About DVD Region Codes

To grasp the perception or understanding of the region free DVD players, we have to comprehend regions and region codes. Scores of DVD players are manufactured to be region-locked or specifications only to be operated in one region. This code restricts other areas of the world from using DVD players manufactured in America.

Most DVD players are allocated a single region code. Since only a single region code is assigned, the DVD player is locked or can only be used in the area they were manufactured for. DVD discs are also locked to a specific region. There are unlocked discs not associated with a single region. These are referred to as 0 region DVD discs or any region discs.

The idea behind assigning these region code DVD players and discs is to assist motion picture studios. By locking the DVDs and discs, they can maintain more control of subject matter, price and release thanks to the region coding. You can have discs that have more than one region code and these are referred to as multi-region discs.

The region codes for DVD players and discs are generally: region 1-America and Canada, region 2-Japan, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa and Egypt, region 3-Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan, region 5-east and West Africa, Russia, Eastern Europe, North Korea and India, region 6 is china.

There are other ways as well through which DVD discs and players regulate content. They have specific encoding for the videos. There are mostly only PAL and NTSC video standards for televisions. PAL is prevalent mostly in Europe. NTSC is prevalent in America and Canada. NTSC discs play on NTSC televisions. While PAL discs only play on PAL televisions. This is another control over players, discs and media.

Region-free DVD players exist with the capacity to play any disc, whether PAL or NTSC and for all regions 1 through 6. They are fully compatible because they have been decoded. These are difficult to locate. If you are looking for a decoded DVD you may find one available online but you won’t locate them in regular stores such as Wal-Mart.

Manufactures that are lesser known do actually manufacture these decoded region free DVD players without any modifications being made. Panasonic is one of the major manufacturing companies that create region free DVD players.