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[Jonny]

From the Network site...

You think you know The Professionals? You may well believe that. Ever since it crashed on to our screens in December 1977 it has been almost ever-present in our televisual lives – either on air or via some home video format where it has sold in droves.

No matter when or how you saw it, Bodie and Doyle sit alongside Regan and Carter at the pinnacle of the gritty street drama of the time – drama which required a certain and unique film production approach to achieve and which, in turn, broke new ground for the shows that followed years and decades later. Ask director Martin Campbell. Oh, and, as part of our treatment of the show, we are.

So why have Network taken the reins of such an over-exposed series all these years later when, even as this is written, it is being shown on satellite? Quite simply, the pictures you are watching now and, in fact, those which you have always seen, are, in essence, revamps of the pictures first seen in 1978. It is one of the last filmed series that has never been through any kind of credible restoration process from its original film elements, so we are rising to that challenge and giving fans something truly different whilst introducing the series to a new generation.

We have already commissioned a host of new special features for these releases, including production notes, previously unseen material and a thorough history of the series with contributions from those who made it what it is.

The highlight of these new releases, though, is the restoration work currently underway. With unprecedented access to the original film materials the entire series is undergoing a transformation from the gritty (here in an entirely negative sense), smudgy and scratchy images that everyone has always seen on tv, video or disc into something in High Definition that looks like it was filmed last week; a Professionals fit for the 21st century. If you don’t believe what is achievable, take a look at this and the more detailed comparison frame grabs below...

Head over to the site to see a video of the HD test master AT THIS LINK

 

[Inspector Tanzi]

Can't wait. In the meantime, where's series two of The Sweeney!?

[Funktion]

Looking forward to it. 

I would kill for HD releases of The Avengers. Diana Rigg in HD... 

[Inspector Tanzi]

[Inspector Tanzi]

Noticed this after posting the pic above:

Alongside the standard BluRay and DVD releases The Professionals: Mk I is also available as a numbered, limited edition, deluxe box set. It features different artwork throughout all the physical assets including the outer box, Andrew Pixley's exhaustive history of the first thirteen episodes and the disc on-bodies.

A highlight is a separate art gallery book which features 200 mostly unpublished stills from the first filming block. Reproduced on high quality 150g matt art paper these images are not available anywhere else including the stills gallery featured on the discs and they will not be licensed for use externally.   

There will be just 2500 sets available worldwide and each set is numbered. This stunning piece of Professionals merchandise will be available exclusively from the Networkonair website from June and further details, including how to pre-order, will be available soon.   - See more at: http://networkonair.com/shop/1863-professionals-the-mk-i-deluxe-edition-5027626706548.html#sthash.C9UtmgKi.dpuf

[Jonny]

FUCKING YES!! 

[Inspector Tanzi]

FUCKING YES!! 

[Vito Cipriani]

Noticed this after posting the pic above:

Alongside the standard BluRay and DVD releases The Professionals: Mk I is also available as a numbered, limited edition, deluxe box set. It features different artwork throughout all the physical assets including the outer box, Andrew Pixley's exhaustive history of the first thirteen episodes and the disc on-bodies.

A highlight is a separate art gallery book which features 200 mostly unpublished stills from the first filming block. Reproduced on high quality 150g matt art paper these images are not available anywhere else including the stills gallery featured on the discs and they will not be licensed for use externally.   

There will be just 2500 sets available worldwide and each set is numbered. This stunning piece of Professionals merchandise will be available exclusively from the Networkonair website from June and further details, including how to pre-order, will be available soon.   - See more at: http://networkonair.com/shop/1863-professionals-the-mk-i-deluxe-edition-5027626706548.html#sthash.C9UtmgKi.dpuf

I shall most definitely be having one of those!!!!  The release date is just before my birthday; if I can't persuade someone to buy me it as a present, I shall splash out myself.

I'm giddy as a schoolboy about this release 

[Jonny]

Don't forget Bob's book...

http://www.lovelockandload.net/forum/index.php?topic=3077.0

[Hellochas]

Get in! Shame Lewis Collins isn't around to enjoy watching these in HD.

[Scyther]

I'm only familiar with Laurie Johnson's music from the series. I do love The Sweeney, however, so I might have to invest! 

[gnorthcott]

The limited edition set will not be released until a good couple months after the standard set, normally I would be all over the ltd set but I don't really want to wait that long. Is this kind of staggered ltd/standard release normal practice for network?

[Inspector Tanzi]

The limited edition set will not be released until a good couple months after the standard set, normally I would be all over the ltd set but I don't really want to wait that long. Is this kind of staggered ltd/standard release normal practice for network?

I'm gonna be patient and wait myself, I'd only buy the regular edition telling myself that will do and end up shelling out again for the limited one.

[Russell22]

Those cunts over at Network never did release the second series of Space 1999 on blu ray - still waiting

[Hellochas]

I think we must remember that blu-raying a whole TV series takes much longer time and is more expensive than doing a feature film. I can wait for the limited edition.