Good news for fans of Star Trek! CBS confirmed the 2012 launch of the ‘Next Generation’ series on Blu-ray according to StarTrek.com:
“The rumors are true! Star Trek: The Next Generation will be released in high-definition Blu-ray, starting in January with a sampler of several popular episodes, followed by a season-one set to be released later on in 2012.”
Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Next Level
According to CBS, all 178 episodes of ‘The Next Generations’ seven seasons are said to be transferred to true HD 1080p for release in Blu-ray and later on for tv and digital platforms around the world. As a long time Star Trek fan, I can tell you that this is going to be the crowning achievement of my collection! CBS Home Entertainment has set a January 31, 2012, release date for the single disc, which will include the feature-length version of the series pilot, “Encounter at Farpoint,” as well as “Sins of the Father” and “The Inner Light.” ‘The Next Level’ will sell for the suggested retail price of $21.99.
StarTrek.com continues, “CBS is, in fact, returning to the original film negatives, loads of material encompassing 25,000-plus reels of footage, and editing the episodes together precisely as they were when they originally aired between 1987 and 1994.” Visual effects aren’t going to be upconverted from videotape. Instead the cut film will be recompositioned, resulting in high definition with 7.1 DTS Master Audio. Denise and Michael Okuda, longtime ‘Star Trek’ figures, are helping as consultants with the project. After watching this amazing series on regular television for so long, the High Definition episodes will seem surreal.
