Pal Video

Things would be so much simpler for movie fans if the world had a single video standard that all countries used. This isn't the case though, and three video standards are in use today throughout the world: PAL, NTSC, and SECAM. The two that are most widely used though are PAL and NTSC.

When VHS was the only home video format available, it was quite difficult for people in North America to watch videos that were in the PAL format. Converting was usually the only option, and this required the use of special video equipment. Since most people didn't own such equipment, the services of professionals were often used, many of which charged expensive by-the-tape fees.

With the advent of the DVD format though, this problem has been eliminated. Now, people living in North America can purchase PAL DVDs and watch them on their TVs without paying anyone to handle the conversion for them. In fact, many DVD players available today can convert the video on the fly, and North American viewers will see virtually no difference between a regular NTSC DVD and one in the PAL format.

These players were only available only at specialty shops for premium prices. Now, you can find them on eBay. Movie buffs living in NTSC countries of the world now have the ability to view movies in the PAL format from any region, opening them up to literally an entire new world of movie-watching possibilities.