|
|
| Regional Coding Enhancement |
Q: What is
Regional Coding enhancement(RCE)?
A: It's a digital enhancement added to some Warner Bros and Columbia DVDs to stop region 1 (R1) DVDs from playing on Region-free DVD players.
Q: What's the difference between Region Coding and RCE?
A: Regional Coding enhancement(RCE) is an additional layer of protection which some studios have placed on select REGION 1 DVDs to prevent them from playing on region-free or multi-region players. Region Coding is a part of the DVD spec which divides the world into 8 regions:
Region 1: U.S., Canada, U.S. Territories
Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East (including Egypt)
Region 3: Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong)
Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
Region 5: Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union), Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
Region 6: China
Region 7: Reserved
Region 8: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)
Basically, DVDs released in each region will typically only play on players sold in that region. IE a DVD released in the UK *Region 2* would not play on a player sold in the us *Region 1*. You can tell what Region a DVD is coded for by looking at the back of the box for a Globe with a number on it. The number correlates to the region list above. If a DVD is listed as 'Region 0' it means that it isn't coded for any region and should play on ALL regions players.
Q: How Can I Tell if I have a DVD that is RCE?
A: If you try to play a RCE DVD in a region-free or multi-region player that doesn't play RCE discs you'll see this map:
Q: What titles have RCE?
A: Currently the following titles have RCE
• 6th Day (First Single Disc Release Only)
• All The Pretty Horses
• America's Sweethearts
• Anger Management
• The Animal
• Auto Focus
• The Brothers
• Bad Boys 2
• Charlie's Angels
• Cowboy Bebop The Movie
• Daddy Day Care
• Darkness Falls
• Dogtown and ZBoys
• Enough
• Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Disc 1 Only)
• Finding Forester
• Ghosts of Mars
• Glass House
• Glitter
• Hollow Man
• Hollywood Homicide
• Identity
• In The Cut (R rated and Unrated Versions)
• Joe Dirt
• A Knight's Tale
• The Master of Disguise
• Maid in Manhattan
• Men In Black II
• Mr. Deeds
• National Security
• The New Guy
• Once Upon A Time in Mexico.
• Panic Room Superbit
• Punch Drunk Love
• Spiderman
• The Patriot
• Saving Silverman
• Snatch
• South Park : Chefs Experience
• South Park : Xmas in South Park
• Stealing Harvard
• Stuart Little 2
• S.W.A.T.
• The Sweetest Thing (Rated & Unrated Versions)
• Tears of The Sun
• Thomas Tank & Magic Railroad
• Tomcats
• Trapped
• Underworld
• Urban Legend Final Cut
• xXx
Titles in BOLD have been confirmed by several sources.
*Starred titles are reported to be RCE but not confirmed.
Help us maintain our list and report RCE titles (not already on this list) to rce@dvdtalk.com. Please note: we can not provide customer support for Region Free Players, answer questions about Chipped players or provide you with any work-arounds not listed on this page you're #1 best bet is to post your questions to The DVD Talk International Forum. Please use the rce@dvdtalk.com ONLY to report RCE titles or players which should be added to our list of RCE 'Safe Players'
Q: What's The Latest with RCE? (October 2002)
A: Unfortunately RCE is back with a vengeance. Columbia Tri-Star has been putting it on many of their major DVD releases. We had feared that Spiderman would be RCE and this month we confirmed that it IS RCE! We expect Men in Black II and xXx to have RCE, and we'll test the discs as soon as we get them and let you know. At this time the only studio adding titles to the RCE list seems to be Columbia Tri-Star.
Q: Can You Recommend A Region- Free Player?
A: When it comes to Region-Free Player it's not just What You Buy but Where You Buy which is critical. It's important to apply the same standards which you'd use to buy any other thing online. So don't just go with any merchant because they have a region free player. If you're looking for a good region free player that can play both PAL and NTSC Discs we recommend: Momitsu DVD-V880N which also up converts discs to HD! If you just need NTSC then Pioneer Elite Region Free Player + (DVD-A and SACD)
at HKFlix.com.
Q: Are there tools which will let let me play RCE or other Region DVDs on My PC?
A: There is a product called DVDRegionFree from DVDIdle which will turn any DVD-Rom into a Region Free/RCE Free Player. Download Free Trial Here.
Q: I have 'XYZ' Brand DVD Player which is not on your list of Players that can play RCE discs, will RCE DVDs work on my player?
