The Green Planet 4K UHD (2022)

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

it seems strange to shoot anything 25/50fps these days, why not shoot things like this at a normal theatrical 24fps? (at this point why not even use the superior 30/60Hz for stuff that you don't want to be filmic since i think any digital set can handle that no matter where these? although perhaps I am wrong on this, but I thought the need for 25/50 went away once they got beyond basic CRT synched to local electrical swithcing frequency)

I honestly don't know what framerate these BBC documentaries are shooting and/or mastering at these days. I would still think they are mastered at 25 fps because a great deal of the viewership, including most of the countries that co-produce these documentaries, will be watching on TV in that format, anyway.

As for why they aren't broadcast in 60Hz worldwide, my understanding is that while many TVs sold in 50Hz territories can handle 60Hz video, some older TVs still cannot, so that, combined with the need to make the program available as widely as possible, means that the broadcasts in 50Hz territories will be 25 fps. To give you an idea of how many people might be watching TV in antiquated ways, the UK still offers a TV license fee specifically for viewing in black and white, which is almost exactly 1/3 of the price of a color TV license fee. Clearly, there are still people in the UK watching TV in black and white!

EDIT: The Sun claims that 4,450 black and white licenses were still in force on March 31st, 2021, however, the number is dropping sharply year-to-year and the remainder are almost all renewals done "in good faith", so make of that what you will.