DVD Quality and Format 
DVD Quality and Format
Before you buy:
Please take a few minutes to read all the information related with our products.
DVD Quality Table
Are DVD discs PAL or NTSC?
DVD discs are still either PAL or NTSC standard. Also, similar to multisystem VCRs, most DVD players will not convert video standards. When you're playing an NTSC-standard DVD, it will output an NTSC signal. When you're playing a PAL-standard DVD, it will output a PAL signal.
There are two ways to watch both PAL and NTSC DVDs. You can either view your DVDs on a multisystem TV, or purchase a NTSC/PAL or PAL/NTSC DVD Player.
Region 01
U.S.A. Territories, Canada
Region 02
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, European Union, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Iran (Islamic Republic of) Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (the Former Yugoslav Republic), Malta, Moldova, Principality of Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Kingdom (Channel Islands) Vatican City State, Yemen, Yugoslavia
Region 03
Southeast Asia, East Asia (including Hong Kong)
Region 04
Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, Caribbean
Region 05
Former Soviet Union, Indian Subcontinent, Africa (also North Korea, Mongolia)
Region 06
China
Region 07
Reserved
Region 08
Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)
What is a multisystem DVD?
Different areas of the world use different video standards. North America uses NTSC, Europe uses PAL and SECAM, South America uses PAL-M, PAL-N, PAL and NTSC. Almost every area of the world has a mixture of video standards. Unfortunately, none of these standards are compatible with each other. A multisystem DVD has the ability to play dvd movies of different video standards.
What video standard does my country use?
If you're in North America, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and parts of South America, you use NTSC. Most other areas of the world use PAL or SECAM. Half of Brazil uses NTSC while the other half uses PAL-M. Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay use PAL-N. The rest of the world uses mainly PAL. If you're unsure what your video standard is, contact your local cable or broadcast company. Also, on the back of most video tapes is indicate what video standard the tape is. This is a good representation of what your video standard is.
What does this mean to the end consumer?
This means that movies from Region 1 (USA & Canada) WILL NOT play on a DVD player regions 2-8. Effectively Region 1 discs play only on Region 1 DVD players, Region 2 discs play only on Region 2 DVD players and so on.
I currently have a DVD player. How do I know if mine is Code free?
If you purchased your DVD player at any large electronics chain store like The Good Guys or Circuit City, then you have not purchased a Code free DVD player. If you're still unsure, simply attempt to view an overseas DVD to see whether it will play or not.