Firefly on UniversalHD - Remastered in HD!

ENDContra · 07-30-06, 05:04 PM

Someone on DVDTalk mentioned that Firefly would be coming to UniversalHD in the near future. I found this odd because 1) I figured Id hear it here first, and 2) Even though Serenity was a Universal Pictures film, Firefly was a FOX property and I assume it still is. This would be incredible news if true, so can anyone verify or debunk?

DaveFi · 07-30-06, 05:20 PM

Doubtful. They never shot the show in HD. They'd be showing it upconverted 480i, and I'm pretty sure UHD is exclusively HD.

Galley · 07-30-06, 06:08 PM

The DVDs are widescreen, if that makes a difference.

DaveFi · 07-30-06, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galley

The DVDs are widescreen, if that makes a difference.

Yes? Fox originally broadcast it 480i widescreen.

mikey mo · 07-30-06, 06:35 PM

My son just lent me the DVDs which I will return to him if any chance of HD. But as I read this thread I better start watching the DVDs.

avjeff · 07-30-06, 06:39 PM

Universal HD sounds like such a great channel. My local cable company, Time Warner, is a major slacker in the HD department. It was aggravating sitting by while Battlestar Galactica was shown in HD. If I miss Firefly now, I'm switching to Dish Network.

ENDContra · 07-30-06, 06:46 PM

Well, my question may have been answered...a UHD commercial just aired on UHD which included Firefly. The commercial wasnt in HD though, if that matters. So maybe its not a matter of if, but when

^UHD is one of the few HD channels TWC actually carries...you must be on an even crappier system than I am.

DaveFi · 07-30-06, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDContra

Well, my question may have been answered...a UHD commercial just aired on UHD which included Firefly. The commercial wasnt in HD though, if that matters. So maybe its not a matter of if, but when .

Firefly is being shown on Sci-Fi which is owned by Universal/NBC, hence the commercial.

As I stated earlier, no HD transfer of Firefly exists and the FX were done low-res, so it would be impossible to show in HD.

coyoteaz · 07-30-06, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveFi

As I stated earlier, no HD transfer of Firefly exists and the FX were done low-res, so it would be impossible to show in HD.

Nothing is impossible if you throw enough money at it. An HD transfer could be done on the film, and effects redone in HD if someone with the cash REALLY wanted to see it in HD.

DaveFi · 07-30-06, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyoteaz

Nothing is impossible if you throw enough money at it. An HD transfer could be done on the film, and effects redone in HD if someone with the cash REALLY wanted to see it in HD.

There's just no logical responses to statements like yours other than, "it ain't gonna happen".

I'm hoping this thread gets locked because there is really no where to go with it.

If you want to comment on the series itself, try the Serenity thread over in the DVD forum.

rockytt · 07-30-06, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveFi

Yes? Fox originally broadcast it 480i widescreen.

Actually (to split hairs), it was broadcast in 480p widescreen-

DaveFi · 07-30-06, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockytt

Actually (to split hairs), it was broadcast in 480p widescreen-

No, actually it was 480i upconverted to 480p (or whatever your local affiliate was doing), as all Fox Digital broadcasts were back then.

GeorgeLV · 07-30-06, 10:36 PM

Firefly is shown in one of the new Universal HD promo loops...

keeper · 07-31-06, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avjeff

Universal HD sounds like such a great channel. My local cable company, Time Warner, is a major slacker in the HD department. It was aggravating sitting by while Battlestar Galactica was shown in HD. If I miss Firefly now, I'm switching to Dish Network.

Yes, Universal is a great channel only if you want to watch Skulls 3 or L & O every other hour.

ENDContra · 07-31-06, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveFi

Firefly is being shown on Sci-Fi which is owned by Universal/NBC, hence the commercial.

