Can Australia watch my U.S. DVD?

[Paul Cascio]

Are DVD players in Australia able to play U.S. produced DVDs? If not, is there an easy way/software to convert?

[Chris Harding]

Hi Paul

I have no issues with NTSC disks here! Most of our players are multi-format so they play PAL and NTSC ..however you might have an issue with older players, especially imported ones.

The reverse seems to be true for the USA and I have reports that PAL disks have issues there! I simply re-render and author my weddings here to NTSC format if they are going across the pond.

Chris

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Paul,

Like Chris said, most PAL DVD players have no issue with NTSC discs, the conversion is handled in the player. This is what I've seen posted repeatedly over the years on forums every time the question arises. However, NTSC players are not usually equipped to handle PAL discs.

Thanks

[Finn Yarbrough]

As long as the DVD is not written with Region protection. If you have control over the burning, be sure it's set to Region 0 (universal).

[Christopher Young]

After a court case here in Australia which Sony lost re DVD region restrictions a law was past stating that it was perfectly legal to own, modify or purchase a region free DVD player in Australia. Since then 90% of DVD players sold in this country are region free and play both PAL and NTSC even though importers aren't compelled to sell unlocked units.

With the advent of BD players though we are seeing the reinstatement of DVD zone restrictions. Even though the Attorney-General’s department confirmed that region-free DVD and Blu-ray players are exempt from the Technological Protection Measures (TPMs) included in the US Free Trade Agreement. According to a copyright fact sheet issued by the Attorney-General’s department;

Read more: Are region-free DVD players legal?

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney