Its official, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION will now be enjoyed by the next generation of fans, in HI DEF! CBS officially confirmed today that Star Trek: The Next Generation will be released in high-definition on Blu-ray, beginning with a sampler disc in January 2012. This is also to co-oincide with the show’s 25th Anniversary.
This has been a long time thought of, since Original Series was remastered in 2006. That project saw all 80 classic episodes cleaned up from the original negative all new special effects and a stunning remastering of the original film. Most importantly, the option on the discs was to watch either the classic effects or the new effects version and the ability to switch back and forth between them while playing.
Coming January 2012, The sampler disc will be called Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Next Level and will include the episodes “Encounter at Farpoint,” “Sins of the Father,” and “The Inner Light,” A great sampling of what TNG Trek has to offer. The disc has a suggested retail price of $21.99. The full series will be released “sometime later in 2012.”
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“Fans have been clamoring for a high-definition release of Star Trek: The Next Generation,” said Ken Ross, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Entertainment. “Transferring the series to high-definition presented difficult technical challenges, but our team has come up with a process to create true 1080p HD masters with true HD visual effects. We can’t wait to show fans how pristine the series looks and sounds with our upcoming Blu-ray releases.”
Details are that the episodes for each release will be transferred to true high-definition 1080p from the original film negatives, which CBS has pulled from 25,000-plus reels of footage, along with 7.1 master audio.
As a longtime Trek fan, I am excited. However I should state that the idea of re-buying these discs has been giving me second thoughts. I bought TNG when it first came out on DVD at the price of $139 per box set ($99 if I was lucky enough to have the extra money to drop when it was on sale). Now you can get each one for around $30-60 if you shop at the right places. So I spent close to a grand to get all seven seasons. Still, I am proud of my purchase because the series alone is well worth the money. While these screencaps of the restoration and cleanup of the original negatives from the show does look appealing, I think CBS Paramount should address the hardcore fans who spent so much before on the double dip by offering great new extras to entice us and ease the wallet strain.
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For example: Locations (then and now), Props, costumes and sets (find collections people have and celebrate the fans and their lust of the series), New interviews with the cast and crew (and I mean, EVERYONE), A great tribute to Gene Roddenberry (who passed away during the series’ run), Production sketches and drawings, and (dream scenario) some commentaries on key episodes. Who wouldn’t love to hear some Patrick Stewart discussing his thoughts on “The Inner Light” or “Best of Both Worlds?” Or maybe Brent Spiner on “Measure of a Man” or “Brothers.” The opportunity is there to make a great set that would be well worth the price we’d repay. I am assuming the same extras content from the DVDs would be ported over as well. I am just hoping there’s more than just that and maybe a trailer for Star Trek Online and thats all we get. (Till the 30th Anniversary set anyway)
I call on CBS Paramount to really celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this landmark series and really give the fans what they want and more. You have a great opportunity to make a great set of legendary scale. Lets celebrate 25 years the right way. Or to put it another way, “Make it so!”
Raised primarily in central Michigan all his life, Adam is a successful writer, artist and self publisher. He is best known for his comics: PLEASANT LIFE, THE EXPENDABLES, WISE INTELLIGENCE and the upcoming ANNA POCOLYPSE. He also wrote a free online how to book called "IN THE TRENCHES: HOW TO SURVIVE AS A SMALL PRESS COMIC BOOK PUBLISHER." He also has done some pinup work for ANTARCTIC PRESS and logo designs for many other clients. He has been featured on web sites, newspapers, television and magazines talking about his work and travels around the country promoting it. He resides in Southwest Michigan. 
