An Idiot Abroad blu, region locked? - Blu-ray Forum

Stinky-Dinkins · 11-14-2010, 06:58 PM

Can anyone confirm whether or not this is locked to B?

Foggy · 11-14-2010, 08:30 PM

I don't know if it's region locked, but I can tell you it's brilliant

Stinky-Dinkins · 11-14-2010, 08:32 PM

Head like a ****ing orange.

TauHeel05 · 11-15-2010, 03:53 PM

Oh my...I've been downloading these episodes. I couldn't take my eyes off it. When he tells the cab driver in Mexico about the pelican swooping down and taking off with the chihuahua, I think I cracked a rib.

Please...someone figure out if this is region free.

RuLeX · 11-17-2010, 08:40 PM

Classic series, Karl is a unknowing comic genius!

According to this list 2entertain releases have not so far been region locked, and the 2 that I own (Stephen Fry - America/Last Chance To See) are not locked.

TauHeel05 · 11-18-2010, 03:43 AM

I think it's 1080i/50Hz, which is NOT good for us Americans. Karl is a comedic genius!

Stinky-Dinkins · 11-20-2010, 10:15 PM

Thought I'd pop back in and confirm it in case anyone was still wondering.

I got the BD and the DVD.

The BD is not region locked but it is 1080i50hz (the Euro standard for HD broadcast) so my PS3 won't play it beyond the "2entertain" logo. It plays perfectly on my Brother In Law's Oppo BDP-83, though.

The DVD is most definitely region locked (in addition to being PAL.) I popped it into a Panasonic DMP-BD60 BD player (which only plays Region 1 DVD's) and the "You cannot play discs from this region" screen came up. It plays fine on my Oppo 983h, though.

Rob Hunter · 11-22-2010, 09:17 AM

shame its not 1080p

Stinky-Dinkins · 11-22-2010, 09:06 PM

Yep, it would be nice if HD was broadcast in 1080p but that would take a pretty huge amount of bandwidth, I don't know of any network anywhere that broadcasts natively in 1080p... that's why you use 1080i50 over there and we use 1080i60 over here. Not really sure why the UK uses 1080i50 and not 60, must be a leftover of the refresh rate of PAL, which was also 50hz.

4K2K · 11-23-2010, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Yep, it would be nice if HD was broadcast in 1080p but that would take a pretty huge amount of bandwidth, I don't know of any network anywhere that broadcasts natively in 1080p... that's why you use 1080i50 over there and we use 1080i60 over here. Not really sure why the UK uses 1080i50 and not 60, must be a leftover of the refresh rate of PAL, which was also 50hz.

1080/50i takes more bandwidth than 1080p24. 1080/60i takes more bandwidth than 1080p24. 1080p50 wouldn't take a huge amount of bandwidth - maybe a little bit more than 1080/50i (some people at the EBU say it doesn't need any more bandwidth than 1080/50i). They could decide to use almost any bandwidth, it's just at lower bitrates you'd notice the artefacts more. Since mpeg4 is more efficient than mpeg2 (about twice as efficient), for TV you could get 'okay' quality 1080p50/60 at around 12 mbps I would think - though obviously more would be better.

A camcorder that records 1080p60 doesn't use that much more bitrate when recording 1080p60 than when it records 1080/60i.

RuLeX · 11-26-2010, 10:25 PM

I could probably google this question, but why dont UK 50hz discs play properly in the US? But we have no problem playing US discs here?

Stinky-Dinkins · 11-27-2010, 10:32 PM

I'd guess it'd be because your TV sets are made with a 1080i60hz-compliant spec but many here in the US aren't made to be compliant with the 50hz spec, and I'd guess players made for the UK market also support the 1080i60hz output, whereas many players here won't output either SD PAL signals or HD signals with the 50hz refresh rate. Why most sets here aren't made to support a 50hz refresh rate I have no idea. No TV content here is recorded or broadcast in 1080i50 (your HD broadcast standard) so manufacturers probably just don't see the need.

