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Idea, Info & Project: 'Titanic' - UK HDTV broadcast (pre 2012 changes) (Released)

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I set my PVR to record this on the off-chance that James Cameron and his minions haven’t got round to ensuring that only the 2012 master is available to TV stations. The continuity errors and colour grading seen on the home video versions prior to 2012 are present here.

For example: visible lighting equipment in this shot.

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Scenery visible in the background, right behind the stairway.

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See here for further details: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=935850

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“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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Was this broadcast cut again? I recorded it back in 2012 on Channel 4 HD where it was also shown around the same time on a Saturday evening and unfortunately some scenes have been cut. For example when Fred Fleet tries to call the bridge to inform them about the iceberg the word “basterds” has been missing. The runtime of that record without the commercial breaks was 178:49 mins without the end credits. The PAL-DVD has a runtime of 179:38 mins without the end credits, so around 1 minute must’ve been missing in the Channel 4-version.

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Thanks for alerting me. I just checked and it is unfortunately censored. To run it at that time slot but cut to ribbons is so annoying. I’ve heard “bastards” and “bitch” uttered during the daytime on other channels! Maybe they might show an unadulterated version in a few months or next year…

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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You’re welcome - I found it quite disappointing as well when I recorded the film back in 2012 on Channel 4 HD as it was the best opportunity to get the film in HD because the Blu-ray wasn’t released then. I don’t expect Channel 4 to show the film uncut as they’ve been showing this censored version every year on a Saturday evening in May or June around 6 pm for at least the past four years now, but maybe there are uncut reruns on Film 4 HD?!

The German Free-TV channels from the ProSiebenSAT.1-group are also using the old 2005 HD-transfer and show it uncut during primetime-broadcasts, but unfortunately they have this bad habit to zoom Cinemascope-movies slightly to an aspect ratio of 2.20:1 what has of course a negative effect on the picture quality.

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That’s interesting about the SAT.1 broadcasts, at some point I will have to look into getting a dish as that would give me so many more options. I don’t have Film 4 HD on my channel line up - as that did cross my mind.

I contacted C4 to ask if there’s any possibility they’ll show it again in the near future, uncut and received the following response…

Unfortunately there are no current plans to repeat this programme, however, I will pass on your interest for this film to be repeated post watershed to those responsible for our programming.

Let’s see what happens. 😃

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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Just keep in mind that the German private TV-channels like SAT.1 are encrypted in HD and you need a smartcard to be able to watch them. 😉
As Film4 HD belongs to the Sky-package I’m also not able to watch it, the only thing I get is the SD-version of it as this is FTA via Satellite.

Here’s a screenshot from my old kabel eins HD record made by the end of 2012. This channel also belongs to ProSiebenSAT.1 so the film was zoomed to 2.20:1 there as well.

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Apart from the deterioration by zooming the picture the compression also has some trouble because of the low bitrates, especially in the second half of the film. But there are better records from other countries on the net without cuts and logos and in the original AR.

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We could use this recording for scenes that were changed, then the Blu-Ray for everything else. Sort of a reconstruction?

“You don’t really mean you’ll kill me, do you?” - Juror 8
“Silence, Earthling! My name is Darth Vader. I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan!” - Calvin “Marty” Klein

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I think the Sky Hd cap is the best for this version.

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Just wondering if there is still interest in restoring this pre-2012 cut of the film.

To: JayArgonaut

JayArgonaut said:

I contacted C4 to ask if there’s any possibility they’ll show it again in the near future, uncut and received the following response…

“Unfortunately there are no current plans to repeat this programme, however, I will pass on your interest for this film to be repeated post watershed to those responsible for our programming”

Let’s see what happens. 😃

Perhaps you can contact Channel 4 again to inquire about another broadcast of this film, as this year is the film’s 20th Anniversary.

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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/titanic

It’s scheduled for another broadcast on Sat 1st April at… 7pm - which already strongly suggests that they’re simply repeating the censored version yet again. If it was airing at 10pm or later then the odds would be in our favour for an uncut transmission. Nonetheless, I’ll record it anyway.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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What was censored about it? I thought there were just changes.

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As was discussed above at length, Channel 4 have routinely censored Titanic whenever they broadcast it, in order to make the film “suitable” for viewing during the early evening slots. Annoyingly, they did the same thing with Avatar and hacked it to pieces instead of using the Family Friendly audio track that would’ve been available to them.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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It’s currently on Austrian channel PULS 4 again and SAT.1 is showing the film on April 8th - both airings should be uncut, but as both channels belong to the same company they’re both showing the slightly zoomed 2.20:1-version. ProSiebenSAT.1 just stopped that stupid zooming of Cinemascope-films at the beginning of 2017, but all the films that’ve already been in their system by then (like “Titanic” which was first shown from that HD-copy in August 2012) are still shown with that zoom.

I think the best opportunity for the pre-2012-version is the old Sky-record that x5gb already mentioned as there is no logo and the full end credits included.

