Network's World In Action DVD Release

[SidATV]

Just watched it - the 16mm prints they used are battered to death - wonder what has happened to them/ where have they been stored since their first transmittion?

Anybody else watched the DVD yet?

[h hartley]

WIA programmes were often involved in litigation and government type probes, so they have probably been around the block a few times? plus the fact they were always a bit grubby in the first place , due to the fact they were quickly put together for maximum impact. This was in the days of course when editors were in a hurry they would have film running across the floor , while directors were viewing it with their sweaty paws.

[Gareth Randall]

I believe I'm correct in saying that Network didn't do any film transfers themselves for this release; they used programmes that had already been transferred to VT by Granada. These transfers were, in all likelihood, done 10+ years ago with (by modern standards) fairly low-end TK equipment and no particular cleanup work.

If WIA was a major moneyspinner, then the budget would probably be there to research the best possible film elements and retransfer them on something like a Spirit... but it's likely to be very much a niche release that isn't going to break any sales records, and TK cleanup is expensive work. I'm more than happy with what we've got, and I'm just glad they took a chance on it!

[Brian Fretwell]

Perhaps also they Tked viewing prints, as with early Dr Who VHS releases. I know these were often hired by colleges etc. and would soon become damaged.