Just read this from digitalbits, via Hunt's rumormill section:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/column...to-blu-in-2013


All right, we haven’t had a Rumor Mill update in a very long while, so now that we’re up and running on the newly-redesigned Bits, it feels like it’s time to get the Mill going again, yes? And with a nice Cold War-era, espionage-inspired logo to boot!

So here’s today’s dispatch: A number of our industry sources are now telling us that Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is planning (and in fact may already be gearing up to) release their classic TV series The X-Files on Blu-ray. As fans will already be aware, the first four seasons of the show were produced in 4x3 format, like many TV programs of its era. The series then went to a 16x9 widescreen format for the remainder of its run, as anamorphic widescreen displays were starting to become common. The entire show was still broadcast in standard definition – not actual high-definition – and the visual effects and post-production were finished in SD. (Note that the first actual HD broadcast on Fox was for the 2004 NFL season, while X-Files ended its run in 2002.) Our sources say Fox has likely decided to “rebuild” the seasons in high-definition, in much the same way that CBS has done with Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Provided all the original camera negative has been properly stored and archived, it’ll presumably be an easier task as the show featured fewer and less elaborate visual effects.

This wouldn’t be the first time Fox has upgraded a show to Blu-ray: They did something roughly similar with Firefly on Blu-ray back in 2008, although to be fair all of the show’s visual effects were upconverted to HD rather than re-rendered in actual high-definition to save costs.

If all goes well, we’re told the first seasons of The X-Files could appear on BD sometime in late 2013. We’ll post additional updates as they come in. Stay tuned…

It's interesting for archiving purposes, but I've just finished watching the whole thing a few months ago and will probably not be rewatching. I do wonder how popular it would be though.

Interesting. I already have the complete series DVD box set, so it's unlikely I would upgrade to a BD set. Unless the price was really good and the set came with alot of new extras, then it's a pass for me. Another factor is I just don't think I have the time to re-visit all 9 seasons of the show even with a new HD transfer.

Tied with Buffy for my favorite all-time show, so I can't get it soon enough. Sure hope they can get out all the seasons relatively quickly.

I think the X-Files were the very first show that I owned on dvd, purchased from this place in Canada that no longer exists that seemed to always have the best deals on the seasons.

I could go for that.

I'll wait until it's bargained price, much like the route the DVDs took from $100 plus a season to around $20.

It would be amazing to see this on Blu-ray, especially as it is hinted Fox wants to go back and re-do the entire series from scratch to create the transfer. The DVDs were the first television product on the market and they are showing their age now.

Love the show and own every season as well as the Mythology sets. However, I rarely rewatch and am afraid they might throw some insane list price on there that even a sale price wouldn't be able to normalize.

this would be awesome news. Along with the 24 rumour, go Fox!

This news sounds reaaly cool. I never bought the show on dvd, and i would consider it if its sold as seasons sets.

Since I already own the complete series boxed set, I'm not terribly interested in this even though the DVD transfers are interlaced and generally sub-par quality.

Haven't touched my X-Files DVDs since I watched them back in '09 after getting the complete box cheap from Amazon, so there's not a lot of replay value for the whole series for me. Also, the lower quality of the X-Files sort of works in its favor, as opposed to TNG.

If I had my druthers, I'd pick Babylon 5 for remastering over X-Files. Though maybe if Paramount is fixing up the Star Trek series and Fox is doing the same with X-Files, it might light a fire under Warners' ass.

Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?

This is the first complaints I hear about the quality of the DVDs. Maybe it just speaks to the capacities of my upconverting blu-ray player, but I thought the show looked damn fine.

I own the complete series (and both movies) on DVD and love every minute of The X-Files, but the only way I would buy it on blu-ray is if I could sell the DVD seasons to recoup the $$$. -kd5-

I would be in for this. I got the whole series in the original box sets for dirt cheap years ago. i would sell them to get this.

Same goes for 24 as well...if that is true I would totally be down for that as well.

I would be more interested in a complete series Blu-ray set. I hope they end up going that route.

Is there a market for this? If these sell for $40-$50 a Season, that's nearly $500 for a complete Series. Who would pay that?

Definitely up for this. Was just starting to rewatch the series for the first time in a long time, but if this gets confirmed I'll hold off to watch the Blu-rays.

I remember S1 on DVD was probably one of the first big TV season releases on DVD on the format way back in I think 2000 or 2001.

TNG is the same price roughly, and I think that's doing well. Now I think we all know the later seasons won't sell as well as the earlier, but I'd still buy them all.

That's what I paid for the dvd seasons. As much as I love the show, I can't see myself spending that again.

If they insist on using the 16x9 versions of 5-9 (and I'm sure they will) I hope they at least digitally fix all the stuff in the cropped areas that was never mean to be seen.

Sure they can't magically fix the fact that the shows were composed for 4x3 and feature dead space galore but if they can use effects to make aliens and monsters they can (off the top of my head) fix the hand passing the stake to Duchovny in "Bad Blood" and obscure the visible clothing of supposedly-nude characters in "Alpha" (admittedly the worst episode of the series) and "Emily."

X-Files is cool and all, but tell me more about this 24 rumor.

24 has been a rumor for years. With the show done and gone it's less likely to come out. Maybe if his show Touch was a huge success....but that seems like it'll be dead come May.

Fox won't even finish out Prison Break in the US, which is just Seasons 2 and 4!

For $20 a season I would consider it. Already have the DVD sets.

Oh boy... I had a feeling this might be coming.

X-Files is one of my favorite shows ever, and I spent a considerable amount of time and money tracking down all 9 of those original, fat ass box sets. And we all know how expensive they were.

I have interest wholly dependent on price, but I can't see myself paying more than $30-40/season.