It is a must purchase for me in 2007! I can't seem to find a release date.

I'm waiting anxiously as well!

I still am not sold on older TV on HD-DVD. I have a hard time believing the picture will be any better than it was on the recently released sets, aside from the remastered effects. TNG specifically was shot in 480i, which severely limits its potential.

If you get HDNet, turn on Hogan's Heroes. The difference is pretty substantial.

I haven't tried downloading the HD episodes of the original Trek through the Xbox 360 Marketplace, but I'd expect a similar improvement.

Well, TOS was shot on film, so the difference should be pretty apparent. As for TGN, correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard it was shot on film but edited on tape, so in order for it to be in HD, they'd have to go back to the negatives and redo every single effect.

It really depends on what you mean by "older." Most (but not all) shows produced between 1975 and 1995 will likely not see any benefit from HD, since they were generally shot or edited on SD video. However, almost all shows produced prior to that time were shot on film, and film will always, always have the potential to look better on HD DVD / Blu-ray. Likewise, most of the better shows produced over the past ten years have been either shot on film or (more recently) HD video, so they too will look great on the new HD formats.

You are correct. TNG, DS9 and (I believe) Voyager all had their effects shots added on SD video, so those shots would all have to be completely redone in HD. That might not be an unapproachable task, but th question would be whether the return would justify the expense.

TOS and Enterprise, on the other hand, will both benefit greatly from HD, and the recent "enhanced" TOS episodes are going to be a welcome addition to my library when they are eventually released.

Agreed. Anything shot on film would greatly benefit. Video is much more problematic.

As for whether re-doing all of the effects in HD would be worthwhile of the expense, Trekkies have proven to be consistently reliable in supporting new product, so I would say "yes". You could also count on Paramount charging you a fortune for it.

I attended a Trek-con earlier this year where the man in charge of the new FX additions to TOS spoke. When the started the project, the very first step was HD remasters of the original film. Then they started with the FX additions.

So we could conceivably get two versions on HD, with and without the new FX. I have no doubt Paramount would release two versions on the next format, as there are those of us who would buy both.

Knowing Paramount, I forsee them releasing the show on 79 separately released discs, each containing a single episode in both its original and rejiggered versions. And of course, each disc will retail for $34.99.

And will sell out.

Come on, don't you think Paramount has learned their lesson by now?

They'll release them in season sets (packaged separately, one with the new effects, and one without), each set with an MSRP of $199. Then, they'll come out with repackaged sets (also packaged separately), each containing six episodes (some overlapping between sets, of course), and each with an MSRP of $99, including "Kirk's Hottest Babes", "Spock's Most Logical", "McCoy's I'm A Doctor, Not A...", "Scotty's Engineering Marvels", ...

Probably around the time the new movie comes out in 2008.

so true...

I'm not a Trekkie by any stretch of the imagination, but I would gladly pay a premium to get TNG remastered in HD, as long as they don't try to reframe it. Considering the favorable response the remastered TOS got, I don't see why TNG wouldn't be good, too.

But more importantly, bring on Wrath of Kahn in HD!

I will spend a lot of money. They just need to give me a reason.

What new movie?

JJ Abrams has been brought on as executive producer for a "prequel" movie of some sort. Not too many other details are available yet.

I'm with you. I'll re-buy it all. I love it that much! Oh BTW, the gif is killing me!

that is shat-tastic!

Not anytime soon.