Can Star Trek Zap Blu-ray? (Toshiba and Universal team for special HD DVD promotion.)

tvpredictions.com ^ | November 21, 2007 | Phillip Swann

[Las Vegas Dave]

Can the crew of the Starship Enterprise go where no HD DVD can gone before?

And defeat rival Blu-ray in high-def disc sales?

Toshiba and Universal hope so. The companies yesterday announced the release of a special HD DVD/DVD combo disc of Star Trek: The Original Series: First Season.

The boxed 10-disc collection, which retails for $195, is 'special' because it comes with a limited edition Star Trek "Phaser" remote control.

The remote has been preprogrammed to work with any Toshiba HD DVD player and features special sound and light effects from the popular 1960 TV series.

While the $195 price tag is hefty, Toshiba and Universal are banking that exclusive releases of popular titles like Star Trek will help the HD DVD forces overcome Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war. (Toshiba is the leading supporter of the HD DVD format.)

Universal is one of two studios exclusively supporting HD DVD in the format battle. Four major film studios are backing Blu-ray exclusively.

"HD DVD is taking 'The Original Series' where no 'Trek' episode has gone before," said Louis Masses, Toshiba's director of business development. "The leading-edge technologies in HD DVD players are taking 'Star Trek: The Original Series' to a truly new dimension for fans."

Overall, Blu-ray discs have consistently outsold HD DVD by a 2-1 margin over the last year. The HD DVD release of Transformers almost ended that streak last month, with Blu-ray edging HD DVD by a 51-49 margin for a one week period. It remains to be seen if the HD DVD of Star Trek can put the format on top.

The HD DVD/DVD combo disc will work on both standard-def and HD DVD players. Toshiba and Universal said the episodes have been remasted from the original camera negative so they can be displayed in pristine condition and a new 5.1 soundtrack.

[Las Vegas Dave]

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Las Vegas Dave

[Las Vegas Dave]

HDTV pings

[Incorrigible]

Set phasers to kill!

[SunkenCiv]

Geek factor 10, Mister Sulu! Looks like a great collectible (at least!).

[reg45]

There are a few manufacturers who make DVD players that support both formats (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray). That’s the way to go for now - at least until one of the two formats wins. No one wants to buy into another 8-Track or Betamax fiasco.

[SunkenCiv]

I saw nothing in the reader reviews about the remote control (which is the reason this will someday be collectible):

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[SunkenCiv]

ah! here it is:

“Trekkers the only way to get the new exclusive phaser remote control is by purchasing this set along with a new Toshiba HD DVD set. Don’t be the only one in your group without one.”

[tophat9000]

Do we really need a Hi Def version? Your just going to see how cheesy and crappy the set’s were

[Hot Tabasco]

Can the crew of the Starship Enterprise go where no HD DVD has gone before?

Yes, Captain Sulu has already proven that........

[Hot Tabasco]

Do we really need a Hi Def version? Your just going to see how cheesy and crappy the set’s were

I agree, it would be like watching Ozzie and Harriet in HD too.........

[6SJ7]

Your just going to see how cheesy and crappy the set’s were...

Just watched one of the digitally re-mastered original episodes, "The Doomsday Machine", and the special effects did greatly improve the ship exterior shots and the Doomsday Machine itself. Of course, that was a pretty good episode even with the original matt painting effects.

[tophat9000]

To be honest I miss seeing the original "original"... but then again I saw the complete original first run, remember me and sister giving my dad crap to get us home from school supply shopping so we didn't miss the premier (the salt monster)

Would you believe that the television network use to put out glossy hi end brochure (like new car brochure) hi lighting the new fall lineup ... My sister had sent away to NBC for the "66" fall lineup brochure so we were all hyped up for this new show "Star Trek"

I guess that would make me a Paleo-Trekee

[tje]

You could be an HD-DVD player and a blue-ray player for the cost of a player that supports both formats by shopping around...

[tje]

You could BUY.. sheesh... sorry for the typo...

[toddlintown]

Sulu, a Phaser and a lonely male crew member...where no man’s Phaser has gone before.

[PeteB570]

Oh, I bet you remember “Dark Shadows” the must see afternoon show for the in crowd. :-)

[purpleraine]

We saw the special showing at the theater last week. It was The Menagerie. It was also an add for the DVDs. The remastering for HD does enhance th quality of the picture. They also tried to spiff up the look of the shuttle craft and other objects. I didn't notice that much. The shuttle craft still look like cardboard going across the room on a string. The story is still compelling for our money.

PS: I don't think Star Trek will be the driving force in the DVD HD market.

[tophat9000]

“Dark Shadows” yea my sister love is and had to see it... I hated it lot of fight over the tv

It was to Gothic romance soap opera for me as a ten year old boy, even if it did have vampires and monster

Besides vampires and monster were not my thing to scare me, flying sauces that scare me

At eight,saw the original 50's "Invaders from Mars".... I was never so scare before or after ;>

[6SJ7]

Would you believe that the television network use to put out glossy hi end brochure (like new car brochure) hi lighting the new fall lineup...My sister had sent away to NBC for the "66" fall lineup brochure so we were all hyped up for this new show "Star Trek"

Cool. Now that would be a collectable!

[neb52]

“You could be an HD-DVD player and a blue-ray player for the cost of a player that supports both formats by shopping around...”

My roommate that already has a Toshiba HD-DVD player, had always planned to purchase a new Playstation to get the Blue Ray. So this whole HD-DVD vs. Blue Ray is really retarded. It’s not like Beta Max vs. VHS were you had to pick one over the other.