US vs UK HD titles

[Slack666]

Why are the US getting so much more than us?

Take Planet Earth - destined for US in HD and BD 24th APR but no sign of it at all for the UK - only DVD.

Loads of other titles, as per constant discussions.

What is the deal here. I know we are behind the states, but we wont catch up if they don't release stuff that people want to buy.

[domtheone]

It was the same with DVD. Lagged behind for years.

Might be the same here.

Beatuy is, all HD (HD-DVD that is) is Region Free (atm) so if it aint out over here there's no probs getting a copy from over there

[featherhall]

Its not fair mate I agree, but Region free is the key, I have bought HDDVD from US, France, Spain and Asia,
I wont buy from the UK because of the disgusting prices.
Its tragic I now, as I live here, but my Blockbuster sells them for £24.99 do the maths.

[AES256]

My first thought also was "HD DVD is Region free", so for early adopters and those getting into the format now and in the near future the discrepancy between US and UK releases may not be that relevant.

The situation, however, has to change as the buying behaviour of the average consumer will likely not include importing from various countries around the world. Buying from HMV, Virgin etc. and maybe online from the likes of Play.com and Amazon.co.uk is what the avg. consumer does. So UK releases have to be forthcoming and available where people normally shop for them.
This is even more the case with BD releases due to the region coding enforcement on the format (and it being complicated enough, even for people who go to the trouble of researching on these forums which specific discs are multi-region [A, B and C] and which are not).

[Slack666]

Yeah, I guess it is the same as DVD was, the only difference being I spent loads on a multi-region DVD player when they first came out and bought mostly US DVDs and I can't do that with BD.

Back to importing everything (for HD-DVD this time) I go.

Boo

[amadeus]

I hope you guys are right about region coding because, after reading this, I just ordered my first HD DVD from amazon.com. At the checkout a warning message was shown saying: Region 1 disks may not play in UK machines. I ignored this, assuming it was just routine for overseas buyers; (but the product information page does show "Region 1"). Would anyone care to offer some reassurance or have I just got to expect the worst?

[LOXjet]

Originally Posted by amadeus

Would anyone care to offer some reassurance or have I just got to expect the worst?

You'll be fine, HD DVD has absolutely no form of region coding

I've ordered over 25 discs from www.amazon.com and all have worked perfectly

[Adam_uk]

Sadly the US do use those crappy combo discs, which means I am waiting for some discs to make it to the UK

[Jakeh1969]

I never quite understand why some titles take so long to get to the UK. It's not as if we've still got the PAL/NTSC issue any longer or region coding for HD DVD titles.

Having to wait months for a disc with an English printed disc and case insert.....ridiculous!

[Adam_uk]

Originally Posted by Jakeh1969

I never quite understand why some titles take so long to get to the UK. It's not as if we've still got the PAL/NTSC issue any longer or region coding for HD DVD titles.

Having to wait months for a disc with an English printed disc and case insert.....ridiculous!

I think its more to do with adding the additional 5 languages to the European release.

[Slack666]

Back in the early DVD days, I bought John Carpenters Vampires on DVD from the US.

About a year later, I saw it advertised in the cinema over here.

That was just stilly.

I would have thought that now DVD releases had got closer in the US and UK that the same would have followed through for HD formats - but I guess not.