News
Star Trek In HDTV? Don't Hold Your Breath
CBS Paramount executive says local stations are not prepared to broadcast in high-def.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (September 6, 2006) -- CBS recently announced that the original Star Trek series will return this month in High-Definition TV.

However, don't expect to actually watch it in HDTV.

CBS Paramount Television President John Nogawski tells Broadcasting and Cable magazine that "almost no" local stations are ready to broadcast the show in high-def.

Nogawski said the program is transmitted to stations several days in advance of the airing and they simply don't have the storage space for the high-def version.

The re-mastered HDTV version of Star Trek will be available to local stations via syndication starting in mid-September.

Nogawski said CBS Paramount decided to re-master the 1960s show for high-def so it would be ready when the stations are.



The network executive said the re-mastering process will preserve the original shows "right down to the placement of the stars."

B&C reports that re-mastering all 79 episodes took about a year.

While the local stations may not be ready for the HD Star Trek, CBS Paramount could also release the series on HDTV DVD.

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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