What is a Region Code?
The worldwide distribution of DVD is divided into eight regions (Region 1-8), where individual DVD can only be playable in the specified region(s) with the assigned “Region Code.” The DVD Region Code is usually specified on the back of the individual DVD package. Please make sure that your DVD player is compatible to the DVD(s) you are getting. Please note that “All Region” (Region 1-8) and Region 0, represents the function of every Region whether a DVD and or a DVD player. DVD Region Breakdown Region 1: USA, Canada Region 2: Europe, Japan, South Africa, Middle East Region 3: South East Asia (including Hong Kong and Korea etc.) Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Spanish America Region 5: Russia, East Europe, Africa Region 6: China Region 7: Reserved Region 8: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.) Region 0: Playable in any Region Rent and all-region, PAL capable DVD player. $3.
As with DVDs, Blu-ray Discs are digitally encoded with a “region code” (A, B, or C, sometimes referred to as 1, 2, or 3) that allows the disc to play only in a Blu-ray player with the same region code. This system was developed to enable studios to control various aspects of a title’s release (content, date, price, etc.) according to region. A “region-free” disc is one that can play in all players around the world.
DVD software is distributed with a region encoding. To play back a DVD title with a specific region code, you will need a DVD player with the same region code. For example, a DVD encoded with “region 1” (United States and Canada) can only be played back on a DVD player with “region 1” capability. The movie studios and software distributors have imposed the region encoding feature to control distribution of DVD software only to those regions where they are ready to distribute.
