Whats a Region Coded DVD / What is Region Coding?
The DVD ‘world’ is broken up into regions (see the map below). Most DVDs are hard coded with the region they are manufactured in (Ex: USA is region code 1). This coding can stop a disc from one area of the world from playing in a DVD player in another part of the world. Region coding is not mandatory or written law – media companies have adopted region codes as a way to market their releases in idividual territories and control where their DVDs are distributed to. There are many DVD releases that are ‘region free’ or region 0 – they will play anywhere in the world. There are also ‘region free’ DVD players that can play DVDs from any region of the world. Click here for our policies regarding the sales of region coded and PAL DVDs.
DVD region codes is a provision in the DVD Specifications that requires DVD players to be hard-coded to accept DVDs that are only meant to be played within one of six designated world regions. A Region 1 disc cannot be played in a Region 3 DVD player for example. This technique was developed to enable Hollywood companies to release movies at different times in different regions. DVD Regions are defined as: Region 1 US, Canada, US Territories Region 2 Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle east (including Egypt) Region 3 Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong) Region 4 Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean Region 5 Eastern Europe (former Soviet Union), India subcontinent, Africa, North Korea and Mongolia Region 6 People’s Republic of China Region 7 Reserved Region 8 Special international venues (aeroplanes, cruise ships, etc.) Region 0 Region free, can be played on any DVD player.
The DVD ‘world’ is broken up into regions (see the map below). Most DVDs are hard coded with the region they are manufactured in (Ex: USA is region code 1). This coding can stop a disc from one area of the world from playing in a DVD player in another part of the world. Region coding is not mandatory or written law – media companies have adopted region codes as a way to market their releases in idividual territories and control where their DVDs are distributed to (as of writing time January of 2005). There are many DVD releases that are ‘region free’ or region 0 – they will play anywhere in the world. There are also ‘region free’ DVD players that can play DVDs from any region of the world. You might need an all-region DVD player to play import DVDs. Click anywhere in this paragraph to search eBay for such devices. It could cost as low as $20.