@JayArgonaut: Just because I’m curious about it: Do you know where the watershed for uncut-broadcasts of such films is? In Germany it’s 8pm for films rated FSK 12, 10pm for FSK 16 and 11pm for FSK 18. Films that are on the index are not allowed to be shown uncut at any time on TV, no matter if it’s 7pm or 3 in the morning. But I’ve no idea how censorship works on British TV.
“Titanic” is a quite good example for that: German afternoon-broadcasts on ProSiebenSAT.1-channels have been cut around 10 minutes, but mostly “violent” scenes (drowning people, Tommy being shot…). Here’s a report with pictures of the missing scenes in the afternoon-broadcasts: http://www.dvd-forum.at/schnittbericht/342-titanic

The UK-broadcasts on 4 I’ve seen showed much more of that violence but in return such things as Fred Fleet screaming “Basterds!” into the phone are missing there. Are there any rules what has to be removed during certain times or is it just up to the TV-stations what they’re doing with their programmes?

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Perhaps if someone gave us a hint as to where those who are interested can find the Sky broadcast of Titanic? It doesn’t appear to be on our favourite organ inspired site…

Thaddäus Tentakel said:

@JayArgonaut: Just because I’m curious about it: Do you know where the watershed for uncut-broadcasts of such films is? In Germany it’s 8pm for films rated FSK 12, 10pm for FSK 16 and 11pm for FSK 18. Films that are on the index are not allowed to be shown uncut at any time on TV, no matter if it’s 7pm or 3 in the morning. But I’ve no idea how censorship works on British TV.
“Titanic” is a quite good example for that: German afternoon-broadcasts on ProSiebenSAT.1-channels have been cut around 10 minutes, but mostly “violent” scenes (drowning people, Tommy being shot…). Here’s a report with pictures of the missing scenes in the afternoon-broadcasts: http://www.dvd-forum.at/schnittbericht/342-titanic

The UK-broadcasts on 4 I’ve seen showed much more of that violence but in return such things as Fred Fleet screaming “Basterds!” into the phone are missing there. Are there any rules what has to be removed during certain times or is it just up to the TV-stations what they’re doing with their programmes?

Just to be certain that I provide the correct answer on this topic, here’s the broadcasting code as set out by our communications regulator:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/advice-for-consumers/television/what-is-the-watershed

“The watershed begins at 9pm and material unsuitable for children should not, in general, be shown before 9pm or after 5.30am. Unsuitable material can include everything from sexual content to violence, graphic or distressing imagery and swearing. For example, the most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed on TV or, on radio, when children are particularly likely to be listening. Frequent use of offensive language must be avoided before the watershed, and must always be justified by its context.”

Nonetheless, I’ve still heard mild profanity during the daytime, such as “bastards” and “bitch” (and not in the context of fatherless children or female dogs 😄 ) and recently one channel that specialises in “classic programming” screened a miniseries that contained repeated utterances of the n-word uncut, way before the watershed. I suppose they were able to justify it in the historical context of the storyline.

In the past, we would sometimes receive an official “Edited for Television” sanitised version of a film with the profanity cleaned up, such as when the BBC used to show the Back to the Future “Son of a Butthead” TV cut. Nowadays, UK channels will just hack up the film themselves. The most annoying situation is when they decide to censor a film - even when it’s being aired way after the watershed, as was the case with the BBC during Xmas when they broadcast The Winter Soldier around 10:30pm but still edited it for violence and language.

If the C4 broadcast turns out to be censored again, which is likely - the best bet appears to be someone tracking down the Sky airing or a capture from Film4 HD (as they’ve shown it post-watershed) by whoever has access to satellite or Virgin Media.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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Thaddäus Tentakel said:
Here’s a screenshot from my old kabel eins HD record made by the end of 2012. This channel also belongs to ProSiebenSAT.1 so the film was zoomed to 2.20:1 there as well.

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…there are better records from other countries on the net without cuts and logos and in the original AR.

The 2.20:1 aspect ratio is not zoomed/cropped but open matte. Titanic was shot 98 percent on Super35 film (underwater shots of the wreckage were techniscope), which gives an image slightly wider than 1.33:1. About 16:10 perhaps. The 2.20:1 aspect ratio was used on the film’s 5-perf 70mm theatrical release back in the day. In the 70mm the film had more image vertically while not losing anything from the sides.
I have also seen this HDTV broadcast (which is actually more of 2.25:1) and it is both taller and wider than both the 2D and 3D Blu-ray.

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Papai2013 said:
The 2.20:1 aspect ratio is not zoomed/cropped but open matte. Titanic was shot 98 percent on Super35 film (underwater shots of the wreckage were techniscope), which gives an image slightly wider than 1.33:1. About 16:10 perhaps. The 2.20:1 aspect ratio was used on the film’s 5-perf 70mm theatrical release back in the day. In the 70mm the film had more image vertically while not losing anything from the sides.
I have also seen this HDTV broadcast (which is actually more of 2.25:1) and it is both taller and wider than both the 2D and 3D Blu-ray.

