MASTERING OF OLD SHOWS ON ME-TV, ANTENNA, THIS TV, ETC.

[sdwulfdawg]

I'm constantly amazed at the image quality of the show broadcast on these digital subchannels.

"Mission: Impossible," "Get Smart," "Highway Patrol," "Sea Hunt," even the "Burns and Allen" show look so fresh, clear, etc. Are the syndicators digitally remastering all of these old shows from the original negatives? One thing I did notice that on "Get Smart" I remember the titles being in yellow and now they seemed to be electronically keyed white just to get them look pristine.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I recently watched a M*A*S*H rerun on Me TV, and the richness of the colors blew me away,
even compared to the same show when it is running on cable networks.

 

[hubcity]

Probably a dividend of remastering these shows for DVD. Even at DVD's highest resolution (480p) you're seeing them looking even better than they did during their initial run.

Technically speaking, all shows that were ever shot on film are "high definition" even as far back as "I Love Lucy", so as good as they now look on the digi-nets, they'll look even better if anyone tries to broadcast them in 1080i.

 

[DToTheJ]

What's Ted Turner doing these days?

Seriously, that would be a great idea about 25 years ago when TBS was still airing "I Love Lucy" et al.

 

[cd637299]

I recall Channel 23 in Miami when it was in English (as WAJA-TV) in the late 60s/early 70s, and they had absolutely the worst prints (16mm?) for their reruns, almost unwatchable. Scratches, dots and splicing----even some *commercials* had scratches!

At that time, I felt that every TV show should be on *videotape*, so as not to get the scratches as the series got older. Of course, even videotape gets kinda blurry after a few years....and at that time, I never envisioned filmed reruns with such clarity (because all we were exposed to here was films that could or do have scratches). I have certainly changed my tune since then---and Desi Arnaz was a genius for putting "I Love Lucy" on film, and not kinescope/videotape. The dividends have paid over and over.

Also nowadays, the stations don't "own" the films for reruns, like they once did---if I am correct about that.

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[azumanga]

Desi Arnaz was a genius for putting "I Love Lucy" on film, and not kinescope/videotape. The dividends have paid over and over.

Just as commendable is Jackie Gleason, for using Dumont's Electronicam system for "The Honeymooners" -- the first telecast was live, but the filmed reruns were crystal clear, instead of being all murky like kinescopes.

Also nowadays, the stations don't "own" the films for reruns, like they once did---if I am correct about that.

I thought the syndicators always owned the film they distributed, which are bicycled from station-to-station?

 

[cd637299]

"I thought the syndicators always owned the film they distributed, which are bicycled from station-to-station?"

I woulda thought so, too....but one certain episode of "Leave It to Beaver" (where Wally starts shaving) I recall had scratches every time it was shown, and I am almost sure I saw it more than once. I'd think the distribution co. would either have handed WAJA a better print, or, would reprimand WAJA for abusing it! I really have no idea.

I do seem to recall, I think it was 1969, when we were in New Mexico on vacation, and the motel's cable co. had the L.A. independents, and I think it was KTLA that had such pristine old shows----it was a brand new thought to me! (I think the other L.A. indies had good prints as well).

As to WAJA, you had to see to believe. Like I said, even the filmed commercials were abused somehow.

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