Survivor Panama In HD?

[Broken Link]

I Never watched Survivor after the first one but since I got my HDTV with HD tivo early last year I wanted to watch Survivor in HD but it was not in HD.

This year starts and its not in HD so I dont watch but this week while setting my tivo for the week I noticed when on 80 cbs looking at survivor it has the HDTV letters at the end of the description.

Is it In Hd?

[vertigo235]

I doubt it

[SpankyInChicago]

I Never watched Survivor after the first one but since I got my HDTV with HD tivo early last year I wanted to watch Survivor in HD but it was not in HD.

This year starts and its not in HD so I dont watch but this week while setting my tivo for the week I noticed when on 80 cbs looking at survivor it has the HDTV letters at the end of the description.

Is it In Hd?

It is not shot in HD and I believe that Mark Burnett has stated that it will never be shot in HD. Too much money, makes the eye candy look less candy-like, etc.

[pudge44]

It seems that none of the reality shows are shot in HD, and that's no accident. Reality shows are popular with the networks precisely because they're incredibly cheap to produce -- no million-dollar-per-episode salaries for the cast. They're not likely to up the ante by shooting/producing them in HD, no matter how popular they are with viewers.

[Finnstang]

It seems that none of the reality shows are shot in HD, and that's no accident. Reality shows are popular with the networks precisely because they're incredibly cheap to produce -- no million-dollar-per-episode salaries for the cast. They're not likely to up the ante by shooting/producing them in HD, no matter how popular they are with viewers.
Other than American Idol. It's basically a reality show.

[newsposter]

idol definitely looks great in HD. colorful and all that. I watch all local SD OTA anyway because it's so much better than dtv's locals compression.

So if you have the option to watch OTA, it will be better :)

[DC106]

It seems that none of the reality shows are shot in HD, and that's no accident. Reality shows are popular with the networks precisely because they're incredibly cheap to produce -- no million-dollar-per-episode salaries for the cast. They're not likely to up the ante by shooting/producing them in HD, no matter how popular they are with viewers.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought all they need to do is just start using HD camera's instead. :confused:

[SpankyInChicago]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought all they need to do is just start using HD camera's instead. :confused:

Well, that alone is not cheap. I believe professional HD steadycams and associated equipment are a couple hundred thousand dollars per setup. Think about how many setups are required to record 16 people 24 x 7. Then there is the cost of all the editing and studio equipment. Even if they outsource that you are looking at increased costs. Even if you reduce from 100% profit margin to 80% profit margin, reducing profit margin is not a good thing.

[plehrack]

I read that the reasons are that HD cameras require hard drives and other equipment which are unreliable in extreme weather conditions. They cannot take the chance of having hard drive failures and losing all of the footage.

[maharg18]

There are plenty of HD cams that still use good 'ol fashioned tape.

This comes down to cost, plain and simple. CBS makes a butt-load of money off of Survivor, so why spend all this extra cash on expensive equipment, thereby reducing their profit?

[rminsk]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought all they need to do is just start using HD camera's instead. :confused:HD camera, HD tape, HD editing, HD post, ...

[rminsk]

I read that the reasons are that HD cameras require hard drives and other equipment which are unreliable in extreme weather conditions. They cannot take the chance of having hard drive failures and losing all of the footage.Professional HD cameras either use HDCAM or D-5 tape.

[txfeinbergs]

Would you really want to see these people in High Def after the first two weeks on the island? I guess you could count the bugs festering in their wounds and see all of the arm hair of the women better.

[beejpowers]

HD camera, HD tape, HD editing, HD post, ...


Just to start the cost difference:

DigiBeta 32 minute tape: ~$18/each
HD 32 minute tape: ~$30/each

Figure 8 crews minimum (2 crews at 4 campsites)
each shoots 12 hour days... 24 tapes a day per shooter... ~200 tapes a day total.
Even at a 20% discount thats $4800 a day in tape. 35 day game: $168,000 in tape.
that's about +61,000 in tape only.

Cameras are usually rented. It costs so much to own/maintain them. but still a rental on them for 10 (backups included) for a month, overseas... pricey.

Post production probably takes place out of house. They rent the facility, so that hourly fee is probably higher in an HD suite vs. an SD suite. But just more numbers to add up.

They would have to sell SO much more schwag to cover the expenses. And stop burning 100 dollar bills to light their cigars :D

[Naggs]

So whore it out like everything else on the show. "Brought to you in HD by Bud Light". Then you can shove in a ton product placement in and see the product in high definition!