Blu-rays and DVDs: Regions

[Toxteth O´Grady]

I ordered the Blu-ray of the David Tennant specials last week and it just arrived today. It was from Amazon and the picture that was displayed on the site was for the US edition, but I received what appears to be the UK edition. It has a circle at the bottom with a red 12 in the center, so I know it isn't the US version.

My question is, do I need to send this back or will it play on my US Blu-ray player. I heard that the Doctor Who videos are compatible with all Regions, but I want to know for sure.

 

[OmahaStar]

The DVDs are certainly region-coded. I have some, including the 8th Doctor movie (it was released in the UK years before the US got the special edition), and they only play in region-free (or hacked) dvd players.

It would stand to reason that the blu-rays would be the same.

 

[Toxteth O´Grady]

Crap. Well, it looks like this is being sent back.

 

[JoeZhang]

The DVDs are certainly region-coded. I have some, including the 8th Doctor movie (it was released in the UK years before the US got the special edition), and they only play in region-free (or hacked) dvd players.

It would stand to reason that the blu-rays would be the same.

Actually not so - Blurays are often not region coded, in fact I've never had a US one that is - Disney stuff generally is but a load of companies just don't bother.

I'm a bit baffled why the OP doesn't just put one of the discs in to find out?

 

[Sindatur]

The DVDs are certainly region-coded. I have some, including the 8th Doctor movie (it was released in the UK years before the US got the special edition), and they only play in region-free (or hacked) dvd players.

It would stand to reason that the blu-rays would be the same.

Actually not so - Blurays are often not region coded, in fact I've never had a US one that is - Disney stuff generally is but a load of companies just don't bother.

I'm a bit baffled why the OP doesn't just put one of the discs in to find out?

From what I've heard, Brits usually don't have an issue with US ones, but, US have an issue with Brit ones.

 

[MacLeod]

It might be down to the fact that sometimes companies will refuse a return on an opened DVD/BR/Game/CD etc... Unless it's faulty.

But I can't stand region coding, don't see the need for it. Esp. when it comes to BR fortuantly many studios don't region code

 

[3chordboy]

I ordered the Blu-ray of the David Tennant specials last week and it just arrived today. It was from Amazon and the picture that was displayed on the site was for the US edition, but I received what appears to be the UK edition. It has a circle at the bottom with a red 12 in the center, so I know it isn't the US version.

My question is, do I need to send this back or will it play on my US Blu-ray player. I heard that the Doctor Who videos are compatible with all Regions, but I want to know for sure.

what an absolute non-topic for a thread.

the specials blu-ray is region free. just put it in your damn player you crazy fool!

 

[Toxteth O´Grady]

The DVDs are certainly region-coded. I have some, including the 8th Doctor movie (it was released in the UK years before the US got the special edition), and they only play in region-free (or hacked) dvd players.

It would stand to reason that the blu-rays would be the same.

I'm a bit baffled why the OP doesn't just put one of the discs in to find out?

A couple of reasons. 1: I'm at work where I received my package and posted this thread. And 2: I didn't want to open it just in case I had to return it.

I already have the return label printed and my refund is coming. I'll just look around and make sure wherever I buy it I know exactly what I'm getting.

the specials blu-ray is region free. just put it in your damn player you crazy fool!

According to Amazon the US edition is region free. I needed to know if the UK version was the same way. I had a moment to create this thread at work so I did. Since the few people who responded have already answered I made my decision to send it back.

 

[MacLeod]

Whilst it is possible Amazon made a mistake. I assume it came from a warehouse in the USA. Which would likely only stock discs which would play in the USA. As others have said it all comes down to the region coding and perhaps the BBC don't region code BR's so that they don't have to reprint them for the different regions.

 

[Toxteth O´Grady]

Whilst it is possible Amazon made a mistake. I assume it came from a warehouse in the USA. Which would likely only stock discs which would play in the USA. As others have said it all comes down to the region coding and perhaps the BBC don't region code BR's so that they don't have to reprint them for the different regions.

Sometimes it's hard to tell, but I think this came from a seller and the order was fulfilled by Amazon.

 

[Candlelight]

From Wikipedia:

Movie studios have different region coding policies. Among major U.S. studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, and Walt Disney Pictures have released most of their titles region-free. MGM and Lions Gate Entertainment have released a mix of region-free and region-coded titles. 20th Century Fox has released most of their titles region-coded.

Not sure what the BBC policy is.

 

[Toxteth O´Grady]

I decided not to risk opening it. Amazon is refunding me and I'm sending it back. I'm just going to go on eBay to look for somebody selling it and has a picture of the exact set that they're selling so I know what I'm getting.

 

[Worf2DS9]

Whilst it is possible Amazon made a mistake. I assume it came from a warehouse in the USA. Which would likely only stock discs which would play in the USA. As others have said it all comes down to the region coding and perhaps the BBC don't region code BR's so that they don't have to reprint them for the different regions.

Sometimes it's hard to tell, but I think this came from a seller and the order was fulfilled by Amazon.

Yeah, I just looked up the listing on Amazon and that's exactly the case. The seller would have been the one who messed up and sent the UK edition. Probably just a matter of them grabbing the wrong package and not noticing.