Is DVD a worldwide standard? Does it work with NTSC, PAL and SECAM?
Not really. DVD supports two television systems: 525/60 (NTSC) and 625/50 (PAL). There are three differences between discs intended for different markets: picture size (720×480 vs. 720×576), frame rate (29.97 vs 25), and surround audio (Dolby Digital vs. MPEG-2). (See 3.3 and 3.5 for details.) However, a producer can choose to include additional video and audio –at the expense of playing time– so that all formats are covered. It’s unknown if players will be able to automatically recognize and play the correct format video in this case. It’s rumored that some studios will include Dolby Digital tracks on their PAL releases. It’s possible to make a multi-standard player that will output NTSC from a 525/60 disc and PAL from a 625/50 disc. This requires a multi-standard TV that can display both. It’s also possible to make a standards-converting player that will output NTSC from a 625/50 disc or PAL from a 525/60 disc. No manufacturer has yet announced a player of either kind.
