Doctor Who: Series 3 Steelbook (UK)

[minister_x]

S1 and S2 I guarantee are region free. I've played them on a player set to region A and on a player set to region C. Almost certain this one is the same, but I'll confirm and update the region info (unless someone beats me to it)

Not sure about S9/10. They are possibly region free but are definitely 1080i50 / 25fps content.

[Gneissoid]

Originally Posted by StarkRomanoff

I have S1-2 and S9-10 SBs (unopened), all of which stated Region B online when I ordered them. The packaging doesn't say anything about region and I have yet to see someone confirm playing them on a Region A player. I'm skeptical for now that they are region free so if someone can confirm they played them on a region A locked player, that would be very much appreciated.

I'll add my voice to the crowd - solid confirmation that my boring off-the-shelf region A Blu-ray player can play S1 and S2 SB disks just fine. I think I only watched one special feature (S2 gag reel), but it played fine, too.

Sorry, can't help with S9/10.

[openviews]

I wonder if they’ll include the specials as part of a Season 4 steelbook or separately like the original blu-rays.

Would mean 9 discs so probably unlikely.

[The_DoctorInTARDIS]

So I was all ready to buy the SB on amzonUK and, they now have 2 versions. The new one claims it's the region free version and is almost double the price which I guess is not terrible, but the pics they have show the end of time master from before the artwork was fixed. So my incredibly stupid question is this; are they actually BOTH region free? I only ask because of some of the comments left by you mates. Any solid Intel on this would be fantastic.

[minister_x]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

All the discs should be the same and identical to the old S3 BD release which are Region Free at least for the episodes -- extras are probably still SD PAL

EDIT: Ignore me, I thought these discs were the same as in the US, but I was clearly wrong!

[The_DoctorInTARDIS]

Originally Posted by minister_x

EDIT: Ignore me, I thought these discs were the same as in the US, but I was clearly wrong!

Okay so you're saying your copies are actually in fact region B?

[minister_x]

No, no, that's not what I meant. In fact I've just put all three discs in a player that's set to region A and all three play. But hariseldon is correct: the extras are SD in 1080i50 25fps containers. The episodes themselves are 1080p24.

I was under the (wrong) impression that as the episodes were 1080p at 24fps over here, instead of at 25fps in 1080i50 containers, that the extras would be 1080i60 and the discs would be identical to the US. They are not identical, because the extras are in 1080i50. But the UK discs are region free (just tried in a player set to region C).

[StarkRomanoff]

Originally Posted by minister_x

No, no, that's not what I meant. In fact I've just put all three discs in a player that's set to region A and all three play. But hariseldon is correct: the extras are SD in 1080i50 25fps containers. The episodes themselves are 1080p24.

I was under the (wrong) impression that as the episodes were 1080p at 24fps over here, instead of at 25fps in 1080i50 containers, that the extras would be 1080i60 and the discs would be identical to the US. They are not identical, because the extras are in 1080i50. But the UK discs are region free (just tried in a player set to region C).

So essentially, like all the other UK released DW region free blu-rays, the episodes will play but the extras won't play in a region A player?

From what I've seen the extras are rarely, if at all, upscaled from DVD->1080 for blu-ray releases. Also, it is my understanding that the extras on the original DVD release are the same as this new blu-ray release. SO, being able to play the extras on these new blu-rays doesn't matter if you already have the original DVDs of S1-4 (like I do.)

[The_DoctorInTARDIS]

Originally Posted by minister_x

No, no, that's not what I meant. In fact I've just put all three discs in a player that's set to region A and all three play. But hariseldon is correct: the extras are SD in 1080i50 25fps containers. The episodes themselves are 1080p24.

I was under the (wrong) impression that as the episodes were 1080p at 24fps over here, instead of at 25fps in 1080i50 containers, that the extras would be 1080i60 and the discs would be identical to the US. They are not identical, because the extras are in 1080i50. But the UK discs are region free (just tried in a player set to region C).

Okay, so at the risk of sounding repetitive, I should be able to play either of these on my US blu ray player yes?

[minister_x]

Originally Posted by StarkRomanoff

So essentially, like all the other UK released DW region free blu-rays, the episodes will play but the extras won't play in a region A player?

From what I've seen the extras are rarely, if at all, upscaled from DVD->1080 for blu-ray releases. Also, it is my understanding that the extras on the original DVD release are the same as this new blu-ray release. SO, being able to play the extras on these new blu-rays doesn't matter if you already have the original DVDs of S1-4 (like I do.)

I could believe that's correct, although I don't know enough about it. Presumably some region A players can play 1080i50 content, but not all? And not all US TVs can handle 1080i50 / most can't handle it?

Originally Posted by The_DoctorInTARDIS

Okay, so at the risk of sounding repetitive, I should be able to play either of these on my US blu ray player yes?

Yes to the discs and the episodes. Possibly no to the extras.

[StarkRomanoff]

Originally Posted by The_DoctorInTARDIS

Okay, so at the risk of sounding repetitive, I should be able to play either of these on my US blu ray player yes?

The £24.99 is the correct item and the one I ordered. When in doubt, order the one with reviews.

[The_DoctorInTARDIS]

Originally Posted by minister_x

I could believe that's correct, although I don't know enough about it. Presumably some region A players can play 1080i50 content, but not all? And not all US TVs can handle 1080i50 / most can't handle it?



Yes to the discs and the episodes. Possibly no to the extras.

Fantastic then I'll be getting the cheaper one. And yeah my series one and two extras don't play so I basically anticipated that. Thank you for the help mate

[The_DoctorInTARDIS]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Episodes 100%

Extras -- Depends on if your player and monitors handles 50HZ and PAL material either directly of converts to 1080i/60. Some US players will play them fine (most samsung, LG, OPPO, Seiki), some won't (most standalone Sony and PS3 though PS4 I'm pretty sure can play them).

The episodes are encode US std 1080p/24

The extras read as MPEG-2 Video / 576i / 25 fps / 16:9.

Good to know, I'll be watching it with a Sony BDP-S 6500 on a Samsung PN F8500

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by StarkRomanoff

I have S1-2 and S9-10 SBs (unopened), all of which stated Region B online when I ordered them. The packaging doesn't say anything about region and I have yet to see someone confirm playing them on a Region A player. I'm skeptical for now that they are region free so if someone can confirm they played them on a region A locked player, that would be very much appreciated.

I'm late back to this thread, but

UK S1-3 Steelbooks are region free. Episodes 1080p/24 so all will play fins on US players. Extras are 1080i/50 or 576i/PAL extras so whether the play depends on you player and TV.

S10 is Region Free. Episodes and extras 1080i/50 so again playback depends on your equipment

S9 is Region B locked (the only DW series set I've found that was locked) and episodes and extras 1080i/50.



My main reason to bump was to ask if anyone had any knowledge, reasonable rumors, unsubstantiated speculation of a Season 4 or the interim Specials. S3 released may 2018 so it seems like by now we'd have heard something if a S4 Steelbook was coming soon (or maybe at all)