A: Unfortunately we don't have the ability to test every player on the market, and so we rely on DVD Talkers to report to us when they find a player that works. So if you're player ISN'T on the list, the best advice we can provide is for you to test it out South Park : Chefs Experience is under $12 US and a funny DVD, probably a good one to test with. If you do get the RCE world map and the workaround isn't listed below try this:
Put in the disc.
You'll see the RCE warning sign, a world map
Press MEMORY on the remote control.
Press 01 in the Title Box.
Press 00 in the Chapter Box.
Press ENTER or PLAY Note: MENU may not work.
Experimenting with title 2 and chapter 1 to get you the special
features.
Q: Do MGM Titles have RCE?
A: We got the scoop from MGM about RCE. At this time MGM is not adding RCE to their titles and do not plan on adding RCE to future titles. However, one of their Japanese Manufacturer decided on their own accord to develop an RCE 'like' encoding process and add it to some MGM DVDs. When MGM found out about this they told the manufacturer to stop it immediately, which they did. So the first pressing of some MGM titles pressed from their Japanese manufacturer does have an RCE like encoding. But re-pressings of those titles and all future titles should NOT have RCE.
Q: What MGM titles have been reported to have the RCE like encoding on their first runs?
A: Currently the following titles from MGM have RCE like encoding on their first run:
• Another Woman
• Antitrust
• Magnificent Seven
• Magnificent Seven Ride Again
• The Princess Bride
• Salvador
Q: How can you tell which run an MGM title is from?
A: Unfortunately, at this point, we don't know of any way to tell which run the above titles come from.
Q: I've seen some titles listed on other RCE lists but they play fine for me?
A: If it's an MGM title on the list. The DVD may be from a batch that doesn't have the RCE like encoding. For Warner Bros titles: Initially Warner Bros had announced that they were going to be RCEing their titles but aside from South Park none of their titles are infact RCE. Here's an official update from Warner Bros:
Please note the following titles DO NOT HAVE RCE:
Best In Show
The Perfect Storm
The Pledge
Proof of Life
Superman, The Movie
Currently Warner Home Video does not implement the RCE. The only title I can confirm is South Park, which only distribute.
Thank you,
VP - Publicity, WHV
Q: Does RCE effect Multi-Region Players?
A: Unfortunately some Multi-Region Players can be effected by RCE discs, but we've had many reports of Multi-Region Players working fine with RCE Discs.
Q: Are there workarounds for RCE Region-Free or
Code-Free DVD players?
A: RCE does affect these players but there are work arounds:
1. If your player has manual Regional Switch capability, then use the manual
switch and set it to Region 1.
2. If this doesn't work, play a non-RCE Region 1 title for a few seconds, and
then put in the RCE title.
Known Work Arounds:
Other Region Free Players
If your player isn't listed, try this workaround as we've been told that it will work on some players |
- Put in the disc.
- You'll see the RCE warning sign, a world map
- Press MEMORY on the remote control.
- Press 01 in the Title Box.
- Press 00 in the Chapter Box.
- Press ENTER or PLAY Note: MENU may not work.
- Experimenting with title 2 and chapter 1 to get you the special
features.
|
| Alba 103 DVD |
- Play the disc.
- Press STOP before you see the RCE warning sign, the world map
- PLAY MODE button [on remote] until PROGRAM P00:00 is displayed.
- Enter 1 second
- Press PLAY
|
| Hitachi 505 |
If it's upgraded with the Auto-Manual switch,
then it's RCE compatible. If it's an auto player you can:
- Use the remote, press SETUP, LAST, SKIP �, SKIP �
- You will get a LOOPHOLES menu.
- Select REGION ID, REGION 1
- To play R2 title, repeat the above, but select BYPASS or REGION 2.
|
| Hitachi DVP-250 |
- Turn on device
- Open tray and put in DVD (don't close it!)
- Press "Direct Search"
- Press the blue right-button two times
- Press "Enter"
|
| Philips DVD820 and DVD840 players |
- Play the disc.
- Press STOP repeatedly before you see the RCE warning sign, the world map
- Press T-C twice until Time -:--:-- is displayed.
- Press PLAY
|
| Philips DVD860 players |
- Play the disc.
- Press STOP repeatedly before you see the RCE warning sign, the world map
- Press MEMORY.
- Highlight T and press the number buttons for the title
-
Highlight C and press the number buttons for the chapter.
