Playing PAL dvd in the USA ?

[BILLW]

My daughter wants to get some DVDs of a TV show called The Tribe, It is only available in PAL format. Will any of my dvd players handle it or do I need to buy another ? If so what brands will handle this? Thanks for any input.

Bill

[vlmagee]

DVDs are not distributed in PAL format; that is videotape terminology. European DVDs are released in either Region 0 or Region 1 format (North America is Region 2). Region 0 plays on "most" DVDs. It means "region free". It also plays on "all" PCs. (There are always exceptions). Region 1 will play on DVD Players that are manufactured in Europe and it will also play on "all" PCs but the number of times you can change regions (from 1 to 2 and back again) is limited (to 5 I believe).

The trick is finding out if the DVD is in Region 0 or Region 1 format. Don't believe what you see online; Amazon UK lists everything as Region 1 regardless. You will want to check with the company that released the DVD. If the DVD is in Region 1 format, and you still want to buy it, you will have to look for a DVD Player that is intended for the "international" market (ie, people who live in Europe and North America at different times). Such DVD Players will probably tend to be twice as expensive for fewer features, if my experience with PAL tape players is any indication.

Now, aren't you glad you asked? Just keep your fingers crossed that the DVD she wants is in Region 0 format. The European version of the Lightfoot DVD is (again, in spite of what Amazon UK says).

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Valerie Magee

Visit my GL fan site at gordonlightfoot.com and Cathy Cowette's web site at cathycowette.com

[BILLW]

Thanks Val,

Here is what they say at tribeworld.com

The DVD's are "Region Free" but they are in PAL format which may mean they won't play in USA DVD players which require NTSC.

Could you tell me what that means ?

Thanks again,

Bill

[vlmagee]

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Thanks Val,

Here is what they say at tribeworld.com

The DVD's are "Region Free" but they are in PAL format which may mean they won't play in USA DVD players which require NTSC.

Could you tell me what that means ?

Thanks again,

Bill

No, I can't. Smile please. I think they are just plain nuts, but I suppose I could be missing something. Let me ask my "technical" experts (my husband and son) and see if they have any more information, but I think that the video format is something that the DVD player will use to send to the TV, and is not something that is on the DVD. So a European DVD player will send the video to the TV in a different format (PAL) than a US DVD player (NTSC), but either one - if they support Region 0 - can read it and play it on the TV with which they are compatible. Because, yes, the TVs like the VCRs do use different formats.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I think they are nuts!


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Valerie Magee

Visit my GL fan site at gordonlightfoot.com and Cathy Cowette's web site at cathycowette.com

[This message has been edited by vlmagee (edited February 18, 2004).]

[BILLW]

Thanks Val,

The listing at amazon.co.uk says that the DVD is region 0. That's good ?

Bill

[vlmagee]

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
Thanks Val,

The listing at amazon.co.uk says that the DVD is region 0. That's good ?

Bill

Yes, that's good.



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Valerie Magee

Visit my GL fan site at gordonlightfoot.com and Cathy Cowette's web site at cathycowette.com