Who knows, but it was an ad for Universal HD, NOT for Sci-Fi....and I cant imagine any reason why they would throw in random Sci-Fi only programming into that spot for no good reason. Maybe its all a farce, maybe UHD is going to show non-HD programming, who knows. Regardless, its better than what they are showing now (I love Quantum Leap and Knight Rider, but enough is enough).

tokerblue · 07-31-06, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDContra

Who knows, but it was an ad for Universal HD, NOT for Sci-Fi....and I cant imagine any reason why they would throw in random Sci-Fi only programming into that spot for no good reason.

- UHD does it all the time to promote other Sci-Fi only programs like "The 4400".

Josh Z · 07-31-06, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveFi

There's just no logical responses to statements like yours other than, "it ain't gonna happen".

I'm hoping this thread gets locked because there is really no where to go with it.

The show was shot on film and likely archived to an HD master tape even if the VFX were upconverted. Enterprise and Angel are just two examples of series that were broadcast in HD even though their VFX were rendered in Standard-Def. There was a noticeable drop in picture quality any time a visual effect happened, but the majority of the episode would be HD.

jcinzano · 07-31-06, 03:50 PM

firefly will be on UHD on sunday nights, launches on sept 24

DaveFi · 07-31-06, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcinzano

firefly will be on UHD on sunday nights, launches on sept 24

Link?

If so, I guess I was wrong. It won't be fully HD, and I doubt it will look all that hot. On top of that we'll get the fake 5.0 surround UHD pumps out.

I wonder who decided this, because Josh himself said we'd never see a HD version of it.

I think I'll stick with the DVD.

GeorgeLV · 07-31-06, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveFi

Link?

If so, I guess I was wrong. It won't be fully HD, and I doubt it will look all that hot. On top of that we'll get the fake 5.0 surround UHD pumps out.

I wonder who decided this, because Josh himself said we'd never see a HD version of it.

I think I'll stick with the DVD.

It's coming--it's in the UHD promo reel. BTW, it's Joss not Josh.

MarkW · 07-31-06, 05:18 PM

As mentioned earlier the promo reel for UHD has had the 4400 in it and no sign of that in HD. Where is this 24 Sep Date coming from, I would set the HD DVR right now and make sure I had enough DVHS tapes to archive it if that is true.

sandiegojoe · 07-31-06, 05:45 PM

nice, I was about to order the DVDs from netflix, but I'd rather watch the HD upconvert.

NetworkTV · 08-01-06, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokerblue

- UHD does it all the time to promote other Sci-Fi only programs like "The 4400".

In the case of The 4400, I think you meant USA, not SciFi. However, they're owned by Universal, too, and often run ads for SciFi, NBC, etc.

ENDContra · 08-01-06, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcinzano

firefly will be on UHD on sunday nights, launches on sept 24

Sunday, September 24th, 700PM and 1130PM
http://www.universalhd.com/Schedule/...ate=2006-09-24

W00T!

MarkW · 08-01-06, 09:03 AM

Sweet! Thanks for the link ENDContra. I checked this yesterday doing a search for firefly with no luck, too funny! Now I have to go get a stock of DVHS.

tokerblue · 08-01-06, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetworkTV

In the case of The 4400, I think you meant USA, not SciFi. However, they're owned by Universal, too, and often run ads for SciFi, NBC, etc.

- That's what I meant.

Great news on Firefly!

Bill Shakespeare · 08-01-06, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveFi

There's just no logical responses to statements like yours other than, "it ain't gonna happen".

I'm hoping this thread gets locked because there is really no where to go with it.

Well, at least we did not have to start another thread...

This is great news. As I watched each 4x3 episode on Sci-Fi, I could see the cropped framing. I hadn't realized Fox originally aired it 16x9, but that explains why the cropping for 4x3 was so obvious.

This will be fun to watch again.

replayrob · 08-01-06, 01:59 PM

BSG at 10:30 Sweet!!!

Firefly at 11:30 Dude!

IrmoGamecoq · 08-01-06, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by replayrob

BSG at 10:30 Sweet!!!

Firefly at 11:30 Dude!