- Press PLAY
|
| Toshiba 100, 200, 1200, 2109 |
- Put in the disc.
- You'll see the RCE warning sign, a world map
- Press MEMORY on the remote control.
- Press 01 in the Title Box.
- Press 00 in the Chapter Box.
- Press ENTER Note: The DVD will play, but MENU will not work.
- Experimenting with title 2 and chapter 1 will get you the special
features.
|
| Toshiba 3107, 3109, 9000 |
- Play the disc.
- Press STOP before you see the RCE warning sign, the world map
- Press the T button twice to bring up time input.
- Enter 1 second
- Press PLAY
|
| Toshiba SD1900 |
- Put The Disc in The Player
- Press STOP then PLAY before you see the RCE warning sign, the world map
- Hit Menu to Get To The Top Menu
|
| Toshiba 9000E |
- Put disc in tray but do not close it
- Press Memory
- Key in Title 2 Chapter 1 (note: needs to be an invalid Title for the disc concerned)
- Press play - it will fail and leave the player "stopped"
- Press "T" twice to bring up timer, enter 1 second and press play
|
| Toshiba SD-110EE |
- Insert the disc and press "stop" before the map appears
- Press "memory" and enter "01" for title and "001" for chapter.
- Press play and allow it to stop
- Press "T" and enter "1" second.
- Press Play
|
| Bose Lifestyle 35/28 |
To initialise media centre (also makes it region "0"). You only need do (using the remote control)
this once.
- Seek Forward Button (right arrow)
- Tune Up Button (up arrow)
- Shuffle Button
- Stop Button
- Mute Button
- Then use this sequence to enter specific regions disks to overcome RCE:
- Open the disk tray first to ensure it works
- Stop Button
- Shuffle Button
.
- Region number of the DVD discs sold in that region (i.e. for region 4,
press the number 4 button)
.
- Enter
|
| Bose 321 DVD system codes
|
To initialise media centre (also makes it region "0"). You only need do
this once.
- .Number 9 Button
- Number 4 Button
- Shuffle Button
- Stop Button
- Mute Button
- Then use this sequence to enter specific regions disks to overcome RCE:
- Open the disk tray first to ensure it works
- Stop Button
- Shuffle Button
.
- Region number of the DVD discs sold in that region (i.e. for region 4,
press the number 4 button)
.
- Enter
|
Q: Which players pass the RCE Test and can play RCE DVDs?
A: Here's a list:
Accoustic Solutions DVD 551
Afreey LD2060
Arcam DV-88
Bush 2004
Denon 2000
Denon 2500
Denon 3000
Denon 3700
Denon 5000
Digitron DVS360
Encore DV450
Grunding GDV210A
Hitachi DV-K2
JVC XV-S500/502
JVC 501
JVC 505
JVC 511
JVC 515
JVC 521
JVC 522
JVC 523
JVC 555
JVC 557
JVC 701
JVC 721
JVC 723
JVC K503
JVC TH-A10R
Kenwood 9010
LG 3200
LG 3350
Malata DVP-520
Marantz 890
Nakamichi 10
Neotek DV3000
Neotek DV3500
Panasonic 130
Panasonic 150
Panasonic 160
Panasonic 350
Panasonic 360
Panasonic 560
Panasonic A7
Panasonic L-50
Panasonic LV55
Panasonic LV75
Panasonic PV55
Panasonic RV20
Panasonic RV40
Panasonic RV60
Panasonic SC-HT80
Panasonic SC-PM08
Philips 705
Philips 710
Philips 711
Philips 730
Philips 735
Philips 750
Philips 910
Philips 930
Philips 935
Philips 950
Philips 955
Philips Q50
Pioneer NS-DV77
Pioneer 302
Pioneer 414
Pioneer 505
Pioneer 515
Pioneer 525
Pioneer 530
Pioneer 535
Pioneer 606
Pioneer 626D
Pioneer 636D
Pioneer 7003
Pioneer 717
Pioneer 727
|
Pioneer 737
Pioneer DV-05 Elite
Pioneer DV-F07Elite
Pioneer DVL-888
Pioneer DVL-909
Pioneer DVL-91
Pioneer DVL-919E
Pioneer DVS-5
Pioneer LC10
Pioneer NS-DV1
Pioneer NS-DV55
Pioneer PDV10
Revoy 2200 R
Samsung 511
Samsung 611
Samsung 707
Samsung 709
Samsung 711
Samsung 807
Samsung 808K
Samsung 907
Samsung 909
Sharp 560H
Sharp 600
Sharp 660
Sharp 700
Sharp 760
Sharp L70
Sony 3000
Sony 315
Sony 325
Sony 335
Sony 336
Sony 525D
Sony 530D
Sony 535
Sony 536
Sony 550D
Sony 7000
Sony 705
Sony 715
Sony 725D
Sony 735
Sony 7700
Sony 9000
Sony AV6
Sony CX850D
Sony F11
Sony FX1
Sony K303
SVA D-2008 Multi-Region
Teac 1000
Teac 1050
Thomson 3300
Thomson 3600
Toshiba 1009*
Toshiba 100E*
Toshiba 200E*
Toshiba 2109*
Toshiba 3107*
Toshiba 3109*
Toshiba SD9000*
Wharfedale M5
Yamaha 700
Yamaha 795
* with intervention they play
|
Q: Have any of the studios officially released information on RCE?
