the most.

Saw first on cable in HD, came out later or coming out

All the James Bonds
Both Elizabeth movies
Dune
Ghost Busters
MIB
Patton
Serenity
Bad Boys
A Bridge Too Far

Saw on cable in HD, have not seen released


All the Star Wars were on in HD last July on Spike for the Force of July
Jaws
Heaven's Prisoners
MIB 2
Mothman Prophecies
Apocalypse Now Redux
Platoon
12 Commandments
Sound Of Music
Dances with Wolves
Lawrence of Arabia
Predator 2
Jurassic Park
Ghost Busters 2

Just a partial list. But I would like to have some of these on BD. What is the hold up??

[CZAR]

Ive always wondered the same. There are a ton of movies in HD that arent on blu. 1 very big movie I recently watched in HD was E.T. and we need that one on blu badly! Got Em!!

[FlipperWasIrish]

This issue was discussed a few months back. That a movie is broadcast in HD has no bearing on when, if ever, it will appear on Blu-ray.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

This issue was discussed a few months back. That a movie is broadcast in HD has no bearing on when, if ever, it will appear on Blu-ray.

According to who? Blu-ray is what, 3 years old and you don't think they are transferring these titles for future sale? Riiiight.

[nolfoc]

predator 2 is out on blu

[FlipperWasIrish]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

According to who? Blu-ray is what, 3 years old and you don't think they are transferring these titles for future sale? Riiiight.

I guess you didn't understand my explaination. I am not saying any movies you see that are broadcast in HD will not be released on Blu-ray. These are two (2) different distribution channels (ie: revenue streams). While many movies that are broadcast in HD will wind up on Blu-ray at some point. Some will not, or at best take a long time. Why? MONEY. For a Blu-ray to made, a major factor is the estimated return on investment (ROI) for the studio.

Being broadcast in HD and being released on Blu-ray is not an apple-to-apple situation.

If this was not clear enough perhaps someone else can explain better.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

I guess you didn't understand my explaination. I am not saying any movies you see that are broadcast in HD will not be released on Blu-ray. These are two (2) different distribution channels (ie: revenue streams). While many movies that are broadcast in HD will wind up on Blu-ray at some point. Some will not, or at best take a long time. Why? MONEY. For a Blu-ray to made, a major factor is the estimated return on investment (ROI) for the studio.

Being broadcast in HD and being released on Blu-ray is not an apple-to-apple situation.

If this was not clear enough perhaps someone else can explain better.

That's my point too. Is it enough that a cable company wants to run a movie a couple of times in a month to go through the expense of finding a suitable print and then transferring it to HD if it may be only a one time run on cable every year or two? You think they use different equipment to do it then they do for transferring movies that they are going to release on BD? Or did they go and by more machines to do HD transfers especially for a run or two on cable? On top of all that, do you think that Universal isn't going to make money on Jaws? Look at the movies I listed! You don't think most would make money as a BD? I listed popular movies for a reason. PEOPLE WANT TO SEE STAR WARS ON BD!!! And usually you do not see little known movies or crappy movies that are older in HD, they are still in SD with back bars so you know the studio is only converting movies it thinks it can make money in BD.

[FlipperWasIrish]

Your points make sense on a couple of levels. And I accept that you believe that a film being broadcast on HD means it should be available on Blu-ray. If you don't accept that these are two different animals that is fine. I'm not trying to change your mind, I was just trying to answer your question on a most basic level for any film.

Perhaps someone else can give you the answer you are looking for.

[Buddy Christ]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Ive always wondered the same. There are a ton of movies in HD that arent on blu. 1 very big movie I recently watched in HD was E.T. and we need that one on blu badly! Got Em!!

Phantasm avatar??? sweet...get em'

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

Your points make sense on a couple of levels. And I accept that you believe that a film being broadcast on HD means it should be available on Blu-ray. If you don't accept that these are two different animals that is fine. I'm not trying to change your mind, I was just trying to answer your question on a most basic level for any film.

Perhaps someone else can give you the answer you are looking for.

I do know back before the format war, that the few HD channels and Voom were driving a small demand for HD movies and those scans were done on machines not compatible with 1080p. But, I am talking about movies that will sell huge. Some of those HD movies looked restored too, like the 3 older Star Wars. Why they continue to hold on to them, I have no idea.

[steve_dave]

Has anyone noticed that:

A) The Star Wars films are modified from their original 2.35:1 widescreen versions to 1.78:1.

B) Some channels (notably TBS, TNT, and Bravo) will stretch 1.33:1 SD material to 1.78:1 and upconvert it to HD when they do not have a HD television broadcast master available.

