StevePA

"Department S" Region questions

So-I'm thinking about getting "Department S," a classic late 60's-early 70's British adventure series. I've heard it's available in Australia from a company called Umbrella Entertainment; I've also heard this DVD set is Region 0-meaning, it should play anywhere...
Well, if you look at various sources, you'll find that these DVD's are either:1. Region 1,2,3,4,5,6...or Region 4.
Anybody have an answer? Also, even though they may be region "0," will they still look good on NTSC systems-ie: Region 0 PAL probably won't work, correct?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

EricSchulz

Re: "Department S" Region questions

I can't tell you about that specific title, but SOME DVDs are available in both the local region AND "Region 0". I co-worker did some shopping for me while on a trip to London recently and found a title I was looking for that was available in both Region 2/PAL and Region 0/NTSC. I think it depends on the title and the manufacturer AND the county/region of origin. I was lucky because I have a multi-region player with a PAL-NTSC converter so either one would have worked in my player.

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michael_ks

Re: "Department S" Region questions

I've purchased the ITC series "Man in A Suitcase" and "The Baron" from Umbrella Entertainment, both region 0, PAL formatted. They play just like R1 NTSC DVDs--no detectable speed-up or playback problems whatsoever.

AndyMcKinney

Re: "Department S" Region questions

Maybe for you, but if the original poster doesn't have a player capable of making the PAL-to-NTSC conversion, he won't be able to play them on his NTSC television, which I think was basically what he was asking.

Short answer: if your player can play all regions, it can also probably be made to play PAL discs (usually, a menu option switching the output system from "multi" to NTSC). A lot of times, this output system menu option is only available when you also hack the player to "unlock" the region coding on the player.

If your player is one of those which doesn't have an all-regions hack, you're probably out of luck, unless you purchase a multi-system TV, or have some other viewing device that can cope with a PAL signal (such as a PC monitor, certain projection systems, etc.).

Guy Foulard

Re: "Department S" Region questions

Just to confirm, since I own this one -- Department S is also Region 0. Umbrella puts a out a great product--I would recommend any of their ITC series releases. Series details can be found on The Morning After : the Persuaders website (as a new poster, I can't link directly).

Network DVD in the UK is also releasing several of these, but I would give Umbrella a slight nod, especially for the attractiveness of packaging. A good reason to get a multi-region PAL/NTSC player!

Ben King

Re: "Department S" Region questions

Surely multi-region is an absolute must when it comes to DVD?

On the subject of a UK release of Department S, Network have it on their schedule for a 2007 release.

AndyMcKinney

Re: "Department S" Region questions

I'd give severa R4 releases of UK shows the nod mainly because the US dollar is stronger against the Australian dollar than it is against the pound (the exchange rate in the UK is now almost 2-to-1 in the pound's favour! Compare that to pre-9/11 rates of about 1.5, then discounted by some credit card companies, like mine, to 1.25 at that time!).

I know I've had to curtail my UK spending habits in recent years, or at least, wait for sales. Plus, with the ballooning exchange rates, my card no longer gives me a discount, they now impose a currency conversion charge!


If multi-region and PAL conversion weren't a possibility, I'd still be using VHS! I literally waited until an easy, affordable way to circumvent region coding on a player with PAL conversion capabilities was a reality. My first player was a Sampo, BTW.