Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Jeff Kleist]

They're just copying off the press release. Same as the DVD

[NL197]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Fox can only sell ads based on 3 milion, but if you count DVR watchers, 8-9 million people watch it every week. That's damn good for any show. What they need to do is find a way to monetize DVRs effectively (call me Fox, it's yours for a stay of execution for both shows and 3 future ones of my choosing, plus a few other perks )

I remember someone (I think it was Tim Minear) saying that while the show does get those high numbers from DVRs and Hulu's online streaming, that because of the reason you stated - money for the ads - networks don't count those numbers because they don't get anything from those. I guess it's good for the people who pay to produce it, but if the network doesn't benefit that's where it really matters in the end.

Regardless, yay us.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Bill/Jeff-

Any words of wisdom regarding Blu-ray releases from Discovery Channel and Science Channel? What does your crystal ball show?

I note that When We Left Earth was released on both DVD and Blu-ray. I hoped this trend would continue, but Moon Machines appears to be releasing on DVD, but not Blu-ray.

Yes, I know the NASA footage is rather grainy due to its origins, but I rather appreciate it, particularly as it helps frame 40-year old documentary material. YMMV.

Cheers!
-Jim
Confirmed Space Nut

I think it's a matter of trying to find out what kind of an audience there is for this material. If I'm not mistaken, Spacecraft Films is working on a few Blu-ray titles for future release. I'm with you though - I'm definitely in the target audience for this stuff too.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Yes, I am eagerly awaiting Alien.




"In HD, no one can hear compression artifacts when you scream."

It will be well worth the wait. Have I said that before?

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by MCT

Jeff or Bill any updates on Alien/Aliens that you can talk about?

The Alien Quad is getting a full Blu-ray updating. Hopefully, it will be out in time for the holidays. It will be WELL worth the wait, and the upgrade. If all goes well, this will be THE definitive release.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

Have the Bits guys heard of anyone else's Star Trek season 1 skipping or having playback problems? Mine does it every so often...

I have heard some people are having trouble, but it seems to be a player firmware issue. I'm having no problems with a Panasonic BD55. It's not widespread though. What model player do you have?

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

They're just copying off the press release. Same as the DVD

Yeah, I think it's same as the DVD.

[RedIsNotBlue]

Is it safe to say Universal is purposely holding back on some of their catalog releases that are already on HD DVD for anniversary purposes? Because I know an HD DVD release like The Breakfast Club will have its 25th Anniversary next year so is it safe to say that we will be getting it next year and not by the end of this year?

[Jeff Kleist]

It's usually safe to say that when not motivated by other outside factors that any major catalog title is looking for a tie-in of some kind to make it more special

[fuddwupper]

On the subject of anniversary releases, what can we be expecting to see this year?

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by fuddwupper

On the subject of anniversary releases, what can we be expecting to see this year?

Batman (1989).

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Batman (1989).

Now if we could only get a digibook of Batman Returns also.

I'll stick with my DVD's of the others for now. But the two Burton films are worthy of upgrade.

[Constitution 101]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I have heard some people are having trouble, but it seems to be a player firmware issue. I'm having no problems with a Panasonic BD55. It's not widespread though. What model player do you have?

Sammy BD-P2550 w/ latest firmware...I wasn't aware the Panasonic had the HQV chip or I would've gone that route-bummer. Don't get me wrong. When you turn the player's sharpness and DNR completely off the picture's very good. But that thing moves SLOW. And I do mean SLOW. On balance, so far the Trek series is the only one I've had this issue with.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

The Alien Quad is getting a full Blu-ray updating. Hopefully, it will be out in time for the holidays. It will be WELL worth the wait, and the upgrade. If all goes well, this will be THE definitive release.

As long as it includes all cuts of each film and the Quad extras, it will be as definitive as it needs to be for me!

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

Sammy BD-P2550 w/ latest firmware...I wasn't aware the Panasonic had the HQV chip or I would've gone that route-bummer. Don't get me wrong. When you turn the player's sharpness and DNR completely off the picture's very good. But that thing moves SLOW. And I do mean SLOW. On balance, so far the Trek series is the only one I've had this issue with.

Panasonic doesn't use HQV...it uses its own proprietary "Uni-fier" (spelling) chip.

[aramis109]

Bill and Jeff-

Any word from Universal or confirmation of the supposed audio error on the new "Inside Man" release as discussed here? It seems that the last 1/4 of the film is missing one of the surround channels in the lossless mix.

Would like to know if this was something folks were aware of, if there are any changes or replacements planned, and if it's truly affecting all discs or just the review copies folks were sent.

[PeterTHX]

Bits Staff:

From the TREK set review (about the Captain's Summit disc):

Hosted by Whoppi Goldberg

It should be Whoopi "Guinan" Goldberg

PS: I'd bump up Trek V's rating on the video. However bad the film is, it's never looked better. The original presentations had all sorts of film damage that's been rectified here. Fine details such as the weaves in the stripes of the "Away Team" personnel are visible. This and the TMP disc are the biggest improvements on the set IMO (I thought Wrath of Khan looked a little flat depth and color wise, not to say it's not better but not as good as I thought it would be).

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by RedIsNotBlue

Is it safe to say Universal is purposely holding back on some of their catalog releases that are already on HD DVD for anniversary purposes? Because I know an HD DVD release like The Breakfast Club will have its 25th Anniversary next year so is it safe to say that we will be getting it next year and not by the end of this year?

Yeah, that's possible. Studios are always looking for the next marketing opportunity, and that's definitely one. They are starting to roll out their HD-DVD titles a little more aggressively on Blu-ray.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by merrick97

As long as it includes all cuts of each film and the Quad extras, it will be as definitive as it needs to be for me!

Trust me, you are going to be VERY pleased. I'll say no more for now.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by RedIsNotBlue

Is it safe to say Universal is purposely holding back on some of their catalog releases that are already on HD DVD for anniversary purposes? Because I know an HD DVD release like The Breakfast Club will have its 25th Anniversary next year so is it safe to say that we will be getting it next year and not by the end of this year?

Next year is 25th for Universal's Back To The Future, Out of Africa, Brazil and Peter Bogdanovich's Mask also.