Sorry for veering the thread off course, but what season of BSG is being aired on UHD?

I'm in the middle of watching S1 on DVD right now, and I've been hesitant to tune in the UHD airings because I thought it would be too far in advance, and spoil it for me.

replayrob · 08-01-06, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrmoGamecoq

Sorry for veering the thread off course, but what season of BSG is being aired on UHD?

I'm in the middle of watching S1 on DVD right now, and I've been hesitant to tune in the UHD airings because I thought it would be too far in advance, and spoil it for me.

Right now they're almost at the end of season 1. Season 2 reruns start on Sun, Aug 27th.
http://www.universalhd.com/Schedule/...ar&start=today

07-30-06, 05:04 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
ENDContra Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 939	Firefly on UniversalHD - Remastered in HD! Someone on DVDTalk mentioned that Firefly would be coming to UniversalHD in the near future. I found this odd because 1) I figured Id hear it here first, and 2) Even though Serenity was a Universal Pictures film, Firefly was a FOX property and I assume it still is. This would be incredible news if true, so can anyone verify or debunk?

07-30-06, 06:35 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
mikey mo AVS Special Member AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 2,043	My son just lent me the DVDs which I will return to him if any chance of HD. But as I read this thread I better start watching the DVDs. __________________ Mikey Mo "Survived Charley, Frances & Ivan. But Jeanne got me." Anxiously Awaiting 2009 Hurricane Season. "OAR OR DIE"

07-30-06, 06:39 PM	#6 \| Link
avjeff Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 319	Universal HD sounds like such a great channel. My local cable company, Time Warner, is a major slacker in the HD department. It was aggravating sitting by while Battlestar Galactica was shown in HD. If I miss Firefly now, I'm switching to Dish Network. __________________ My plasma

07-31-06, 05:18 PM	#21 \| Link
MarkW Advanced Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ardmore, AL Posts: 715	As mentioned earlier the promo reel for UHD has had the 4400 in it and no sign of that in HD. Where is this 24 Sep Date coming from, I would set the HD DVR right now and make sure I had enough DVHS tapes to archive it if that is true. __________________ Mark...

08-01-06, 09:03 AM	#25 \| Link
MarkW Advanced Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ardmore, AL Posts: 715	Sweet! Thanks for the link ENDContra. I checked this yesterday doing a search for firefly with no luck, too funny! Now I have to go get a stock of DVHS. __________________ Mark...

07-30-06, 05:20 PM	#2 \| Link
DaveFi AVS Addicted Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Natick MA Posts: 13,644	Doubtful. They never shot the show in HD. They'd be showing it upconverted 480i, and I'm pretty sure UHD is exclusively HD.

07-30-06, 06:08 PM	#3 \| Link
Galley Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 105	The DVDs are widescreen, if that makes a difference.

07-30-06, 06:46 PM	#7 \| Link
ENDContra Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 939	Well, my question may have been answered...a UHD commercial just aired on UHD which included Firefly. The commercial wasnt in HD though, if that matters. So maybe its not a matter of if, but when ^UHD is one of the few HD channels TWC actually carries...you must be on an even crappier system than I am.

07-30-06, 10:36 PM	#13 \| Link
GeorgeLV AVS Special Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Las Vegas/Pahrump, NV Posts: 3,136	Firefly is shown in one of the new Universal HD promo loops...

07-31-06, 03:50 PM	#18 \| Link
jcinzano Advanced Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 557	firefly will be on UHD on sunday nights, launches on sept 24

07-31-06, 05:45 PM	#22 \| Link
sandiegojoe AVS Special Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,059	nice, I was about to order the DVDs from netflix, but I'd rather watch the HD upconvert.

08-01-06, 01:59 PM	#28 \| Link
replayrob AVS Special Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NY- The tax State Posts: 2,264	BSG at 10:30 Sweet!!! Firefly at 11:30 Dude! Last edited by replayrob; 08-01-06 at 02:21 PM..