CDs & DVDs
NTSC or PAL DVD Replication?
What if you are expecting sales from overseas clients (in PAL countries)? One question that often comes up, especially when a producer is making the final decisions about manufacturing a quantity of discs, is "what about potential customers in Europe or other PAL speaking markets?"
PAL vs. NTSC:
Is it worthwhile making an NTSC version, as well as a PAL version of your disc? This is often a very difficult question to answer, particularly for a new title with no sales track-record to analyze. On the one hand, you could lay down the extra cash (with headaches) and produce both versions of your film. Or, you could start selling and see how many enquires you get about PAL formatted discs. Neither solution is ideal, for the obvious reasons.
What about a PAL-NTSC dual-formatted disc? It's true, you could make a DVD-10; that is essentially two DVD-5's pressed back-to-back - onePAL, one NTSC, but this gets complicated and adds expense (not as much as making two separate fully-packaged formats, but more than just a simple NTSC DVD-5). Of course if you choose to go DVD-10, you are seriously restricted on the disc artwork, only being about to place small writing around the inner 22mm hole.
What about regional restrictions? DVD region codes are designed to restrict people in certain regions of the world from viewing a disc. This was first used by Hollywood when the release of a new film was delayed in different markets. For example they may launch a DVD in the US market 3-months earlier than in Europe and so add a regional-code to the US sold discs, to restrict overseas viewers from seeing the release ahead of schedule. This practice has fallen from favor in recent years, as internet sales have taken much of the control away from the studios and as a result releases are often simultaneous today.
If you are trying to maximize your audience - both domestically and overseas, don't add a region code. Keep you disc region-free.
One important salvation is that many NTSC DVDs play in PAL DVD players. Be very careful here, as this is a general statement and not a hard-and-fast rule. While it's true that many newer PAL players can handle region-free NTSC discs, many of the older players do not. Although we have looked, we have not been able to find a list of compatible PAL players. If/when we do, PacificDisc will post the link to the list. However we're told the percentage is pretty high, as DVD player sales figures have hockey-sticked in recent years, meaning that the majority of players in people's homes today, are of the newer variety. Add to that the dramatic price reductions in the past few years and things start looking rosy for your disc.
What about PAL discs in NTSC players? Unlike NTSC discs playing in PAL players, where you can often play them without issue, it does not work both ways. NTSC players cannot play PAL discs.
So, if making NTSC discs and hoping that your PAL customers can play them isn't good enough for you - or if you know that your main market is PAL, where can you get your NTSC tape masters converted to PAL? There are plenty of outfits in most major markets that offer this service. A simple web search will produce hundreds of results.
Just be careful who you choose, what they charge and never send your only master. From experience, we recommend you ask around and see if you can get recommendations from trusted colleagues. All common-sense, but worth pointing out again.
To see a list of PAL markets, see below.
At PacificDisc we speak with producers trying to answer this question almost every day. If you have questions about maximizing your audience and are unsure how to proceed, contact us and we'll be happy to answer all your questions.
Next we look at artwork issues, with our Template FAQ
Worldwide PAL Markets
Worldwide, there are three recording or broadcast standards: PAL, SECAM and NTSC. In order to view a PAL-formatted DVD, your player and TV must be compatible with the PAL standard. The following countries have all adopted the PAL standard:
| Abu Dhabi | Gibraltar | Pakistan |
| Afghanistan | Greenland | Papua New Guinea |
| Albania | Guinea | Paraguay |
| Algeria | Guinea-Bissau | Poland |
| Angola | Holland | Portugal |
| Argentina | Hong Kong | Qatar |
| Ascension Island | Iceland | Sardinia |
| Australia | India | Seychelles |
| Austria | Indonesia | Sierra Leone |
| Azores | Ireland | Singapore |
| Bahrain | Israel | Slovenia |
| Bangladesh | Italy | Solomon Islands |
| Belgium | Jordan | Somalia |
| Bosnia Herzegovina | Kenya | South Africa |
| Botswana | Kuwait | Spain |
| Brunei | Lebanon | Sri Lanka |
| Cameroon | Lesotho | Sudan |
| Canary Islands | Liberia | Swaziland |
| Cape Verde | Liechtenstein | Sweden |
| Cayman Islands | Luxembourg | Switzerland |
| China | Macao | Syria |
| Christmas Island | Macedonia | Tanzania |
| Cook Island | Madeira | Thailand |
| Croatia | Malawi | Tonga |
| Cyprus | Malaysia | Tristian Da Cunah |
| Denmark | Maldives | Turkey |
| Dubai | Malta | Uganda |
| Easter Island | Montenegro | United Arab Emirates |
| Eritrea | Mozambique | United Kingdom |
| Ethiopia | Namibia | Vanuatu |
| Falkland Islands | Nepal | Vatican |
| Faroe Islands | Netherlands | Yemen |
| Finland | New Zealand | Yugoslavia |
| Gambia | Nigeria | Zambia |
| Gaza and West Bank | Norfolk Island | Zanzibar |
| Germany | Norway | Zimbabwe |
| Ghana | Oman |