DVD9 – It’s a Video Buffet!
Do you know what a DVD9 is? Have you ever seen a DVD before that was labelled “DVD9″?
If you’ve seen that before, it’s a pirated DVD! DVD9 is a “brand” made in Malaysia. The name came from the fact that a dual layer DVD can hold approximately 9 Gigabytes of data.
DVD9 is available all over Southest Asia, including the Philippines. Although some DVD9 movies come in through Manila, most of them come into the country through the famed “back door” route: from Malaysia, they make the short hop to Tawi Tawi, up the Sulu Peninsula to Zamboanga City, and are then distributed to the rest of the Philippines.
If you know where to shop for pirated movies (DVD9 and some others), you will find almost an unlimited selection of movies, TV shows and other entertainment available for your choosing. You can easily find everything from classic movies from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, up to current TV series that aired even this year! Even current movies that are still in the theaters are available on DVD!
It is not hard to find where to buy these items, I know two different shopping centers in Davao who are selling a full selection of DVD9 releases. I used to be a big consumer of DVD9 pirated DVD’s, but for about a year now I have not purchased one. I just kind of got tired of them, and also decided not to purchase pirated products anymore. Personally, I have no problem with people who do so, I just decided that it was not for me.
How much is the price, you ask? For a current run movie (a Hollywood movie that’s still playing in theaters) you can get it on DVD for P40 to P60 or so. If you buy several, you should be able to bargain the price to the lower end of that scale.
The quality? If you get a DVD9, the quality is generally excellent. If you buy another “brand” of pirated DVD, the quality is usually not as good as it is on the DVD9’s.
Hi Neal In RI – What can I say?
Fireworks obviously erupted while I slept. You know, there’s a movie called “Anger Management” (with Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler). I wonder if it’s available on DVD9? This should serve a dual purpose, for entertainment and for therapy. Forget the meds.
Hi ecstasy – I am not sure why, buy Khaye has some sort of anger management issue. He/she always blows up like this, with little, even no provocation at all. There must be some underlying issue that is causing that.
I’ve noticed that many people are feeling sorry for the artists whose work is being pirated. I have news for you that work no longer belongs to the artists. Unless they own their own record company, distribution company or movie selling outlet they are paid upfront. As far as funding terrorism you might want to check some of the major corporations and check how many of them are funding terrorism by supporting terrorist leaders of countries, you might be suprised. Also many people who would never go into a store and buy pirated media will gladly take a copy from a friend from a legitimate original and that is pirating also.
Hi Dan Mihaliak – Many artists get paid a royalty on DVD’s or other media distribution.
Hi Bob- Video piracy is a subject that is not really close to my heart, but when I read KHAYEs comments about you, I felt quite offended, as you are offering a great service to many people. Sure you’ve gotta make a buck, and good on you. Maybee khayes is having a”‘Lisa Simpson”‘ episode. We all have to live in THE REAL WORLD so lets get on with it.
Lets try and make the world a better place, and people like khaye need to get some perspective, or maybee get layed, (sorry about the adult content)
Hi anthony – Thanks for your support. Don’t worry much about Khaye, I am not worried about her. Yes, we all have to make a living, and I feel that I do so in a way that is beneficial for others. Anybody who doesn’t want me to be able to make money to support my family is free to go elsewhere, I have no qualms about that.
Thanks for your comment, anthony!
For #38 Robert
Commercially manufactured DVD of new or late movies are coded by region, either Region 1, Region 2 and Region 3 and are marked somewhere on the outside of the package. A DVD that is not region coded will usually state that or something like Plays in ALL Regions.
DVD Players or DVD Recorder / Players are also coded to play DVD of the region that those players are sold in such as all North American DVD Players are set up to play ” Region 1 ” DVD and may not play those from other region codings.
Most all DVD Players can be coded for any or all region playback if you know the code to enter to do this. Manufacturers can Not sell ” All Region ” playback equipment although the selling Dealer can enter the appropriate code to make most all DVD Players suitable for playing DVD from all region codes ( 1, 2, and 3 ).
I have some older DVD Players here that play Region 1 and Region 2 DVD right out of the box ( no modification ). I believe if you play a DVD on a PC equipped to do so it might play all regions or have a setting in the ” properties ” for other region or format playback. I read recently on a PC DVD Drive I bought that the Format ( NTSC, PAL etc. ) can be changed up to 5 times only in the ” Properties ” menu.
From my first hand experience, ” All Region ” DVD players are most commonly available in the UK. I have even purchased some of them as gifts for friends and relatives there and they have worked successfully when I have sent them Region 1 DVD from here. It is less costly for people in the UK to mail order or order on line, DVD from the USA than it sometimes is for them to buy them there in the UK, The exchange rate at the moment makes everything in the USA ” Half Price ” to those in the UK. It is not illegal for someone to buy or sell an ” All Region ” DVD player in the UK, it is just that the Manufacturer can not directly sell them that way.
You can check out some ” All Region ” DVD players at this UK website which is a national chain of retail stores there and might I add a very pleasureable place to buy things from as I have dealt with them for over a decade.
http://www.richersounds.co.uk
Hi Bob New York – Thanks for that very complete response to Robert’s inquiry!
Hohoho ~ I have read most the posts here… amused with the Casablanca reference. People don’t realize how entrenched corruption is, even in the US. People here do not often realize how much more difficult it is there. People are exposed extensively to advertising selling everything hooking emotions and desires. When all you get is the advertising and not much help in realizing the purchase, people see the need and fulfill it. Yeah, the famed back door and terrorism. Yes and know. It’s black market and not all black market profit goes to terrorists. As you maybe aware, the very government itself has set up certain anti-insurgency groups that have been known to fight terrorism and profit on the black market. I am not criticizing just pointing to the complexity of it.
You may know that many people who really hate terroism also subscribe to Milton Friedman’s economic pilosophy. He is the one that said “I am favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it’s possible. ” What many don’t read or ignore is that he also made these statements:
“I’m in favor of legalizing drugs. According to my values system, if people want to kill themselves, they have every right to do so. Most of the harm that comes from drugs is because they are illegal. ”
“The black market was a way of getting around government controls. It was a way of enabling the free market to work. It was a way of opening up, enabling people. ”
….
I am just tossing it out there because the problem is large. I don’t advocate piracy or illegal drugs and I understand the argument for meds. I think people should sit around looking for any quick illegal path to wealth. Although, I have experienced people with such mindsets in the there. There are many rumors on the streets. People look for quick answers. In regards to DVD’s people talk like the pirated versions take from the market. It is true, not many there would buy or watch great artworks without the pirated versions. An argument could be made that the market is expanded for legitimate DVD’s rentals and so forth. Also as said above, there is a contribution to the quality of mind and life that would be unavailable to many. The proverbial back door is not just terrorists. Of course people get hurt in these activities too. Where ever you find people operating outside the law, it includes all rule of law. And there are a lot of other pleasures out there being catered besides the pleasure of watching a good movie. There are some far more serious issues. Sulu Tiwa-twai and the back door are also large sources of things like kelp/seaweed…. I’ll bring that to your attention. There many seaweed farmers around Davao but they lack organization and I think get ripped in the market and have been somewhat ignored by larger concerns….. whatever – interesting post and responses. It was good to hear them all. Including the 9-11 post. you know, 9-11is partly the reason why i wanted to develop in the Philippines. Not to fight it all but to be part in a place that has been hit hard because it is seen through a colored glass that is not accurate at all. ….just thinking out loud
Hi Michael F – Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Michael.