Question About Region Coding and Specs; Are These Blu-Rays Region Free or Region B? - Blu-ray Forum

Noneofyourbusiness · 11-28-2019, 02:34 PM

The UK Amazon product page for the Blu-Ray set of The Sarah Jane Adventures Series Four ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Sarah-J...inkCode=xm2&m= ) says that it's Region Free and under 'Product Description' says "Blu-ray/Region All pressing." But above 'Customers who viewed this item also viewed', it says "Please note that this product will not play on US spec 60i Blu-ray players as the Blu-ray discs are authored to UK 50i specs."

This looks like a contradiction to me. Is it? If it's authored to UK 50i specs, isn't that the same as being Region B/2-locked instead of Region Free? Or is the note a mistake on Amazon's part, and it will play on US spec 60i players after all?

Also, the product page for Series Five ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Sarah-J...inkCode=xm2&m= ) says both "Region: Region B/2" and "Blu-ray/Region All pressing." And its page here on Blu-Ray.com ( https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-S...Blu-ray/34595/ ) says "Playback: Region Free". So which is it? Is Amazon right or is Blu-Ray.com right?

PenguinInfinity · 12-16-2019, 08:53 PM

Some region A players can play 50Hz content. It is separate from region coding.

Both Amazon and Blu-ray.com are correct. It is a region-free disc with 50Hz content. It will play on some region A players, but only if they support 50Hz.

Dynamo of Eternia · 12-16-2019, 10:49 PM

Penguin Infinity is right. It is a separate issue from region coding. It's more of an issue related to NTSC/PAL differences, which can effect some content on a Blu-Ray depending on how it is formatted.

For instance, a few years go I imported the complete series of Parker Lewis Can't Lose from Germany. It was one of their SD (standard def) on Blu-Ray releases, which basically lets them put a ton of content on as few discs as possible.

Thought it was marked as region free, I found that I had some problems getting it to work in some of my players. At first I also thought it was a region coding issue, posted about it on here, and had someone point out that the episodes are 50hz formatted. I looked up 50hz compatible players, and found that the PS4 is one that is compatible (I don't usually use mine for watching Blu-Rays or DVDs, which is why it wasn't a player that I tested it on in the first place). I tried it and it worked.

Noneofyourbusiness · 12-17-2019, 01:40 AM

So is anyone familiar with my player model and whether it would have trouble with 50 hz discs? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...K?ie=UTF8&th=1

It says 60 hertz in the description, but could just mean its 50 hz capability isn't mentioned, not necessarily that it has trouble with it.

11-28-2019, 02:34 PM	#1
Noneofyourbusiness Junior Member Member since:Aug 2015	Question About Region Coding and Specs; Are These Blu-Rays Region Free or Region B? The UK Amazon product page for the Blu-Ray set of The Sarah Jane Adventures Series Four ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Sarah-J...inkCode=xm2&m= ) says that it's Region Free and under 'Product Description' says "Blu-ray/Region All pressing." But above 'Customers who viewed this item also viewed', it says "Please note that this product will not play on US spec 60i Blu-ray players as the Blu-ray discs are authored to UK 50i specs." This looks like a contradiction to me. Is it? If it's authored to UK 50i specs, isn't that the same as being Region B/2-locked instead of Region Free? Or is the note a mistake on Amazon's part, and it will play on US spec 60i players after all? Also, the product page for Series Five ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Sarah-J...inkCode=xm2&m= ) says both "Region: Region B/2" and "Blu-ray/Region All pressing." And its page here on Blu-Ray.com ( https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-S...Blu-ray/34595/ ) says "Playback: Region Free". So which is it? Is Amazon right or is Blu-Ray.com right?

12-16-2019, 08:53 PM	#2
PenguinInfinity Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Apr 2017	Some region A players can play 50Hz content. It is separate from region coding. Both Amazon and Blu-ray.com are correct. It is a region-free disc with 50Hz content. It will play on some region A players, but only if they support 50Hz.

12-16-2019, 10:49 PM	#3
Dynamo of Eternia Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 4K collection:335 Blu-ray collection:1857 DVD collection:1573 Trading Score:3	Penguin Infinity is right. It is a separate issue from region coding. It's more of an issue related to NTSC/PAL differences, which can effect some content on a Blu-Ray depending on how it is formatted. For instance, a few years go I imported the complete series of Parker Lewis Can't Lose from Germany. It was one of their SD (standard def) on Blu-Ray releases, which basically lets them put a ton of content on as few discs as possible. Thought it was marked as region free, I found that I had some problems getting it to work in some of my players. At first I also thought it was a region coding issue, posted about it on here, and had someone point out that the episodes are 50hz formatted. I looked up 50hz compatible players, and found that the PS4 is one that is compatible (I don't usually use mine for watching Blu-Rays or DVDs, which is why it wasn't a player that I tested it on in the first place). I tried it and it worked.

12-17-2019, 01:40 AM	#4
Noneofyourbusiness Junior Member Member since:Aug 2015	So is anyone familiar with my player model and whether it would have trouble with 50 hz discs? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...K?ie=UTF8&th=1 It says 60 hertz in the description, but could just mean its 50 hz capability isn't mentioned, not necessarily that it has trouble with it.

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