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Blu-Ray Regional Coding Coming Fall 2006

1988 Views 41 Replies 29 Participants Last post by camaj, Oct 6, 2006

egcarter

Discussion Starter · Oct 4, 2006

From Variety International...

"To keep a lid on piracy, the Blu-ray Disc Assn. has decided to use regional codes for film discs released in the format. The coded discs will debut this fall.

New code system differs from the one in place for standard DVDs in that Japan, the Americas and East Asian countries other than China all share Region 1. Europe and Africa are grouped in Region 2, while China, Russia and any remaining territories are lumped into Region 3.

New system will be used for pics and games including Sony PlayStation 3.

To thwart the use of all-region players, Blu-ray regional codes will be burned into the optical discs.

The rival HD DVD camp, led by Toshiba, will not use regional codes.

Decision to using a coding system emerged from talks between Advanced Access Content System members who belong to the Blu-ray Disc Assn. Warner Bros. reportedly opposed the system, citing the ineffectiveness of the current coding setup for conventional DVDs, but was outvoted."

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1 - 20 of 42 Posts

nilsp

· #2 · Oct 4, 2006

Hmmm... Games on the PS3 will NOT be region coded.

Also, I thought the HD DVD camp were still "thinking about it"... Has there been an official decision?

TheCrackedJack

· #3 · Oct 4, 2006

At least Japan and America are in the same region.

camaj

· #4 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

To thwart the use of all-region players, Blu-ray regional codes will be burned into the optical discs

Just like DVD's then? I'd be surprised if hacks don't appear soon. Early dvd players were chipped quickly and software for DVD-rom drives also came out PDQ.

Grubert

· #5 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

To keep a lid on piracy, the Blu-ray Disc Assn. has decided to use regional codes for film discs released in the format.

Holy warped logic Batman!

TwinTurboJosh

· #6 · Oct 4, 2006

Gotta feel sorry for Europe. They're getting shafted

boden11

· #7 · Oct 4, 2006

Word--getting no PS3s until 3/31/07?? And separate region coding (joint with AFRICA??) ??? Sounds like HD DVD will make some definite inroads with their 2nd gen units, cheaper pricing and NO REGION CODING.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinTurboJosh
Gotta feel sorry for Europe. They're getting shafted

nyg

· #8 · Oct 4, 2006

Great now Blu-ray is even less consumer friendly than HD DVD is. What boneheads! At least Warner opposed the region coding. Props to them for having a conscience.

firemaster

· #9 · Oct 4, 2006

http://www.stor-age.com/resources/0C...AF3D/BD-RC.jpg

Who can tell me what the means about the 'A' logo on the BD title's packet?

Rogervienna

· #10 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by firemaster
http://www.stor-age.com/resources/0C...AF3D/BD-RC.jpg

Who can tell me what the means about the 'A' logo on the BD title's packet?

The "A" means Region 1 which is USA, Japan, East Asia countries without China.

darinp2

· #11 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by egcarter
Decision to using a coding system emerged from talks between Advanced Access Content System members who belong to the Blu-ray Disc Assn. Warner Bros. reportedly opposed the system, citing the ineffectiveness of the current coding setup for conventional DVDs, but was outvoted."

I wonder how Disney and Fox voted. While consumers generally want no region encoding, at least some studios want it, or it wouldn't exist. If HD DVD continues to not have it, then that means that any Blu-ray studio going neutral has to release discs without it.

--Darin

DVD_sanchez

· #12 · Oct 4, 2006

I'll be buying a US blu-ray player rather than one here in the UK. Maybe we'll be able to chip our players like last time?

firemaster

· #13 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogervienna
The "A" means Region 1 which is USA, Japan, East Asia countries without China.

OK, in this case current BD title was already include the Region Code, Well then what the news talk about?

Poolrad

· #14 · Oct 4, 2006

It's an interesting development. So my question is, since the current Samsung isn't region coded does that mean the one's on the market now are considered region free? Since they can't force a firmware upgrade how will it be updated?

darinp2

· #15 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poolrad
So my question is, since the current Samsung isn't region coded does that mean the one's on the market now are considered region free?

I'm not sure about this assumption that the Samsung isn't region coded.

--Darin

JaniH

· #16 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by firemaster
OK, in this case current BD title was already include the Region Code, Well then what the news talk about?

The cover has the logo but the actual discs are region free.

JAG1977

· #17 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinTurboJosh
Gotta feel sorry for Europe. They're getting shafted

Correct, thats why 90% are adopting HD-DVD.

Bargin players and a large selection of very cheap titles.

Plus US owners can buy European HD-DVD titles that are not scheuled for US release, i.e. Saw 1 and 2, American Physco, Terninator 2, Devils Rejects etc.

PS3 was the only option for most BR supporters, so many, like myself, are buying into HD-DVD today, waiting for PS3 and/or duel players to be released.

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JAG1977

· #18 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVD_sanchez
I'll be buying a US blu-ray player rather than one here in the UK. Maybe we'll be able to chip our players like last time?

Is there any hope of a multi region hack/chip in the next 12 months, without it I fear for BR, and I'm a massive supporter!

I'd have a player now if they were multi region and reasonably priced, but they're not!!!!!!!!!!!

Maltby

· #19 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by boden11
Word--getting no PS3s until 3/31/07?? And separate region coding (joint with AFRICA??) ??? Sounds like HD DVD will make some definite inroads with their 2nd gen units, cheaper pricing and NO REGION CODING.

for a mildly amusing reaction check out www.thisiswaiting.com

WriteSimple

· #20 · Oct 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by darinp2
I wonder how Disney and Fox voted. While consumers generally want no region encoding, at least some studios want it, or it wouldn't exist. If HD DVD continues to not have it, then that means that any Blu-ray studio going neutral has to release discs without it.

--Darin

From what I understood, you can't have BD discs with no code. But I think you can have discs with all code, ie A, B, C. Just like DVDs can be made into multiregion by coding it with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

While the only dissenting studio from this report seems to be Warner, it could also be that smaller studios or European studios side with the rest of the BD studios. Just in terms of volume of sales, what's produced in America will dwarf what's produced in Europe. If Europeans import from the US freely, the studios with the European rights lose money.

The same thing is true in reverse. If BD wins the format war, it cannot compete with the Chinese version of the discs, which won't even be selling for US$8 retail. The DVD Forum has a way with this when they signed for the China-only HD-DVD specs. However the worry is that the Chinese HD-DVD manufacturers may produce HD-DVD players with not just the China-only video codec but every single one of the codecs approved by the DVD Forum and not pay royalty for it. Not only will that make these illegal Chinese players valuable because of its price, but it will also make the software intended for the Chinese market selling by the millions. That is not even the tip of the problem. Once HD-DVD replicators are installed in China to make Chinese HD-DVDs, the possibility of pirated HD-DVDs become very real.

fuad

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1 - 20 of 42 Posts

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