HD Service Worth it?

[SwordFish]

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right i mean i was under the (probably correct) impression that they just show those shows on the HD channel but in SD i mean it's not like they filmed the episodes in HD.. and can they really enhance them?

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daryn -

It depends on the original creation of the show. If the show was videotaped when it was shot, then it is in SD and cannot be enhanced. Seinfeld was originally filmed rather than videotaped. When a show is on film, the resolution is higher and it can be remastered into HD. (This was recently done with the Seinfeld episodes and they were released for syndication starting March 27).

It's the same concept as old movies. They were on film and when they were released to TV they were down converted to SD and the aspect was changed. Now the master copies are being duplicated and shown in their original hi resolution on TV. So you can now watch a 20 year old movie in HD on TV.

The main difference between older TV shows and older movies is that the TV shows were shot in 4:3 aspect and this cannot be changed. While the movies were shot in 16:9 for theaters which now translates better to wide screen TVs.

Many people get confused by resolution vs aspect.
The thing to remember is that all HD is not in 16:9 aspect and all 16:9 aspect is not HD.

I think if you saw one of the new remastered HD Seinfeld episodes you would easily be able to tell the difference.


SF