What the heck is NTSC, and how does it relate to PAL and SECAM?!?!
The quick answer: When developing standards of transmission, the US and most of Asia went one way: NTSC. Most of Europe when another way: PAL. Then a tiny minority (mainly France, those individualists) created SECAM. These standards regulate the lines of video and throughput (and that sort of thing), and make it so an NTSC videotape, which looks and feels just like a PAL videotape, won’t be viewable on a PAL VCR and TV. So if you’re a fan of UK DVDs (and who isn’t?), then you want a PAL converting VCR or separate converter. Just make sure that you buy one that not only plays but converts the PAL signals!!! More information is at the DVD Demystified FAQ, section 1.19..
