Posted by Skipai Otter on 01/27/06 13:02

"Mik F" <mik.foggin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1138357931.177107.301080@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Folks,
>
> As a long time lurker (few lunchtimes are complete without a quick
> visit to u.m.d and u.m.h-c,) I've noticed that there's a huge drop-off
> in requests for region comparisons.
>
> I was curious as to whether this was down to people googling for the
> results or whether it was more to do with the studios 'wising up' and
> releasing virtually identical discs worldwide in order to 'protect
> their territorial markets' hem hem.

I think there is some still changes with what is available in different
regions. For example. R2 version of Watership Down is still pretty poor
but at least it's got up to spec on the R1 release. Still doesn't beat the
PAL R4 version though from Big Sky Video however. Mind you, they did a much
better job of Plague Dogs as well but then having the uncut 99 minute
version beats whatever attempt has been made in another region. But
hopefully different companies that hold rights in an area will learn.

Maybe it's all merging to one thing where there are discs coming out that is
the same but you do get different things, even a bit small from region to
region. R2 seems to be more dedicated now for old television shows etc,
even more so than over in the US which has their own marketing quirks.

I have noticed though that they have been releasing DVD's much closer to
when they were out in the cinema from anything from 3 weeks to just two
months after they have finished and yes it has been worldwide. Though I
feel that they have a lot to learn still, need more world wide cinema
releases etc. But they have had to change what with dvd taking off and also
online shopping where it doesn't really have any territories so you can buy
whatever region you like.

Whether being able to do that with the next generation of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD
I don't know but if it does stop buying from another region then I don't
think either format will take off that well or should I say not as fast as
DVD was taken up by the consumer.

Have to wait and see though, but I for one like a choice no matter what
region I get a disc from.

--
Skipai

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