Multi-System Solutions
However, there are solutions to these conflicting technologies already in place in the consumer market. In Europe, for instance, many TVs, VCRs, and DVD players sold are both NTSC and PAL capable. In the U.S., this problem is addressed by retailers that specialize in international electronics products. Some excellent online sites include International Electronics, MsMart.com, and World Import.
In addition, if you happen to live in a major city, such as New York, Los Angeles, or the Miami, Florida area, some major and independent retailers sometimes carry multi-system VCRs. So, if you have relatives or friends overseas you can make and copy camcorder or videos you've recorded off TV and send copies to them and you can play PAL or SECAM videotapes they send you.
However, if you don't have an on going need to own a multi-system VCR but still need to have an occasional video tape converted to another system, there are services in every major city that can do this. Just check in the local phone book under Video Production or Video Editing Services. The cost of converting a single tape is not very expensive.
For more information on Multi-System Video products and conversion Check out Planet Omni.
For a more technical explanantion of the NTSC System, and further comparisions between NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, Click Here
Worldwide Standards For Digital Television
Lastly, you would think that the Worldwide implementation of Digital TV and HDTV would solve the issue of incompatible video systems, but that is not the case. There is a "world" of controversy surrounding the adoption of a universal standard for digital television broadcasting and play back video high definition video systems.
The US and several North American and Asian countries have adopted the ATSC (Advanced Television Standards Committee standard, Europe has adopted the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) standard, and Japan is opting for its own system, ISDB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting) . For additional information on the state of Worldwide Digital TV/HDTV standards, check out reports from EE Times.
In addition, Although there are obvious differences between HD and analog video, the frame rate difference still remains in PAL and NTSC countries.
In countires that have been on the NTSC analog television/video system, so far, the HD broadcasting standards and recorded HD standards (such as Blu-ray and HD-DVD) still adhere to the NTSC frame rate of 30 frames per second, while the HD standards in countries that have been on the PAL broadcast/video standard or the SECAM broadcast standard adhere the PAL frame rate of 25 frames per second.
Fortunately, a growing number of high definition televisions becoming available Worldwide, as well as almost all video projectors, are able to display both 25 frame and 30 frame per second HD format signals.
Leaving out all the technical jargon regarding the various types of Digital/HDTV broadcast standards, this means, in terms of broadcast, cable, and satellite television in the digital age, there will still be incompatibility between the world's nations. However, with the implementation of video processing and conversion chips in more video products, the issue of playing back recorded video will become less of an issue as time moves on.
