DVD Guide

DVD originally stood for Digital Video Disc, and over time, some members of the DVD Forum expressed that DVD now goes far beyond video capability, thus renaming it to stand for Digital Versatile Discs instead. To this day, the DVD Forum has yet to come to a unanimous consensus as to which name should be the 'correct one.' And so, the choice is yours. At ArtPopDvd.com, we prefer to use our time to watch more movies, rather than spend time debating it.

Each DVD manufactured today is produced using a specific region code (also referred to sometimes, as country codes or zones). DVD region codes require your DVD player to accept only those DVDs intended for playing in one of the world DVD regions as set by the DVD Forum.

For example, a Region 1 disc cannot be played in a Region 3 DVD player. This concept was introduced as a means of enabling motion picture studios to control the release of movies at different times in different regions. For example, a movie may come out on video in the US as it’s just hitting big screens in Europe.

As well, movie studios like to sell the distribution rights for their movies to various foreign distributors around the world. In doing so, and to remain competitive, the studios prefer to guarantee an exclusive market. So, they require that the DVD standard include a code to prevent playback of certain DVDs in certain regions or geographical locations. Then, each player is given a code for the region where the player is intended for sale. This means that the player will now refuse to accept any disc or DVD that is not coded for its particular region. Some people feel that this is an illegal restraint of trade, but so far, no legal cases have proven this. Region codes are permanent – they cannot be ‘unlocked.’

Eight regions for DVD codes have been defined (sometimes called zones or locales), and each one corresponds to a region number, as outlined below. The following map displays a visual of each geographical DVD region.

• Region 1 - US, Canada , US Territories
• Region 2 - Japan , Europe, South Africa , and Middle east (including Egypt )
• Region 3 - Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong )
• Region 4 - Australia , New Zealand , Pacific Islands , Central America , Mexico , South America and the Caribbean
• Region 5 - Eastern Europe (former Soviet Union), India subcontinent, Africa, North Korea and Mongolia
• Region 6 - People's Republic of China
• Region 7 - Reserved
• Region 8 - Special international venues (aeroplanes, cruise ships, etc.)
• Region 0 - Region free, can be played on any DVD player.

Today, there are 3 types of video standards that are used throughout the world.

• PAL – Developed between the UK & Germany, this acronym stands for Phase Alternating Line and was developed between the UK & Germany.
• NTSC – Developed in the USA, this acronym stands for National Television Standards Committee, and is the oldest existing video standard.
• SECAM – Developed in France, this standard’s acronym stands for Systeme Electronique pour Couleur avec Memoire (which translates to: Electronic System for Colour with Memory)

Absolutely not! All you need is a DVD player (see below on what kind of DVD players are best) and a regular, television with audio/video input compatibility. Or, if you have DVD playback software built into your computer, you can even watch your DVDs right there at your desk (or wherever your computer is). Today, most computer operating systems have DVD playback software built in. Just slip the disc in, sit back, and enjoy the show.

While there are many good players available, it is important to note that DVDs using PAL or SECAM video standards were not manufactured for playback in countries like US & Canada, just like how NTSC formatted DVDs are not intended for playback in France or Germany for example. But as a film-enthusiast, you have every right to play any movie, no matter where you are! To ensure playback of all your European DVDs and other international movies regardless of format or region, ArtPopDvd.com recommends using a special multi-region player . And for your added convenience, ArtPopDvd.com has made these multi-region players available for purchase right here on our website .

Although most DVD players are programmed for accepting only those DVDs made for distribution within a specific region, a special multi-region player makes enjoyment of all your favorite foreign films as enjoyable as it's supposed to be. Thanks to the development of this special multi-region player , now movie lovers everywhere can enjoy their favorite foreign films from around the world, anywhere, anytime.

There are 3 types of DVD formats: DVD, HDDVD, Blue Ray DVD.

Below is a chart with the most common screen formats and their properties.