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

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Eh, they do exist

He didn't simply reuse the master from the Laserdisc Definitive Edition? That would have been non-anamorphic SD.

Gary

[woodlandwolf]

What are the chances on seeing The Simpsons, Family Guy, king of the hill seasons out on Blu in 2009?

Thanks

Woodlandwolf

[Clark Kent]

I have not seen this addressed anywhere really but what is going to happen to the BCI Blu-ray releases? The entire company was shut down about 10 days ago and the employees were let go by the parent corporation, Navarre. Should we assume any BCI release is immediately out of print (though obviously retailers still have copies)? The recent "Live From Abbey Road - Season One" is a BCI Blu-ray release and so are a scattering of B movies.

[Jeff Kleist]

He didn't simply reuse the master from the Laserdisc Definitive Edition? That would have been non-anamorphic SD.

He did

That doesn't mean that the source material doesn't exist

What are the chances on seeing The Simpsons, Family Guy, king of the hill seasons out on Blu in 2009?

Zero. They don't even broadcast those shows in HD. King of the Hill you'll be lucky if they even finish on DVD due to poor sales

I have not seen this addressed anywhere really but what is going to happen to the BCI Blu-ray releases? The entire company was shut down about 10 days ago and the employees were let go by the parent corporation, Navarre. Should we assume any BCI release is immediately out of print (though obviously retailers still have copies)? The recent "Live From Abbey Road - Season One" is a BCI Blu-ray release and so are a scattering of B movies.

It's safe to assume to get their stuff while the getting is good

[woodlandwolf]

That sucks about the Simpsons and Family Guy, now with that Im new at the HD TV thing but like TBSHD airs Family Guy so that means it isnt in HD and also why are those shows and like Married with Children and Saved by the Bell in Widescreen when the show was done in Fullscreen, just wondering.

Thanks,

Woodlandwolf

[Jeff Kleist]

Both of those shows were shot on analog videotape. They will never be more than SD

TBS is just cropping off the top and bottom

[woodlandwolf]

Thank you for that info, I just learned someting

Now this one has nothing to do with what may or not be coming out but it deals with buying blu/dvd so on. When you buy something froma store thats used, does the studios get any money from that sale? If not, does buying used hurt the studios and could that make it harder for titles coming out?

Thanks,

Wooodlandwolf

[Jeff Kleist]

No they don't get money from used sales

It's not like the game industry, where used sales are literally institutionalized in every strip mall in America, so I wouldn't say at this point that it has a big effect

[lgans316]

Hi Jeff/Bill,

1) Any idea if FOX is planning to release X-Men Trilogy ?

2) Also, could you please request the reps at Sony & Warner to feature 24-bit lossless audio instead of 16-bit ?

[Jeff Kleist]

1- Next year
2- One step at a time with Warner

[Mr. Cinema]

My question about Silence of the Lambs got lost in the shuffle a few pages back. Do you think we'll get all the extras from the 2-disc dvd? I'm not so sure since this is one of the long delayed MGM titles. I'm worried they're going to give it half ass treatment via a BD-25 with 0 extras, same as what they've done with alot of their catalog titles, such as Carrie.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by woodlandwolf

That sucks about the Simpsons and Family Guy, now with that Im new at the HD TV thing but like TBSHD airs Family Guy so that means it isnt in HD and also why are those shows and like Married with Children and Saved by the Bell in Widescreen when the show was done in Fullscreen, just wondering.

Thanks,

Woodlandwolf

As much as I would like to see Family Guy on Blu, I am more curious to find out if shows like House, Fringe, and Scrubs will see release this year (their most recent seasons).

[NoQuestion]

Also Jeff, How To Lose Friends & Alienate People was announced for release on February 17th. I realize this is a MGM film so that might be the reason, but there is no Blu release stated. Is this something that is coming later or is MGM/FOX not thinking its worth it to put it on Bluray?

[racerx1965]

I'm not one to usually ask when such and such title is to be released, but whatever happened to 'The Natural' with Robert Redford? IIRC this was supposed to be a launch title back in the HD DVD -vs- Blu-ray war days...

Thanks!

[Jeff Kleist]

As much as I would like to see Family Guy on Blu, I am more curious to find out if shows like House, Fringe, and Scrubs will see release this year (their most recent seasons).

Fringe with a maybe, ratings are a bit shakey but Fox is pushing it hard

Also Jeff, How To Lose Friends & Alienate People was announced for release on February 17th. I realize this is a MGM film so that might be the reason, but there is no Blu release stated. Is this something that is coming later or is MGM/FOX not thinking its worth it to put it on Bluray?

MGM has been spotty with what they put on Blu, I'm still ticked about Dead Like Me movie. It's been sitting on the shelf for over a year and no Blu

My question about Silence of the Lambs got lost in the shuffle a few pages back. Do you think we'll get all the extras from the 2-disc dvd? I'm not so sure since this is one of the long delayed MGM titles. I'm worried they're going to give it half ass treatment via a BD-25 with 0 extras, same as what they've done with alot of their catalog titles, such as Carrie.

The only extras listed on Fox's database are trailers, but that's not always complete,especially 3 months out either.

I'm not one to usually ask when such and such title is to be released, but whatever happened to 'The Natural' with Robert Redford? IIRC this was supposed to be a launch title back in the HD DVD -vs- Blu-ray war days...

Catalog titles are always getting shuffled around

[NoQuestion]

With MGM being soo shaky with their releases, are they going to screw up and not release Tom Cruise new movie either? I just don't understand what the problem is with MGM. Are they in control of their movies or is FOX?

[Jeff Kleist]

With MGM being soo shaky with their releases, are they going to screw up and not release Tom Cruise new movie either? I just don't understand what the problem is with MGM. Are they in control of their movies or is FOX?

You don't need to worry about new theatrical releases coming out

MGM controls their movies

[Blu Titan]

Jeff, any idea when we can expect announcements from the studios regarding their 2009 release schedule?

[Jeff Kleist]

CES I'm sure they'll have a peak, but no one does any kind of formal release schedule announcement, and it's always subject to change

Reliable scheduling is only about 3 months out not counting new releases

[coolmilo]

Hi Jeff,

I went to the local theater to watch "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
yesterday. During the opening, I saw the Paramount and the Warner Brothers logos. Which company owns the distribution rights for the eventual Blu-ray release (please don't reply with WB)?