Ancient Land DVD (PBS): Codecs and Region Code

Here is the codec information I derived from the Ancient Land DVD (PBS version) using VLC:

Type: Subtitle
Codec: DVD Subtitles (spu)


Type: Video
Code: MPEG-1/2 Video (mpgv)
Resolution: 720x480 (480p)
Display resolution: 720x480 (480p)
Frame rate: 29.970030
Decoded format: Planar 4:2:0 YUV


Type: Audio
Codec: A52 Audio (AC3)
Channels: Stereo
Sample rate: 48000 Hz
Bitrate: 192 kb/s


For comparison, these codec specs are the same as the Homecoming DVD.

Seems pretty standard.

Looks good.  Does VLC show you the region code of the DVD by any chance?  I was curious to see that info, but for some reason the DVD is not recognized at all by my laptop (I watched it on an Xbox).

Good question.

In VLC, not natively, at least not in the version I have. There might be an extension and I'm sure there are utilities out there that can read the region code from a DVD.

In this case though, it's written in the back and it says ALL regions.

It's on Eabha's dress. It is a bit challenging to read it, given the letters consist of a narrow black outline and a white fill to match her dress color.

So to answer your question: it looks like a region free DVD.

looks like the DVD we got from PBS is region free on the back of the dvd case is a small icon of the earth and it says all across it this is why some laptops don't like it the use of VLC software will play it without a problem the software is a free player and works good. I looked at homecoming dvd and it's the same region free so the DVD's we buy will work in the UK