Anyway, I watched all 7 episodes (and the bonus interview episode and deleted scenes). Hilarious show.

Hopefully HBO will pick it up and broadcast it here for those not able to watch either the DVD or BluRay.

4K2K · 11-28-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuLeX

I could probably google this question, but why dont UK 50hz discs play properly in the US? But we have no problem playing US discs here?

They do play properly if people in the US have a compatible player and if the player doesn't convert to 60Hz, also a 50Hz compatible TV. The companies in the US that disable 50Hz do so to stop Europeans importing goods (players/TVs) from the US where they could get the same fair price as people in the US (ie. they do it to make Europeans pay more for basically the same goods).

One of the reasons European TVs work with 60Hz as well as 50Hz is that they wouldn't be allowed a "HD Ready" badge if they didn't.

jhansla · 01-10-2011, 06:13 PM

Works fine on my Samsung BDP1500

Robert R1 · 01-11-2011, 04:18 PM

Is there a list of US players that will support this?

I know my Kuro will play it but neither the PS3 nor the Sony BDP S570 will play this. What do I need to get? I have the same issue with "Life" the follow up to Planet Earth. We watch a lot of UK shows so I'd like to be able to purchase them in the future knowing they'll work.

nametag · 01-11-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert R1

Is there a list of US players that will support this?

I know my Kuro will play it but neither the PS3 nor the Sony BDP S570 will play this. What do I need to get? I have the same issue with "Life" the follow up to Planet Earth. We watch a lot of UK shows so I'd like to be able to purchase them in the future knowing they'll work.

The Oppo players play it and, well, pretty much everything (including other regions once you get the easy to install mod). They also play PAL and output it to NTSC so you don't need to worry about your TV not being able to play any SD PAL content that could be on UK discs.

Stinky-Dinkins · 01-12-2011, 12:43 AM

The Science Channel recently picked up the rights to this one.

Not going to be worth watching on that network though - it'll have to be censored to Hell. Lots of nudity and swearing, etc. Too bad HBO didn't nab it, I'm surprised they didn't given how much Gervais stuff they run.

rkish · 01-12-2011, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert R1

Is there a list of US players that will support this?

I know my Kuro will play it but neither the PS3 nor the Sony BDP S570 will play this. What do I need to get? I have the same issue with "Life" the follow up to Planet Earth. We watch a lot of UK shows so I'd like to be able to purchase them in the future knowing they'll work.

The Momitsu 799 and it's clones (Sherwood 5004, etc.) would play this, as they would not only deal with the region code, but also do the NTSC to PAL conversion and play the 1080i/50 Hz. as well.

4K2K · 01-12-2011, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert R1

Is there a list of US players that will support this?

I know my Kuro will play it but neither the PS3 nor the Sony BDP S570 will play this. What do I need to get? I have the same issue with "Life" the follow up to Planet Earth. We watch a lot of UK shows so I'd like to be able to purchase them in the future knowing they'll work.

Yes:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-pl...atibility.html

Check the ones that convert to 60hz if your TV isn't 50hz compatible.

Robert R1 · 01-15-2011, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4K2K

Yes:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-pl...atibility.html

Check the ones that convert to 60hz if your TV isn't 50hz compatible.

Big thanks for that link man! Much appreicated.

11-14-2010, 06:58 PM	#1
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	An Idiot Abroad blu, region locked? Can anyone confirm whether or not this is locked to B?

11-27-2010, 10:32 PM	#12
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	I'd guess it'd be because your TV sets are made with a 1080i60hz-compliant spec but many here in the US aren't made to be compliant with the 50hz spec, and I'd guess players made for the UK market also support the 1080i60hz output, whereas many players here won't output either SD PAL signals or HD signals with the 50hz refresh rate. Why most sets here aren't made to support a 50hz refresh rate I have no idea. No TV content here is recorded or broadcast in 1080i50 (your HD broadcast standard) so manufacturers probably just don't see the need. Anyway, I watched all 7 episodes (and the bonus interview episode and deleted scenes). Hilarious show. Hopefully HBO will pick it up and broadcast it here for those not able to watch either the DVD or BluRay. Last edited by Stinky-Dinkins; 11-27-2010 at 10:37 PM.

