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

[neo_reloaded]

In regards to my Lilo & Stitch comment earlier:

Isn't it odd how Disney Animation has put no catalogue titles out besides the Platinum line? I understand the 2-a-year decision for the Platinum titles - they're like Universal's Spielberg titles, or Fox's Die Hards / Aliens, or Paramount's Indy / Godfather - big titles, saved for special times. But what about all the random other animated titles - Rescuers, Great Mouse Detective, Oliver & Company, and all the recent titles that don't have Platinum status like Pocahontas, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, etc.? I figured we'd start to see them here and there, but not a single one. Is it that they're saving these for big promotions like the Platinum titles? Or is it that they're a low priority because they aren't expected to sell well at all?

Obviously I don't expect any specific information on titles or dates or anything. But have you heard any general talk about bringing these or similar titles to Blu-ray? Or is that not even on Disney's agenda?

[Jeff Kleist]

Isn't it odd how Disney Animation has put no catalogue titles out besides the Platinum line?

No, Children's titles aren't doing well at all. They're waiting until the penetration grows much larger.

The platinums are very prestige based with wide appeal outside the Disney fandom

[Michael.Schinke]

Hey Jeff, I was wondering if the HD broadcast version of THe French Connection is the same as the Blu-ray in it's transfer. I'd never seen the film before a couple of weeks ago (I know, BAD Mikey) and now I'm intrigued enough to pick it up.

[scrumptious]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

I've already seen one show I watch end their season on a cliff-hanger... and the chances of it being picked up are slim. I've also been reading of several more series I watch that are still "up-in-the-air" ending with a cliff-hanger.

I feel companies should commit to at least releasing an ending on DVD.

There was one TV show that ran like 10 episodes leaving much of the plot mysterious. The creator of the show took the time to tell what he envisioned for the show, what different things unexplained meant and what ideas he had for a second season.

[Jeff Kleist]

Hey Jeff, I was wondering if the HD broadcast version of THe French Connection is the same as the Blu-ray in it's transfer. I'd never seen the film before a couple of weeks ago (I know, BAD Mikey) and now I'm intrigued enough to pick it up.

I would assume they used the same master yes

[J.Cornelius]

I was wondering if anyone at the bits can shed some light about this release.

It is not available at Best Buy Online, Amazon has a 7 to 10 day wait, Target same thing, Walmart does not have it listed. I even tried Borders despite their insane prices no luck.

I would assume a release with this popularity will be readily available, what gives?

[Jeff Kleist]

about what release?

Borders charges SRP at their stores, for some reason the online site has been jacked up over SRP

Use the coupons from their rewards program and it's 30% off almost all the time

Catalog titles aren't selling very well, everyone is cutting costs, simple as that

[J.Cornelius]

Silence of The Lambs.

Amazon delayed 7 to 10 days, not on Best Buy's website, just seemed odd to me for a new release.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

about what release?

Borders charges SRP at their stores, for some reason the online site has been jacked up over SRP

Use the coupons from their rewards program and it's 30% off almost all the time

Catalog titles aren't selling very well, everyone is cutting costs, simple as that

Cutting retail list prices may boost sales. Max said in Q1, we'd see some cuts. It's now March and there's no hint of a cut.

The nation's #1 HD retailer certainly isn't helping catalog titles. Best Buy's prices are still sky high. $34.99 for Mrs. Doubtfire? There are many other examples.

It'll be year 3 in just a few months of this format's existence. The players have dropped in price. I think many of us are passing on catalog titles until they drop some as well.

[Jeff Kleist]

Catalog drops are indeed coming.

They're just not moving in the numbers that BB needs for lower margins. People just feel less urgency to upgrade outside the hardcores

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

"My Name Is Earl" is Fox.

20th Century Fox Television produces the show, but the series is broadcast on NBC. That is the context in which I was referring when I mentioned NBC comedies. Either way, I think it is strange there isn't already some movement to put that series, as well as other comedy series broadcast on NBC, on Blu-ray.

[Jeff Kleist]

Fox controls the video releases of Earl as well

The first NBC comedy that will hit Blu will be either Friends or Seinfeld the way things are going. MAYBE The Office, but it's not that pretty on a good day.

[cembros]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Fox controls the video releases of Earl as well

The first NBC comedy that will hit Blu will be either Friends or Seinfeld the way things are going. MAYBE The Office, but it's not that pretty on a good day.

so will friends be in highdef and in widescreen or just sd episodes on less discs that the dvds, imdb says that it was shot on film in 1.33:1, does this mean it can be in high def but with bars on the side similar to the pinochio release

[Jeff Kleist]

I can't say what'll happen with Friends in regards to the masters.

If Warner did what everyone else is doing, they created both pillarboxed 1.33:1 and tillt n scanned 16:9 masters

After watching Pinnocio tonight, I have to say that the artistic bar covers are very attractive and work very well. They're unobtrusive and change to fit the scenes. Very nice job and an excellent way to deal with the problem. The best part is that if you don't like them, they're an overlay you can get rid of.

[cembros]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I can't say what'll happen with Friends in regards to the masters.

If Warner did what everyone else is doing, they created both pillarboxed 1.33:1 and tillt n scanned 16:9 masters

After watching Pinnocio tonight, I have to say that the artistic bar covers are very attractive and work very well. They're unobtrusive and change to fit the scenes. Very nice job and an excellent way to deal with the problem. The best part is that if you don't like them, they're an overlay you can get rid of.

ya i saw pictures of the pinnochio sidebar covers and thought they were a great idea, im not sure how well they would work for a non animated feature but i would be interested to see. I am somewhat concerned about the release of shows on blu ray that were shot in 1.33, when people pop in the disc and see that there are black bars or even creative cover bars on the sides of their screens they are going to be unhappy considering their upscalled dvds fill up the whole screen. Personally i would prefer to have the original aspect ratio preserved but i would also require a significant improvment in pc and ac. I love friends, my girlfriend and i own the entire series and watch it regularly. The dvd's are begining to skip due to scratches and wear and tear (her old room mates were not to carefull with the discs) so i would love to upgrade and get the entire series on blu ray, i just hope they provide me with a real incentive to do so.

[Jeff Kleist]

Well, hypothetically their DVDs are also 1.33:1 yes? I never owned any friends discs, and they'd have the same problems with the DVD. Worse comes to worse they can zoon them

[cembros]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Well, hypothetically their DVDs are also 1.33:1 yes? I never owned any friends discs, and they'd have the same problems with the DVD. Worse comes to worse they can zoon them

yes they are but the thing is, usually in the options for upscaling dvds the player is set to full screen. So whatever the aspect ratio is there will be a full screen image. When it comes to blu ray on the other hand whatever the aspect ration of the disc is, that is what is displayed. Even if that is not the case, i can forsee the fact that the blu is not "upgraded" (i stress the quotations) to a 16:9 image being a serious problem for consumers. Especially when they are going to have to dish out extra money for the upgrade. I feel strange saying this but unfortuantly we are no longer in the age of the format war and issues such as increased protection from scratches (which is for me a big reason to upgrade the series as i gave reason to in a previous post) is not something that is readily being advertised to consumers. This is why there needs to be more of an incentive, i hope that the upgrade in picture quality is significant, i fear that people wont notice a marginal increase in quality when the aspect ration is only 1.33

[Jeff Kleist]

Since all widescreen TVs will zoom, stretch, and crop to their heart's content, I don't see the issue...

Are you talking about how they don't have their players set up correctly to begin with?

[cembros]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Since all widescreen TVs will zoom, stretch, and crop to their heart's content, I don't see the issue...

Are you talking about how they don't have their players set up correctly to begin with?

maybe its just the fact that its still a 1.33 image just like all other sd tv shows that concerns me, people will be expecting to see a 16:9 image like they see on all the popular prime time shows. I personally do not fall into this catagory, i just hope that people will not have a sour tast in their mouth when it comes to upgrading to blu ray when they see a typically sd aspect ration on a blu ray. Maybe pinoccho will warm people up. Or maybe the entire series on only a couple of discs compared to the 20-30 some odd discs on dvd will be incentive enough. Im just pondering, maybe my concern is unfounded, i hope so

[jd213]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Since all widescreen TVs will zoom, stretch, and crop to their heart's content, I don't see the issue...

Actually some TVs won't zoom on HD signals. I know this is true for some or all models from the Japanese corporation I translate for, and I think no zoom on SD happens for some brands as well (try googling "cannot zoom hd"). I imagine this is changing due to all the J6Ps complaining about black bars on 2.35:1 content, however.