What is a "multi-region DVD player" and do I need one?

What is a "multi-region DVD player" and do I need one?

Jeff Colen (President, A Sharper Home, Inc.) gives expert video advice on: Do I still need a VCR?; What types of DVD players are available?; Will Blu-ray and HD DVD players work with my current set-up? and more...

Multi-regional DVD players allow you to play DVDs from other countries. Other countries have different recording standards, in terms of lines of resolution on the TV. The biggest one is NTSC versus something called PAL. Multi-region DVD players allow you to play both types. If you like to watch movies from a different country - Europe or the Far East - you probably need to get a multi-region DVD player in order to enjoy those movies.