HD TV Region Free?

[wulf109]

This maybe a stupid question but is HD TV universal? There used to be NTSC and PAL with analog. I note that U.K. BR disks are often playable on U.S BR players. An example the new Alien BR set,the U.K. version is region free and will play on U.S. players.

[1337assassin]

well.. apparently they have 3 regions.. but no doubt nobody in the world wants regions but they will enforce it on americans, and probably give all americans a little microchip in the arm which allows playback of their crap

not that aliens was crap..

but its getting more and more not worth dealing with these clowns

[filmboss80]

...nobody in the world wants regions but they will enforce it on americans...

Who, specifically, are "they?"

...its getting more and more not worth dealing with these clowns

Again, please let us know who "these clowns" are.

The primary development of TV technology occurred in a period when globalism was not as great a concern as it is today. (Same with electricity. Some countries are 220V/50Hz; others 110V/60Hz; and some vary between alternating and direct current.) Here's a bit more background: http://www.pembers.freeserve.co.uk/World-TV-Standards/Colour-Standards.html

In the evolution of digital and HD, it would have made more sense to most of us if the standards issue was resolved once and for all. But there remained concerns about maintaining legacy video frame rates of past programming materials. Every possible choice had their pros and cons, and the final outcome had more to do with pragmatic compromise than conspiracy.

As for the OP's question, I recommend this link for clarification:

http://hometheater.about.com/od/televisionbasics/qt/ntscpalframes.htm

[hech54]

This maybe a stupid question but is HD TV universal? There used to be NTSC and PAL with analog. I note that U.K. BR disks are often playable on U.S BR players. An example the new Alien BR set,the U.K. version is region free and will play on U.S. players.

You are combining two different subjects into one question.
Region codes or regions have NOTHING to do with NTSC/PAL issues.


But half of this is a valid question:
Is HD video both NTSC and PAL?

[wulf109]

Well is it. No it's not DVD region question. A disk maybe region free but will a region free UK BR disk play in a U.S. BR player? Are there still Different TV broadcast standards the U.S. and the U.K. for HD TV?

[jman98]

Well is it. No it's not DVD region question. A disk maybe region free but will a region free UK BR disk play in a U.S. BR player? Are there still Different TV broadcast standards the U.S. and the U.K. for HD TV?

1) Theoretically yes, BUT... some standard def bonus features may be in PAL and those may not play at all on US players.
2) Yes, there are different broadcast standards for digital TV (it really better to use this term than "HD" as "digital" covers HD plus more). For example, 1080i broadcasts may be 25 fps or 29.97 fps, 720p broadcasts may be 50 fps or 60 fps, and so on. The video codec used in the broadcast can vary. 1080p 24 fps playback from BluRay is supported everywhere.

[hech54]

Well is it. No it's not DVD region question.

It doesn't matter. DVD Regions, BD Regions.....they still have nothing to do with NTSC/PAL.
The topic title should be "Is HD Video PAL or NTSC or Both?"