C) A lot of films on television use older HD masters such as The Sound of Music, Gladiator, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

So yeah, Star Wars is in HD but its 1.78:1 so I would rather get a nicely done Blu-ray Disc in the original aspect ratio. I would also like a much better presentation for The Sound of Music as the 720p presentation on ABC lacks the depth, clarity, and pop of the recent DVD release.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Has anyone noticed that:

A) The Star Wars films are modified from their original 2.35:1 widescreen versions to 1.78:1.

B) Some channels (notably TBS, TNT, and Bravo) will stretch 1.33:1 SD material to 1.78:1 and upconvert it to HD when they do not have a HD television broadcast master available.

C) A lot of films on television use older HD masters such as The Sound of Music, Gladiator, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

So yeah, Star Wars is in HD but its 1.78:1 so I would rather get a nicely done Blu-ray Disc in the original aspect ratio. I would also like a much better presentation for The Sound of Music as the 720p presentation on ABC lacks the depth, clarity, and pop of the recent DVD release.

Did you notice the fantastic 10 Commandments presentation on ABC the night before The Sound of Music? The Spike Star Wars presentation looked like it used the same source as for the DVD releases , both were in pristine,therefore restored, state. Spike choosing to Pan and Scan them was most likely to appease their "manly" viewers who don't like/understand why they have large bars on the top and bottom of their TV. I don't even think that The Sound of Music was true HD scan, it looked like an SD upconversion. Gladiator's Blu-Ray was crap so to say the TV presentation looks like an upres almost points to them using the same master. And I have The Lost World on my DVD, haven't viewed it.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

The Spike Star Wars presentation looked like it used the same source as for the DVD releases , both were in pristine,therefore restored, state. Spike choosing to Pan and Scan them was most likely to appease their "manly" viewers who don't like/understand why they have large bars on the top and bottom of their TV.

Spike had nothing to do with the modified aspect ratio for the Star Wars films. Fox and Lucasfllm made HD masters from the restored elements and these HD broadcast masters were used on HBO, Cinemax, MTV, and Spike.

MTV's broadcast even had interstituals with extras not found on any DVD releases of the films.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Spike had nothing to do with the modified aspect ratio for the Star Wars films. Fox and Lucasfllm made HD masters from the restored elements and these HD broadcast masters were used on HBO, Cinemax, MTV, and Spike.

MTV's broadcast even had interstituals with extras not found on any DVD releases of the films.

Well then that is the way George wanted you to see it. Remember that Lucas started THX because he was upset his movies were not being seen and heard in the movie theaters as he wanted them to be. And here is are 1080p shots of the original.

https://csel.cs.colorado.edu/~pmjohnso/swhighdef/

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

A) The Star Wars films are modified from their original 2.35:1 widescreen versions to 1.78:1.

Starz has already shown SW in 2:35.1.

[slick1ru2]

About the only thing I can see that is holding back BD releases on some of these blockbusters is if they are coming out in combo 3D offerings.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

Starz has already shown SW in 2:35.1.

If that is true, then Spike did a Pan and Scan, something totally possible for them to do. Remember they are not a premium channel and still have many viewers with SD 4:3 sets in which the 2:35 is pretty small. I have a 20" 4:3 LCD in my conversion van and CinemaScope films look like they only take up 1/3 of the screen.

[FlipperWasIrish]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

About the only thing I can see that is holding back BD releases on some of these blockbusters is if they are coming out in combo 3D offerings.

Send a note to the studio of your choice and ask them about a particular film. Such as if they have Blu-ray plans for it?

There are many diffferent reasons why any film is not on Blu-ray. Each studio has its own plan and budget to meet. What would appear to be an obvious choice for a Blu-ray to you or I may not fit into the current budget (this is but 1 of many possible reasons). Also, many companies work off multi-year plans (that hopefully are updated yearly) which throws another bunch of issues into release dates.

You're looking for an answer to a complicated question. One that requires an answer from each individual studio. I doubt that such detailed info will flow freely from them. Sure we will get nuggets, but we never see the whole plan.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Blu2U

Phantasm avatar??? sweet...get em'

Yes sir! I love the Tall Man and this is a franchise we badly need on blu! Got Em!!

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

Send a note to the studio of your choice and ask them about a particular film. Such as if they have Blu-ray plans for it?

There are many diffferent reasons why any film is not on Blu-ray. Each studio has its own plan and budget to meet. What would appear to be an obvious choice for a Blu-ray to you or I may not fit into the current budget (this is but 1 of many possible reasons). Also, many companies work off multi-year plans (that hopefully are updated yearly) which throws another bunch of issues into release dates.

You're looking for an answer to a complicated question. One that requires an answer from each individual studio. I doubt that such detailed info will flow freely from them. Sure we will get nuggets, but we never see the whole plan.

Nice if a consumer input panel was formed by the studios to give them some input on not only the movies wanted but amount of extras as well as releases that need to be redone.