Posted by Peter Willis on September 01, 2001 at 21:28:35 from 195.92.194.13:
In Reply to: Re: DVDs -- ditto posted by Adam Quinan on September 01, 2001 at 20:41:21:
Adam's absolutely right. Commercial DVDs (there ar no others for TV at present) ar coded so they will only play in players coded for the same zone, eg USA, Europe. That said, it's often possible to buy, in the UK at any rate, players that are not restricted -e will play anything - or to acquire certain codes, or alternate handsets that will free up your player - but it's all a bit of a murky area and full of anxiety for the average TAR, including me. Moral,unless you know what you're doing, buy DVDs in the country you intend to use them.
I can tell you that the usability of video tapes is governmed differently, by the TV broadcasting system in use in the country. USA, Japan and Canada and others use NTSC, which is incompatible with the PAL system used in the UK, Australia, NZ and much of Europe. There is a third system, SECAM, used in France, Germany and elesehwere. I have a lost here, so if you are concerned about a particular country, do ask.
Meanwhile the 1974 video of S&A seems unavailable in the UK, unless the sale of Woolworths leads to the unloading of unsuspected stocks.
Swallows and Amazons Forever: Coot Club will soon be available from WH Smitha at £4.99. (This used to be a double-bill of Coot Club and the Big Six on one tape, tough admittedly more expensive. Lets hobe BS will follow soon)
The Nancy Blackett video, A Voyage With Nancy Blackett, is till available on PAL - Dave Thewlis may be able to advise on the NTSC situation.