Is there a chance that in the future all titles will be region free?

[zor]

I might be moving to a different region in the future and it would suck if 1/3 or 1/2 or more of my titles won't play on players bought in the new region (I don't want to have two players or have to buy backup players).

It almost makes me want to stop buying region coded BDs!

O well.

[quexos]

I'm sorry but Big film companies giving up their control over who watches what and where, is not likely to happen ever. Your best hope is that they come up with region free players later on.

[Mermen79]

More likely than anything, region coding will continue to increase as BD becomes more mainstream. Disney has reinforced it more and more with each release schedule and Fox has been doing it very early on.

[Getus]

The only thing i hate about region coding is that some versions of movies are so different in pq and aq. I want the best pq and aq possible.

Usually in the usa they have the better audio 24 bit over 16 here. 7.1 over 5.1 and so an. i know the reason and that is over here in Europe we have 26 languages. So that mean more space is needed for subtitles or different tracks.

[bajor27]

As long as Fox continues releasing Blu-rays, I'm going to have to say no.

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by Getus

The only thing i hate about region coding is that some versions of movies are so different in pq and aq. I want the best pq and aq possible.

Usually in the usa they have the better audio 24 bit over 16 here. 7.1 over 5.1 and so an. i know the reason and that is over here in Europe we have 26 languages. So that mean more space is needed for subtitles or different tracks.

Variability of PQ and AQ is a significant issue.

Need for multiple subtitle tracks is not a valid excuse to reduce other features because the space needed for the subtitles are miniscule and negligible (especially if asci subtitles are used).

[Anthony P]

I would say no. There are some studios that don't beleive in it and others that do. Chances are neither of them will change.

[Bobby Henderson]

The main reason for region coding is protecting the international theatrical release business.

When most American-made movies are released on Blu-ray and DVD those same movies are likely still playing in theaters in other parts of the world. Without region coding, people in other nations would simply get a copy of the Blu-ray movie (or DVD) and watch it that way.

This is also why I am absolutely opposed to day and date releases of movies in theaters and on video at the same time. It would ruin the movie business very fast.

[jd213]

Originally Posted by bajor27

As long as Fox continues releasing Blu-rays, I'm going to have to say no.

Fox has actually been releasing a few region free discs lately. Firefly is region free, as is Predator 2 (UK import). Was definitely pleased about Predator 2, I just got that in yesterday for less than $30 shipped. I believe there's a couple others, too.

Not Fox, but it pissed me off a bit that catalog releases in the UK/Europe like Night of the Living Dead (what the hell is the point of region locking a public domain film!?) and Leon are region locked. I can wait for a US release, but with catalog sales being so low compared to day and date releases, I don't think there's any excuse to lock movies like these. A few people importing them isn't going to make a major impact on local sales like it would if a major blockbuster was released region free in one country and it was still in theaters elsewhere.