"Conan the Adventure" restoration example
ElectricNow Uses Topaz Video AI to Upscale Three TV Series
May 16, 2024
ElectricNow, Electric Entertainment’s OTT app and FAST channel, is using Topaz Labs’ Video AI to digitally remaster its classic TV series exclusively for its OTT platform and app. The platform will offer new, upscale versions of three TV series — “Conan the Adventurer,” “The Lost World” and “The Immortal.”
Approximately 132 episodes have been remastered, including 22 episodes from “Conan the Adventurer,” 66 episodes from “The Lost World,” and 22 episodes of “The Immortal.” ElectricNow plans to debut the newly restored series during a week-long marathon in celebration of Memorial Day, beginning May 25 and running through May 31.
ElectricNow used Topaz Labs’ Video AI technology to upscale its existing content and improve the overall video quality of the digitally restored episodes. ElectricNow leveraged the tool to enhance quality and expedite segment restoration. Topaz Labs is the sole provider of video AI models capable of enhancing content quality up to 16K resolution, catering to enterprise-scale needs, according to ElectricNow.
“I am blown away at Topaz’s high-quality restoration tools, which have enabled classic TV series to not only reclaim their original luster but to enhance them and make them feel as though they were shot in 4K today,” Dean Devlin, CEO of ElectricNow’s parent company, Electric Entertainment, said in a statement. “ElectricNow is excited to bring these enhancements to our devoted and passionate fanbase.”
“We are dedicated to enhancing these television programs for our devoted fan bases who deserve nothing less than pristine and crisp versions of their favorite shows,” Michael Hyon Johnson, director of operations for ElectricNow, said in a statement. “Through the use of cutting-edge A.I. technology, we can elevate the video quality, achieving sharper visuals while also infusing the film with a softer aesthetic. These enhancements not only enrich the viewing experience for our audiences but also add value for our CTV and platform partners that host ElectricNOW on their devices.”
“The world of video is rapidly changing, and the advent of AI has introduced new possibilities to uplevel quality without compromising artistic integrity,” Topaz Labs CEO Eric Yang said in a statement. “By using Video AI, Topaz Labs worked closely with ElectricNOW to enhance the viewer experience, modernizing fan-favorite TV shows so they can be further appreciated and supported for generations to come.”
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“Conan the Adventurer,” loosely based on the first Conan the Barbarian movie (which in turn was loosely based on Robert E. Howard’s “Conan the Barbarian” stories), follows the adventures of the titular Cimmerian warrior (played by Ralf Moeller, Gladiator) and his friends as they attempt to free the land of the evil wizard Hissah Zul.
“The Lost World,” based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel and starring Peter McCauley (“The Light Between Oceans,” “Spartacus”) and Rachel Blakely (“Tale of the South Seas”), follows a band of adventurers who find themselves trapped in a dangerous land of dinosaurs and other creatures.
“Immortal” is set in 16th century Asia as Raphael Cain sees his wife slain and his daughter taken by supernatural villains from the underworld. He vows to pursue the demons through the centuries to kill them all and find his daughter, and with the help of a mystic, he is taught the magic — and samurai swordsmanship — it will require to accomplish this oath. His reluctant squire, Goodwin follows him through time and helps him in his quest. Now in the 21st century, Cain and Goodwin are joined by a psychologist, Sara Beckman, who studies otherworldly anomalies. Cain will need all the help he can get because now the lead demon, Mallos and his henchwoman Vashita are gathering power and making life in the 21st century America very uncomfortable.