A: No, but Warner Brothers and Columbia have both issued internal notes on an enhanced Region
Coding Program to DVD Suppliers in R1:
WHV will start a program to enhance the capabilities of the regional code specification for DVD beginning in October. This program is a response to the unauthorized practice of altering DVD video hardware players so that they bypass the region code requirements for DVD. This is happening on a more frequent basis in many territories, and retailers are openly marketing these non-complying players with names such as "region free" and "multi zone".
The Technology – The enhancement is an additional imbedded code (RCE – Regional Code Enhancement) on the DVD disc that makes the current regional coding more robust.
How It Works – In simple language, the RCE allows the disc to detect if a hardware player is region specific (as required by the CSS licensing agreement), or if it has been manufactured or altered in the market to be "region free". If the player is "region free" the RCE will not allow the disc to play the program material. It will instead display a message on the television advising the consumer that the machine is not authorized to play this disc.
The actual wording will be as follows:
THIS DVD PLAYER MAY HAVE BEEN ALTERED AND IS UNABLE TO PLAY THIS DISC
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS DISC
DVD PLAYERS AND DISCS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK IN CERTAIN REGIONS
THIS DISC IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THIS PLAYER
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL RETAILER OR PLAYER MANUFACTURER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE
WHV will start applying the RCE to discs scheduled for release in the U.S. market beginning in late October. At this time, the RCE will only be applied to Region 1 versions of titles. At least one other studio (Columbia TriStar) will also be releasing discs with the RCE during the 4th quarter.
The program has two objectives. (1) Discourage the export of region 1 discs to other regions and (2) discourage the sale of DVD video hardware that has been modified to “region free”.
WHV Sales personnel should immediately begin to communicate this program to key retailers in their respective territories.
It is especially important to focus on retailers selling product online, and any account, which may be exporting products outside Region 1.
With the online retailers, we must discuss the need to properly notify consumers outside the region 1 territories that the disc may not play in their player before the disc is purchased. The customer dissatisfaction and returns risk is significant if this is not done.
At this time there is no plan to send out a press release on this program. This document should be used to review the program with all U.S. accounts.
From Columbia:
October 3, 2000
Dear Customer:
Columbia TriStar Home Video will be implementing a program to enhance the capabilities of the regional code specifications for DVD product beginning in October 2000. The Regional Code Enhancement affirms Columbia’s commitment to support regional coding, which was designed to respect and adhere to each country’s respective laws and policies governing ratings, censorship, release windows and rights for home video product. The enhancement will allow the Region 1 DVD disc to check the region code of the player ensuring that the player is a non-modified region 1 specific player. If the player has been modified to be region free, the Region 1 disc will display the following message:
"This disc is intended for play on non-modified Region 1 players only. There is nothing wrong with the disc. To assure playback you should purchase or rent a disc designed specifically for your region."
Please be assured that the Regional Code Enhancement technology will not affect the consistent high quality standard, set by Columbia TriStar Home Video, for audio and video on its DVD titles. We thank you for your support and understanding in our efforts to reaffirm our commitment to regional coding as both a theatrical and video organization.
Q: Have any Studios come out against RCE or Region Coding?
A: No but Fox posted the below to their Simpsons UK site which we thought was very funny (and interesting) (note, Fox has since removed this image from their site)
 THE SIMPSONS TM & Copyright Twentieth Century Fox Films ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "The Simpsons", The Simpsons characters and their logos and wordmarks are trademarks of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
|
|
