Hi-def movies on cable movie channels...how do they do it?

[Mote]

So today I was watching Pulp Fiction on StarzHD and I got to thinking that this movie isn't out for either Blu-ray or HD DVD. So how do these networks receive the movie? On what format? Also what kind of specs do these movies receive?

I wonder, if an HD master exists of the movie...why not start pressing these movies to Blu-ray already?

[WickyWoo]

They recieve them on HD tapes like BetcamHD, HDCAM, D5 or hard drives

Many times these days the studios actually make a "broadcast" MPEG-2 compression to avoid the horrible real time encoders a lot of stations use.

They're not released because the studio isn't ready to, the same reason they don't flood the market with anyother titles.

Virtually any movieon DVD from a theatrical film has an HD master

[Zipzap713]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

They recieve them on HD tapes like BetcamHD, HDCAM, D5 or hard drives

Really? I thought they just took the SD version of the movie and upscaled it. To me, most of the HD broadcasted movies look upscaled.

[Mikeblu]

Originally Posted by Zipzap713

Really? I thought they just took the SD version of the movie and upscaled it. To me, most of the HD broadcasted movies look upscaled.

Thats the broadcast doing that not the film. Its alot worst for example if you have a low qaulity ariel.

[EricJ]

And that's assuming we're talking about an existing movie aired on the networks--

When I see the On-Demand HD features on our local system, it tends to be a limited selection, and if I channel-surf into one without the guide, I guess, "Okay, which already-released HD/Blu title am I watching?: 'Waiting'? 'Michael Clayton'? 'Usual Suspects' again??"

[richieb1971]

If it didnt exist how could we watch it?

[ThePhantomOak]

720p

almost nothing but news is 1080p...