Is METV Using DVD or Newer Prints?

[Jack1000]

Guys,

Has METV started showing The Odd Couple with newer prints? Are these off the DVD's. The picture seems clearer and sharper and similar to my Odd Couple DVD's. I watched "Psychic Schmick" and recall a few scenes or lines that I have not seen when shown in syndication.

Jack

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by Jack1000

Guys,

Has METV started showing The Odd Couple with newer prints? Are these off the DVD's. The picture seems clearer and sharper and similar to my Odd Couple DVD's. I watched "Psychic Schmick" and recall a few scenes or lines that I have not seen when shown in syndication.

Jack

CBS Television Syndication, which also controls the old Paramount Library did put together an upgraded set for Syndication. These were made the same time as the masters for DVD.

[Svenfan1234]

Probably directly from the DVDs.

[Jack1000]

Originally Posted by RetroTVNitekatt

CBS Television Syndication, which also controls the old Paramount Library did put together an upgraded set for Syndication. These were made the same time as the masters for DVD.

I wonder if the music cues will be cut on some episodes like they are on the DVD's?

Satch

[treky]

I noticed the prints seemed different and they're including the tag scenes which they mostly didn't show in the past.

[Svenfan1234]

The CBS shows on MeTV are from DVD copies.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by Svenfan1234

The CBS shows on MeTV are from DVD copies.

*face palm* You keep confusing the terminology.

CBS made a set of new uncut digital HD transfers (According to the CBS Television Syndication bible, "This series has been transferred into HD and has the following masters: Network 4x3 HD"-) from there the new syndication masters AND the DVD Masters were sourced from. They are not Copies off of the DVDs or "DVD Copies".

The DVDs and Broadcast prints are parallel to each other,as are other shows from CBS Television Syndication.

THE ODD COUPLE Syndication prints run 22:10 (Following the original c.1984 edits Paramount did for time - 22:30 - from the network length of 24-25 minutes, with an extra 20 seconds "tightening up") and the DVDs are generally uncut (24-25 minutes) except for those "music related" snips they did.

The syndication version of The Odd Couple has three, two-minute breaks and as mentioned program runtime of 22:10. Internal "commercial load" is 6 minutes (12 :30-second spots) plus local end break. The syndication prints has had few, if any of the "music" removed, and then only in the course of editing for time, not for the use.

Now whatever version MeTV is using (Either the Syndication versions or versions they prepared for them specifically regardless of length) - they are being sourced from Master Tapes and not DVDs, DVD Copies or Copies off of DVDs.

[Svenfan1234]

Yes, I know about the whole syndication Bible, but that doesn't always apply because MeTV uses DVD prints of some of their shows -- Happy Days, The Brady Bunch -- they probably just combined the DVDs for missing scenes and syndication prints to restore the missing music.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by Svenfan1234

Yes, I know about the whole syndication Bible, but that doesn't always apply because MeTV uses DVD prints of some of their shows -- Happy Days, The Brady Bunch -- they probably just combined the DVDs for missing scenes and syndication prints to restore the missing music.

"Network Masters" is the correct term, not "DVD Prints".

You've got it reversed, nothing is "put back", but if they are not using off-the-shelf syndication prints, There is editing from the network length prints prepared from the HD Masters to fit their running time for either extra commercials, less commercials, or even uncut. Let's call this the "MeTV Set" or the "3rd Set".

This "3rd set" would be a parallel set of BROADCAST FORMAT master tapes prepared from the HD Masters which are then formatted for their needs either in house or by CBS if they are not using off the shelf originals. (Either Uncut or Syndication Length) Not "DVD prints". "DVD prints" imply they used DVDs for broadcast or source which they have not. "DVD Masters" would be parallel to the "syndication masters" and any other version prepared from the HD Network Length Masters. (Including "working" versions made from the Network Length Masters)

Here's a flowchart

1)Original Master 35mm Elements are used to create...

2)New HD Network Length Masters (of which there is more than one set)-which are the source for...

3)DVD Masters, Syndication Masters, and the 3rd Version for MeTV (Either a set prepared/formatted by CBS for MeTV or a set of network length which MeTV does any edits in house if/when needed) - 3 parallel versions.

(Episodes on The DVDs with the editing for music segments being removed-shortened - These are best referred to as "alternate versions" would also have been prepared from the HD Network masters at the same time to be the same generation as the uncut DVD masters)

So any CBS Television Syndication half-hour show MeTV is running that is shorter than 22:10 or longer than 22:30 but under 25 minutes (or 24 1/2 minutes for mid-1970's onward) has editing done to it in one form or another from the Network Masters, not the "DVD Prints". Nothing has been "put back" from another print or prints combined, but things are either taken out or kept in that are not in the syndication prints. It's just Editing a new 3rd version from the Network Masters.

MeTV is CBS's biggest customer for classic TV and would make several options available to fit their broadcast or working needs. But one way or another if they are not running CBS syndication prints or Network Length prints, editing of one form or another is happening. As I've said, Keeping in or taking out. Extending longer than the syndication prints are good editing but going to short (say more than a minute) than the syndication length is bad editing.

[Svenfan1234]

I've timed some eps and they all come over 23 mins, some even near 24 mins.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by Svenfan1234

I've timed some eps and they all come over 23 mins, some even near 24 mins.

So now we know they have "3rd versions" and everyone is happy - less editing than the syndication versions.

But then this is just CBS Syndication shows - We don't know what type of arrangements they have with the other studios, like 20th/Fox - Anyone time out the RHODA or BATMAN episodes?

[Svenfan1234]

Originally Posted by RetroTVNitekatt

So now we know they have "3rd versions" and everyone is happy - less editing than the syndication versions.

But then this is just CBS Syndication shows - We don't know what type of arrangements they have with the other studios, like 20th/Fox - Anyone time out the RHODA or BATMAN episodes?

I didn't, but I compared the HAPPY DAYS eps and they are almost like direct copies of the DVDs with minor edits here and there to bring it to the correct runtime. I think it just depends on the distributor and show what happens.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by Svenfan1234

I didn't, but I compared the HAPPY DAYS eps and they are almost like direct copies of the DVDs with minor edits here and there to bring it to the correct runtime. I think it just depends on the distributor and show what happens.

"Like", But they are not copies of the DVDs...they are just sourced from the same original master elements on Broadcast Master Tape in the format MeTV needs to fit the running time they want. MeTV gets their elements on Broadcast format tape.

They are not making the broadcast prints off of DVDs, that's not broadcast quality.

[visaman666]

Too bad they are not using the 16mm film prints.