Calling All Europeans...

[Ira]

Whats the deal with your television systems over there? (Don't you love how I phrased that?)

My company is preparing an informational DVD for distribution, and I remember way back when, you all used the PAL system, meaning U.S. VHS tapes for us here wouldn't work for you there.

Is this still the case for the DVD we went to produce?

Just another dumb question from another dumb American.

[Guy]

Dear Ira,

The DVDs will work on any system, unless they are region-coded. Region coding came about by way of a Hollywood/DVD player Manufacturer agreement whereby players were coded to play only movies which Hollywood had released in that region, ie. If a movie had not yet been released in theaters in Asia or Europe, then DVDs of that film, previously released in the US, would not play on players in Asia or Europe, and vice versa, including all permutations.

However, the DVD will always look better on European TVs, except HDTV sets of course, since the European PAL System has 625 lines versus the US NTSC system which has only 525 lines. In the entertainment business NTSC is often taken to mean "Never Twice the Same Color".

[Ira]

Thanks, Guy! You'll make a great European!

I knew about the line difference, but I never knew it had to do with rights-protection. So we should be cool, then. We simply have our dubs made from the master, and they'll play on any system.

[Guy]

Dear Ira,

Yes. Just do not add any region protection to your DVDs and they will play on any system in the world.

Expect a bill from my law office at the end of the month, terms 30 days.

[angib]

Just seconding everything Guy said, with one odd addition: PC DVD software can be a bit funny as it's the same bit of software all round the world. So they seem to decide on the first 5 or 6 discs the PC sees - if these are all, say, European, the software decides it must be in Europe and sets its region accordingly. But if presented with any-region DVDs, the software can get confused and not know where it is. Bit like teardrop builders after the first 12 beers......

Andrew

[Guy]

Dear Andrew,

You are correct, however, the secret to avoiding this problem is to not code the DVD any or all region. When you leave off any copding whatsoever you don't confuse the software.

Andrew, you might find this link to your liking. http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/dvdregion/

[Ira]

This isn't even a DVD produced via computer. It was video captured both in the U.S. and Europe with digital videotape equipment, edited God knows how, and now it's dubbing/reproduction time.

Why the hell I'M being asked about this is beyond me--you would figure the editing house would know this in a snap.

They probably DO, but my company is so disjointed, with so much miscommunication, that there's a ton of time wasted finding answers to questions that other people already know. But the former group doesn't know to ask that LATTER group.

[TomS]

TThey probably DO, but my company is so disjointed, with so much miscommunication, that there's a ton of time wasted finding answers to questions that other people already know. But the former group doesn't know to ask that LATTER group.

Sounds like every company I've ever worked for. Dilbert wouldn't be so darn funny if it wasn't all true.

[DestinDave]

Exactly why after 23 years in the computer field (mainframe operations, software, and maintenance) my favorite movie of all time has become "Office Space"...

[Larry Messaros]

TThey probably DO, but my company is so disjointed, with so much miscommunication, that there's a ton of time wasted finding answers to questions that other people already know. But the former group doesn't know to ask that LATTER group.

Sounds like every company I've ever worked for. Dilbert wouldn't be so darn funny if it wasn't all true.

It's pretty funny reading Dilbert and thinking that this guy (Scott Adams) who does Dilbert still has a very good handle on what is going on inside large corporations. I subscribe to his daily strip online and it always amazes me how accurate he is.

[wuzuki]

we get both most of our stuff in australia is programmed to play both