Seinfeld in HD - Blu-ray Forum

Gremal · 12-19-2009, 06:18 AM

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I could not believe my eyes and ears this week when I saw Seinfeld on over-the-air HD broadcasts and it looked and sounded incredible. I never imagined HD production of Seinfeld could be this good. I am floored. Has anyone else been watching this? The reruns are airing in 16 x 9 on my local FOX channel.

Meeklo · 12-19-2009, 06:21 AM

The only time I've seen it is late night on FOX in which FOX doesn't HD encode any of their late night shows. Compare Family Guy in the same programming block to Family Guy in prime time on TBS in HD. Huge improvement.

MarkJ801 · 12-19-2009, 07:54 AM

If they're airing it in 16x9, then they are either cropping it or stretching it.

LynxFX · 12-19-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ801

If they're airing it in 16x9, then they are either cropping it or stretching it.

They are cropping it.

ManUtd · 12-19-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ801

If they're airing it in 16x9, then they are either cropping it or stretching it.

They are cropping and "restoring" the sides. Here is quote from Wikipedia:

Quote:

Seinfeld in HD

There are two high-definition versions of Seinfeld. The first is that of the network television (unsyndicated) versions in the original aspect ratio of 4:3 that were downscaled for the DVD releases.[57] Syndicated broadcast stations and the cable network TBS have begun airing the syndicated version of Seinfeld in HD. Unlike the version used for the DVD, Sony Pictures cropped out the top and bottom parts of the frame, while restoring previously cropped images on the sides, from the 35 mm film source, to use the entire 16:9 frame.[58] Amazon.com lists season 1 of Seinfeld in Blu-ray, though no release date has been announced.[59]

Anyways, I saw a few episodes on Fox and Seinfeld never looked so good. If they release the whole set in HD I might consider upgrading my DVDs.

BluBonnet · 12-19-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManUtd

Anyways, I saw a few episodes on Fox and Seinfeld never looked so good. If they release the whole set in HD I might consider upgrading my DVDs.

A set with all 9 seasons? Unfortunately, I think they're more likely to release the blu-ray versions one season at a time first, a few months apart, just like they did with the DVD sets.

sfmarine · 12-19-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynxFX

They are cropping it.

+1..I'll probably never get Seinfeld on Blu-ray..I'll stick with the DVD..not to mention it will probably cost a fortune.

dcowboy7 · 12-19-2009, 02:51 PM

Been 16x9 on FOX NY about 1 year already....looks great...its hard to watch any 4x3 shows anymore of anything.

Mier101294 · 12-19-2009, 05:25 PM

Looks great in HD. Hope it comes to Blu sooner rather than later. This is probably the only show I would double dip on.

Gremal · 12-19-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfmarine

+1..I'll probably never get Seinfeld on Blu-ray..I'll stick with the DVD..not to mention it will probably cost a fortune.

I used to think so too, but these broadcasts are light years beyond the DVDs which kinda sucked. I just attributed it to poor production values of the original show, but now I see it was actually filmed and mic'ed pretty well. If it comes out on BD, I'd have to pick it up and give away my DVDs.

DetroitSportsFan · 12-19-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

A set with all 9 seasons? Unfortunately, I think they're more likely to release the blu-ray versions one season at a time first, a few months apart, just like they did with the DVD sets.

That has to be what happens, because of the price. I can only imagine how much all 9 seasons would run.

Clark Kent · 12-19-2009, 08:17 PM

It is only a matter of time until we see Seinfeld on Blu-ray. Friends has already been announced for 2010. Different studio of course, but same general principle.

SquidPuppet · 12-19-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It is only a matter of time until we see Seinfeld on Blu-ray. Friends has already been announced for 2010. Different studio of course, but same general principle.

That rumor was squelched.

TV Shows on DVD followed up on this story and contacted Warner Home Video regarding this rumor. A studio executive promptly replied that there are no 2010 plans at this time, and said specifically of 'Friends' and 'The West Wing': "These have been discussed, but we're still looking at our TV BD catalog release plans." Hence, no dates have been set, for Europe, the US or anywhere else in the world. However, the representative also remarked that he was "not saying it won't happen some day. Just that we don't have [these] planned for 2010 at this point."

Reboscale · 12-19-2009, 09:42 PM

Why not release them in the OAR, especially if they were cropped to fit the 4:3 format! We would be seeing the whole picture for the first time.
Unfortunate.

McGarnigal · 12-19-2009, 10:13 PM

Does anyone else get an insanely bad aspect ratio of syndicated "the office'? Not tbs or cable, but my local CW- black bars on all 4 sides! (on 16:9 Widescreen tv) It would have black bars on top and bottom, but not sides on a 4:3 tv, but still...

Afrobean · 12-20-2009, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeklo

The only time I've seen it is late night on FOX in which FOX doesn't HD encode any of their late night shows. Compare Family Guy in the same programming block to Family Guy in prime time on TBS in HD. Huge improvement.