In this case it is zoomed. Here’s the same shot from the uncropped 720p ORF1 HD-broadcast which used the same master (somehow Imgur is just not working for me, so I had to use another site):

http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170326/wnb6w8du.jpg

There’s slightly more information on the left and right side compared to the ProSiebenSAT.1-broadcasts. It’s not much, but the zoom is definitely there. But you’re right, it shows a little bit more than the 2012-version:

http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170326/xwv36zma.jpg

@JayArgonaut: Thanks - that was the information I was looking for. 😃
Funfact by the way: There was a rerun on Austrian TV this afternoon (2:30 - 6 pm). I checked one of those reruns on that channel back in 2013 and it was completely uncut. Seems like Austrian kids don’t get nightmares of “Titanic” like kids in other countries might. 😉

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@Thaddäus: You’re welcome. 😃

Another fun fact: http://titanic.wikia.com/wiki/Titanic:_Secrets_Revealed

This 1998 documentary about Titanic and hosted by Bernard Hill, who played Captain Smith in the 1997 film, is airing in a few hours on UK TV. There doesn’t appear to have been a home video release and the best that YouTube has to offer is a white-noise hiss laden, pixelated capture from a worn out VHS tape.

I’m going to record it and if you’re interested in a copy of this and other Titanic related material. Send me a PM. 😉

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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Thaddäus Tentakel said:

The UK-broadcasts on 4 I’ve seen showed much more of that violence but in return such things as Fred Fleet screaming “Basterds!” into the phone are missing there.

It goes without saying that if a capture of the pre-2012 version is made where the violence is retained, but the dialogue is censored, there is no need to discard it. The audio from the DVD/BluRay can be used to replace it.

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alexp120 said:

Thaddäus Tentakel said:

The UK-broadcasts on 4 I’ve seen showed much more of that violence but in return such things as Fred Fleet screaming “Basterds!” into the phone are missing there.

It goes without saying that if a capture of the pre-2012 version is made where the violence is retained, but the dialogue is censored, there is no need to discard it. The audio from the DVD/BluRay can be used to replace it.

The Channel 4 broadcasts do not just mute the audio track during the profanity, they remove the scenes entirely.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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I have a copy of “Titanic” from the US TNT broadcast. It uses an alternative take of the “drawing” scene, so it might still be the original pre-2012 version if that would be any use? I doubt they re-edited the film after the re-release for that as most of the other channels air it unedited. I would be happy to share it if you want to check it to see if it could be of use?

Also could anyone share the censored “Channel 4” HDTV version with me? It would be interesting to add to my collection. I’ve never seen the language in “Titanic” censored before. I’m a history teacher and often at the end of the year when most of the academic stuff is over my students will ask to watch historical movies. Titanic is one of the most requested films, but I have never allowed viewing because of the “drawing scene” or language.

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If possible, can you share some screen images of this please and can you elaborate more about this alternative take? I’d certainly be interested on a sheer curiosity level to gauge the quality and technical details, such as the aspect ratio. Is it pan & scan, 2.35:1 or cropped 16:9?

After realising that the recording was censored, I erased it but as you know, there will be another airing in a few days. We can do a trade if you like… 😃

I’m surprised that you didn’t show your students the “edited for content” NBC and ABC Family broadcasts if the “mature themes” are an issue. What age range are they? Could the parents not sign waivers? I remember one teacher who did that in order to sidestep any potential repercussions.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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JayArgonaut said:

If possible, can you share some screen images of this please and can you elaborate more about this alternative take? I’d certainly be interested on a sheer curiosity level to gauge the quality and technical details, such as the aspect ratio. Is it pan & scan, 2.35:1 or cropped 16:9?

After realising that the recording was censored, I erased it but as you know, there will be another airing in a few days. We can do a trade if you like… 😃

I’m surprised that you didn’t show your students the “edited for content” NBC and ABC Family broadcasts if the “mature themes” are an issue. What age range are they? Could the parents not sign waivers? I remember one teacher who did that in order to sidestep any potential repercussions.

Here is a short YouTube clip of the scene that is edited on the TV version: https://youtu.be/utG9tdw3QJg . I have confirmed based on the screenshots on Movie Censorship of the star fields, mountains and sun behind Jack that this ABC Family airing is the “old” version and not the 2012 version.

If you could record the re-airing I most certainly would trade. I checked and the TV version I have is from ABC Family but airing I have is not edited for language. Unfortunately I don’t have the NBC airings, I wish I did. One of my hobbies is collecting different versions of “Titanic”, which is why I’d love to have the Channel 4 version you mention.

Also I’m happy to record any upcoming broadcasts of “Titanic” or Titanic documentaries here in the USA for anyone who is interested in exchange for international broadcasts of Titanic for my collection.

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Thanks for that. 😃 It took a workaround before I was able to view the clip, as FOX had blocked it in the UK, “on copyright grounds” because as we all know, James Cameron’s Titanic has been completely prohibited from sale and viewing in the UK… 😮

You have a deal, I’ll update you once I’ve been able to review the broadcast and confirm its status.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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There’s a print for sale on 35mmforum if you guys are interested.

[ Scanning stuff since 2015 ]

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How much is it going for?

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk