DVDs or Video tapes for U.S. fans - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CCKitty · 06-13-2004, 02:58 AM

Many of the 3rd Rock seasons are available to purchase for viewing in the UK and regions other than the United States.

I bought the final season boxed set, which is formatted 'Region 0'. It turns out that it will play in the my DVD player, but the signal is not compatible with the television. I have to view it on my computer, (which is better than nothing, I guess).

Has anyone heard any news of when American viewers will be able to buy them for viewing on American televisions?

Moonlit_Suburb · 06-14-2004, 12:06 AM

Carsey-Werner, the production company that owns the rights to 3rd Rock from the Sun, is currently shopping around for a DVD distributor to release their shows on seasons sets in the USA. Once they find one, they're expected to start releasing their hit sitcoms on DVD, including 3rd Rock, Roseanne, That '70s Show, The Cosby Show, etc.

That is strange that the DVDs were Region 0, but not compatible with your TV? Also, someone else here said that the 3rd Rock DVDs were region 0, but all the sites I saw that sell the sets say Region 2??? I'm confused. I'd actually like to buy these sets, but I dunno if they'd play on my TV and/or DVD player. I'm probably going to wait for the USA releases. Its bound to be released eventually.

CCKitty · 06-14-2004, 12:09 PM

Thank you for the info.

I was sadly surprised too, about the incompatibility.
When I saw that it was formatted 'region 0' I did some research on the internet, to be sure that it would play in American DVD players. Apparently the DVD player is reading the signal - however, the signal is in a format called PAL, which is not compatible with televisions in the U.S.

rc.uk · 06-17-2005, 05:43 AM

I'm in the UK, and have bought all six seasons on DVD. They are all Region 0 (which means they will play in any region), but they are formatted in PAL, which is the TV format used in the UK. NTSC is used in the USA, and unless you have a TV which can convert between the two formats, the DVDs won't play.

My TV, thankfully, has this capability (NTSC -> PAL) and I also have a multi-regional DVD player. That means I'm able to buy some of my favourite US sitcoms from the US, as they haven't been released over here.

06-13-2004, 02:58 AM	#1
CCKitty Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 13, 2004 Location: USA Posts: 8	DVDs or Video tapes for U.S. fans Many of the 3rd Rock seasons are available to purchase for viewing in the UK and regions other than the United States. I bought the final season boxed set, which is formatted 'Region 0'. It turns out that it will play in the my DVD player, but the signal is not compatible with the television. I have to view it on my computer, (which is better than nothing, I guess). Has anyone heard any news of when American viewers will be able to buy them for viewing on American televisions?

06-14-2004, 12:06 AM	#2
Moonlit_Suburb Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 20, 2004 Location: Location Location Posts: 644	Carsey-Werner, the production company that owns the rights to 3rd Rock from the Sun, is currently shopping around for a DVD distributor to release their shows on seasons sets in the USA. Once they find one, they're expected to start releasing their hit sitcoms on DVD, including 3rd Rock, Roseanne, That '70s Show, The Cosby Show, etc. That is strange that the DVDs were Region 0, but not compatible with your TV? Also, someone else here said that the 3rd Rock DVDs were region 0, but all the sites I saw that sell the sets say Region 2??? I'm confused. I'd actually like to buy these sets, but I dunno if they'd play on my TV and/or DVD player. I'm probably going to wait for the USA releases. Its bound to be released eventually.

06-14-2004, 12:09 PM	#3
CCKitty Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 13, 2004 Location: USA Posts: 8	Thank you for the info. I was sadly surprised too, about the incompatibility. When I saw that it was formatted 'region 0' I did some research on the internet, to be sure that it would play in American DVD players. Apparently the DVD player is reading the signal - however, the signal is in a format called PAL, which is not compatible with televisions in the U.S.

06-17-2005, 05:43 AM	#4
rc.uk Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2004 Location: UK Posts: 90	I'm in the UK, and have bought all six seasons on DVD. They are all Region 0 (which means they will play in any region), but they are formatted in PAL, which is the TV format used in the UK. NTSC is used in the USA, and unless you have a TV which can convert between the two formats, the DVDs won't play. My TV, thankfully, has this capability (NTSC -> PAL) and I also have a multi-regional DVD player. That means I'm able to buy some of my favourite US sitcoms from the US, as they haven't been released over here.