American videos......

[Tissy]

Does anyone know if there's any way to play American videos on a UK player? I've seen a set of Videos I'm desperate for on Ebay, but they're being sold in the States, and say the're not PAL format (can't remember what format they actually are!). Is it worth my while to bid?

The US standard is NTSC. Some modern UK TVs and video recorders are NTSC compatable (actually i think most) - you should check. But if you don't have both an NTSC compatable video and and an NTSC compatable telly you won't be able to watch them.

Thanks,lucy, both my TV and Video player are over 10 years old (more like 15 I think). Is there any way of getting them copied onto PAL format?

Dp says there are companies that do it, but I don't know how much it would cost. You definately cvouldn't do a DIY job of it though (different frame rate and screen size).

Whatever are the videos, f you don't mind me asking?

I'm extremely sad...

They are a complete set of the first series of "Soap"

Well, I've no idea what that is, but it sounds important (! ). Perhaps a search on NTSC PAL conversion is in order?

you can get them converted, masses of places do it, they'll charge between 10 - 15quid per tape depending on running time. so may work out pretty expensive for the whole set (maybe more cost effective to buy a new tv/vid!!!)

Oh, I used to love Soap! Excellent program, that really would be a blast from the past

Lucy, it was an American comedy series a spoof on just about every saop plot you could imagine- it was hilarious, I'm amazed it hasn't been repeated (maybe it has, but I don't have satellite). It starred a very young Billy Crystal as Jodie, a gay man, and loads of other "names", there were plots concerning adultery, alien abduction, murder, priests sh*gging, you name it.... It was very silly, but impossible to describe adequately. I think it was on in the late 70s/ early 80s.

I once bought my Dh a video from the states and took it into a shop I know that does conversions and they wouldn't convert it to a video that would work in this country because of the copyright
the most annoying thing was that I had gone in and specifically asked them if they would do it before I sent for it and they said yes but when I took it in they refused.

I have very vague recollections of Soap. A lady with blonde hair always very made up and a guy with glasses who had a dummy who sat on his knee? I was very young when this was on tv so I don't really remember anything else about it. Hope you manage to watch it though, good luck