You would assume that an updated version of the HBO intro would go from a seriously degraded version of the video to a perfect picture. Update it every decade

You would assume that an updated version of the HBO intro would go from a seriously degraded version of the video to a perfect picture. Update it every decade or so to reflect artefacts of whatever in-house codec they use at the time. The ramp-up would be a creative exercise for the techies working in the studio.