RETURN TO TITANIC - Bob Ballard - News release - 2004

In this rare broadcast segment from 2004, ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard—the man who first discovered the RMS Titanic in 1985—returns to the legendary wreck site with newly developed high-definition undersea cameras and digital telemetry equipment. This ambitious expedition, known as “Return to Titanic,” marked one of the earliest uses of real-time HD video transmission from deep-ocean submersibles.

Audiences at selected venues across the country, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, were invited to watch live as Ballard and his team explored the Titanic’s remains nearly two and a half miles beneath the North Atlantic. The event offered interactive question-and-answer sessions with the expedition crew, connecting museum visitors directly to the research vessel in a groundbreaking fusion of science, technology, and public outreach.

Now preserved as part of the Vintage Tape Vault, this short news release captures a moment when live HD exploration of the deep sea was just beginning—bridging discovery, education, and innovation for a new generation of viewers.

This presentation is shared strictly for historical, educational, and archival reference. All broadcast footage, imagery, and logos remain the property of their respective rights holders. The Vintage Tape Vault provides this material to help preserve the legacy of early HD broadcasting and scientific outreach, with no claim of ownership or commercial intent.

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