ITV to show Star Wars I to VI in HD

chris

ITV has announced that it's going to be showing Star Wars episodes I to IV in high definition on its ITV HD service that's available on Freesat. It'll be starting on 24 Octover with Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Then the movies will run each weekend through November and December in consecutive order, concluding with Episode IV: Return of the Jedi. It'll include the terrestrial premiere of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

To get access you'll need a Freesat service and an HDTV. It's subscription-free and can use an existing satellite dish. It includes over 140 channels and HD content from ITV and the BBC. ITV HD also shows Champions League and FA Cup football.


Source: pocket-lint

Channel Hopper

I was under the impression that none of the StarWars films were out in HD as yet, owing to conflict with the Lucas studio over the quality that could be achieved on disc, even BluRay release has not been approved (unless it's happened in the past couple of weeks).

_http://www.,amazon.com/Plans-For-Star-Wars-Blu-ray/forum/Fx3QO7QZ9OCL4IT/Tx5JZBNKYJYC2Q/1/ref=cm_cd_dp_tft_tp?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B000PMLF RA&store=dvd

So if it is shown on ITV HD, then those with a new-fangled Panasonic BluRay recorder may have the only copies in existence.


But hey, I'm still using a Bush IDTV so what do I know.

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

cragllo

Plenty of films are shown on HD channels that are not out on Blu-Ray etc. Its the channel that has to make the transfer from the film stock to HD I believe.

Channel Hopper

The third post in the ,Amazon thread above claims the original was damaged/lost a few years ago


So ITV would have to muck about with upscaling, or edit The Special Edition back before broadcast in a month.

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

cragllo

If they have 35mm film stock, they can scan that in at any resolution they desire really. I'm pretty sure BBC HD has shown all 6 films before, at least 4 5 and 6, Sky Movies HD may have shown episodes 1 2 and 3 if not BBC HD.

Channel Hopper

Is the series on a break, or has it been dropped ?

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"