Going with " 'star wars' & digital' " some stuff pre-97.
Seems there was a Nov. 24, 1994 press release of the upcoming SEs, here's one of the articles from that:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FrIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PvEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6505,1641009&dq=digital+star+wars&hl=en
"The original release of 'Star Wars' preceded the introduction of our THX sound system in theaters. I wanted everyone to re-experience the film with the added benefits of today's motion picture sound advances"
Also around this time another laserdisc version was coming out:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lVxVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mz4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3219,4413858&dq=digital+star+wars&hl=en
Excerpt:
Q. Why this latest video release?
A. I guess it's me finally tring to get things to be right. When 'Star Wars' was first released on video, it was in the first pioneering days of video releases. I've always wanted to improve the quality. Through my THX group, we've been working on quality control systems. I wanted to move it into VHS and tape, and this is my chance to do that.
Q. Will you ever be satisfied with the quality?
A. Probably not. We'll always be pushing for a higher-resolution picture and better quality and better quality video sets. Hopefully, the quality in the home will be as good as the quality in the theater.
Q. Is anything added to the film itself?
A. the film is the same, the old version. I'm working on a new version to be released theatrically on the 20th anniversary. It's called Special Edition, and it will have themes that I couldn't get into the film because of time and money constraints. Also improvements in the special effects; those things have bugged me over the years, and I wanted to get it right.
*omitted*
The sequels are something I haven't really written.
1995 NYTimes article on digital and film: (not sure if you are keeping track of when details emerge of the new scenes)
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/25/business/digital-studios-it-s-economy-stupid-george-lucas-sees-technology-wondrous-tool.html
One of the first full uses of the new technologies may be the new "Star Wars" trilogy Mr. Lucas is producing, as well as a special edition of the original trilogy of films.
In the special edition, Mr. Lucas said, he will resolve some long-standing irritations by using today's superior technology to produce scenes as he had originally envisioned them. For instance, when Luke Skywalker and his friends enter the desert city of Mos Eisley, the vistas will be far broader and the streets more detailed.