TBS doesn't have HD versions of Family Guy because no such version exists.

As I understand it, they merely stretch the SD picture to 16:9.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ801

If they're airing it in 16x9, then they are either cropping it or stretching it.

Or removing a matte. This is what will happen if they ever get around to showing the earlier seasons of Scrubs in 16:9.

In reality, Seinfeld is a combination. Opened the sides a little and cropped the top/bottom a little. Same thing happened with the 16:9 versions of Dragon Ball Z that were released on DVD recently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reboscale

Why not release them in the OAR, especially if they were cropped to fit the 4:3 format! We would be seeing the whole picture for the first time.
Unfortunate.

I'd say what they should do is include the original height of the frame, but extend the sides as far as possible, making for smaller pillarboxes.

Then include the option to apply a software matte that would add thick black bars on top of the picture to create the 4:3 frame as originally aired.

KrugerIndustrial · 01-16-2017, 10:55 AM

Holy thread resurrection.

Seinfeld is available for streaming on Amazon's Prime Video. Has anyone here watched it yet? I took a quick look last night, and it is indeed cropped. Kinda off-putting. Is it even in HD?

Petra_Kalbrain · 01-16-2017, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Holy thread resurrection.

[Show spoiler]

Not too bad. I've seen bigger though. That's what she said!

fitprod · 01-16-2017, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Holy thread resurrection.

Seinfeld is available for streaming on Amazon's Prime Video. Has anyone here watched it yet? I took a quick look last night, and it is indeed cropped. Kinda off-putting. Is it even in HD?

Well HD masters were made, with slight tweaking of the framing. The show was shot on film. I know the HD masters have existed since at least 2006.

I can't imagine Amazon doesn't have HD versions.

Fitprod

Note to mods: This does not belong in film forum.

TerryMalloy · 01-16-2017, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Seinfeld is available for streaming on Amazon's Prime Video. Has anyone here watched it yet? I took a quick look last night, and it is indeed cropped. Kinda off-putting. Is it even in HD?

Seinfeld is available for streaming on Amazon? I think you have things a bit mixed up. AFAIK, Seinfeld is exclusive to Hulu, and Amazon does NOT provide it - believe me, I checked immediately upon reading your erroneous post.

12-19-2009, 06:18 AM	#1
Gremal Blu-ray Samurai Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Daddyland Home Theater Gallery:49 Blu-ray collection:184	Seinfeld in HD Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I could not believe my eyes and ears this week when I saw Seinfeld on over-the-air HD broadcasts and it looked and sounded incredible. I never imagined HD production of Seinfeld could be this good. I am floored. Has anyone else been watching this? The reruns are airing in 16 x 9 on my local FOX channel.

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12-19-2009, 06:21 AM	#2
Meeklo Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:687 DVD collection:3 Blu-ray reviews:28 Trading Score:25	The only time I've seen it is late night on FOX in which FOX doesn't HD encode any of their late night shows. Compare Family Guy in the same programming block to Family Guy in prime time on TBS in HD. Huge improvement.

12-19-2009, 07:54 AM	#3
MarkJ801 Power Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Salt Lake City Blu-ray collection:273 DVD collection:2	If they're airing it in 16x9, then they are either cropping it or stretching it.

12-19-2009, 02:51 PM	#8
dcowboy7 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Feb 2009 Location:Pequannock, NJ 4K collection:7 Blu-ray collection:112 Trading Score:11	Been 16x9 on FOX NY about 1 year already....looks great...its hard to watch any 4x3 shows anymore of anything.

12-19-2009, 05:25 PM	#9
Mier101294 Active Member Member since:Jun 2009 Blu-ray collection:142 DVD collection:9 Trading Score:13	Looks great in HD. Hope it comes to Blu sooner rather than later. This is probably the only show I would double dip on.

12-19-2009, 08:17 PM	#12
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	It is only a matter of time until we see Seinfeld on Blu-ray. Friends has already been announced for 2010. Different studio of course, but same general principle.

12-19-2009, 09:42 PM	#14
Reboscale Member Member since:Oct 2009 Location:West Bend, Wi Blu-ray collection:65	Why not release them in the OAR, especially if they were cropped to fit the 4:3 format! We would be seeing the whole picture for the first time. Unfortunate.

12-19-2009, 10:13 PM	#15
McGarnigal Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2008 4K collection:148 Blu-ray collection:328 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:10	Does anyone else get an insanely bad aspect ratio of syndicated "the office'? Not tbs or cable, but my local CW- black bars on all 4 sides! (on 16:9 Widescreen tv) It would have black bars on top and bottom, but not sides on a 4:3 tv, but still...

01-16-2017, 10:55 AM	#17
KrugerIndustrial Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 4K collection:200 Blu-ray collection:1361 DVD collection:34 Trading Score:16	Holy thread resurrection. Seinfeld is available for streaming on Amazon's Prime Video. Has anyone here watched it yet? I took a quick look last night, and it is indeed cropped. Kinda off-putting. Is it even in HD?

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