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11-14-2010, 08:30 PM	#2
Foggy Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:UK 4K collection:29 Blu-ray collection:3594 DVD collection:47	I don't know if it's region locked, but I can tell you it's brilliant

11-14-2010, 08:32 PM	#3
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	Head like a ****ing orange.

11-15-2010, 03:53 PM	#4
TauHeel05 Power Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:North Carolina 4K collection:2602 Blu-ray collection:8149 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:23	Oh my...I've been downloading these episodes. I couldn't take my eyes off it. When he tells the cab driver in Mexico about the pelican swooping down and taking off with the chihuahua, I think I cracked a rib. Please...someone figure out if this is region free.

11-17-2010, 08:40 PM	#5
RuLeX Senior Member Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Liverpool, Uk Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:2	Classic series, Karl is a unknowing comic genius! According to this list 2entertain releases have not so far been region locked, and the 2 that I own (Stephen Fry - America/Last Chance To See) are not locked.

11-18-2010, 03:43 AM	#6
TauHeel05 Power Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:North Carolina 4K collection:2602 Blu-ray collection:8149 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:23	I think it's 1080i/50Hz, which is NOT good for us Americans. Karl is a comedic genius!

11-20-2010, 10:15 PM	#7
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	Thought I'd pop back in and confirm it in case anyone was still wondering. I got the BD and the DVD. The BD is not region locked but it is 1080i50hz (the Euro standard for HD broadcast) so my PS3 won't play it beyond the "2entertain" logo. It plays perfectly on my Brother In Law's Oppo BDP-83, though. The DVD is most definitely region locked (in addition to being PAL.) I popped it into a Panasonic DMP-BD60 BD player (which only plays Region 1 DVD's) and the "You cannot play discs from this region" screen came up. It plays fine on my Oppo 983h, though.

11-22-2010, 09:17 AM	#8
Rob Hunter Senior Member Member since:Apr 2010 Location:United Kingdom - Lancaster 4K collection:73 Blu-ray collection:447 DVD collection:26 Blu-ray reviews:6	shame its not 1080p

11-22-2010, 09:06 PM	#9
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	Yep, it would be nice if HD was broadcast in 1080p but that would take a pretty huge amount of bandwidth, I don't know of any network anywhere that broadcasts natively in 1080p... that's why you use 1080i50 over there and we use 1080i60 over here. Not really sure why the UK uses 1080i50 and not 60, must be a leftover of the refresh rate of PAL, which was also 50hz.

11-26-2010, 10:25 PM	#11
RuLeX Senior Member Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Liverpool, Uk Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:2	I could probably google this question, but why dont UK 50hz discs play properly in the US? But we have no problem playing US discs here?

01-10-2011, 06:13 PM	#14
jhansla Expert Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Orlando, Florida Blu-ray collection:257 Trading Score:3	Works fine on my Samsung BDP1500

01-11-2011, 04:18 PM	#15
Robert R1 Junior Member Member since:Jul 2007	Is there a list of US players that will support this? I know my Kuro will play it but neither the PS3 nor the Sony BDP S570 will play this. What do I need to get? I have the same issue with "Life" the follow up to Planet Earth. We watch a lot of UK shows so I'd like to be able to purchase them in the future knowing they'll work.

01-12-2011, 12:43 AM	#17
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	The Science Channel recently picked up the rights to this one. Not going to be worth watching on that network though - it'll have to be censored to Hell. Lots of nudity and swearing, etc. Too bad HBO didn't nab it, I'm surprised they didn't given how much Gervais stuff they run.

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