I have recently purchased some UK Blu-rays and have noticed that not only are the films region-free, which I knew about before I bought them, but all of the special features are playable on my Sony BDP-S300 (A). Is this an across the board policy with Sony UK?

So far I have noticed this on

Freedomland, Dragon Wars, Mona Lisa Smile, and Maximum Risk.

With the 3 for 2 deal at Amazon UK right now, it is cheaper to import them.

Yes and no.

Some features in SD will be in PAL...so they won't play if your TV does not accept a PAL signal. HD features always play (just like HD movies will as long as they are Region Free or Region A). Most features play fine. I can tell you Mona Lisa's Smile features work fine. Google it...I think some sites will not only say if titles are Region free, but if the features are as well. Blu-ray.com has reviews on some imports so they will tell you as well.

Thanks, I will look into that. It seems, though, that some of the features were in SD and still played. In fact, I don't think Mona Lisa Smile's features were in HD.

most are region free, but there are a few exceptions like Rambo (2008) which aren't. and don't believe the sleeve either - Rambo states region free, and either Black Hawk Down or Tears of the Sun say they are locked and aren't.

I asked in one forum about whether the SD features in the "Casino Royale" Deluxe Edition were in PAL. One of the answers was that Sony format SD features in NTSC as the default, whatever the region. This was true with the UK CR, but I can't claim to have checked this with any other titles.

Thank you for the info. Looking at the back cover of the films I have mentioned earlier, it says "special features in standard definition". So, I guess we have at least five Sony UK titles that all of the special features play in a region A player.

If anyone knows of any others, please post them here. Amazon UK's 3 for 2 sale has a lot of Sony titles, some for 9 or 10 British pounds.

The vast, vast majority of standard definition extras on Sony's Blu-rays worldwide are in NTSC. Not all studios follow that pattern though.

Special features on BDs from the major studios: Disney, Fox/MGM, Universal, Warner, Paramount, and Sony are 480i/p NTSC.

However, in some countries, other companies may produce the BDs.

Two examples:

Tristan and Isolde is a Fox title but in The Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg), its distributed by Dutch FilmWorks. Dutch FilmWorks produces their own BDs and the extras provided on these are 576i/p PAL format.

The Shawshank Redemption is a Warner title but in the UK, iTV handles the BD distribution. These extras are in 576i/p PAL format.

Check out this website:

Blu-Ray Region Code Info
http://bluray.liesinc.net/index.php?region=b

I have but it mentions next to nothing about special features playability.

I doubt if you can find out more on the special features playability.
If the special features are in SD which means 480I/P and PAL, your machine probably won't be able to play it.
So if you want to buy BD from UK Amazon for the cheaper price,
you just have to expect the trade-off of not being able to watch SD contents.
And I seriously doubt that the studio will spend the time and resources to do a brand-new digital remaster on the special features unless its a blockbuster or new movie.

480i/p is NTSC format.

576i/p is PAL.

I already posted that the major Hollywood studios provide the extras in 480i/p NTSC when they do the BD release themselves.

If the BD is handled by a different companie (ex. Kinowelt, iTV, Dutch FilmWorks, Mangpong) then expect 576 PAL extras.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People & Zulu from Paramount UK have NTSC formatted extras.

The Punisher (2004) and The Rundown (aka Welcome to the Jungle) from Sony UK, Sony HK, and Sony Korea have NTSC formatted extras.

Home of The Brave and The Messengers from Dutch FilmWorks have PAL formatted extras.

I don't think a disc can be part region-free and part region-coded.

The problem is with all 50Hz material: few US-sold Blu-ray players can handle 576i, 576p or 1080i50.

If the features are 480p, they are 60Hz and your player will be able to play them.

As others have said, in general with Sony and most other major studios you are safe. It's domestic studios who have material originated in PAL.

My copy of "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" arrived from Amazon UK yesterday. The movie plays fine (and looks great), but none of extras worked (except the 2 commentaries). I have a Sony BDP350, but I guess I might need to update it again? I haven't tried it on our Samsung 1500 yet.

It probably means the extras are in SD PAL...

Which would mean that it is the first Paramount BD to have extras in PAL format. Which also means that unless you get the R2 UK DVD, you will not be able the enjoy the extras that Simon Pegg wanted US & Canadian audiences to see.