What are PAL, NTSC and SECAM?

The world’s television standards are built around three major systems: NTSC, PAL and SECAM. The United States, along with much of South America, traditionally uses the NTSC format, while PAL dominates in Australia and most European countries, aside from France, which historically adopted SECAM. These differences once posed challenges for playing imported tapes or discs, as equipment had to match the original broadcast standard. Today, however, modern DVD players, digital media devices and global streaming platforms commonly support multiple formats, making it far easier for U.S. viewers to access and enjoy international content without worrying about regional compatibility.

• SECAM (Séquentiel Couleur à Mémoire): A television broadcast standard developed in France that uses a unique color-encoding method distinct from PAL and NTSC.
• PAL (Phase Alternating Line): A widely used television broadcast standard that delivers stable color and picture quality through alternating phase color encoding.
• NTSC (National Television System Committee): A television broadcast standard used mainly in the United States and parts of the Americas, known for its 60 Hz frame rate and long-standing compatibility with early color TV systems.

How can I view a VHS tape or DVD in these standards?

If you have a VHS tape or DVD in NTSC, PAL, or SECAM and want to view it today, the best approach depends on the format and your equipment:

For VHS tapes
Use a VCR that matches the tape’s standard (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM). A multi-system VCR is ideal because it can play all three. Since modern TVs often lack analog inputs, the most reliable method is to connect the VCR to a video-capture device and digitize the tape, allowing you to watch it on any modern screen.

For DVDs
Many modern DVD players, especially region-free or multi-standard models, can output both PAL and NTSC, even if the disc was created in another system. If your player or TV has trouble with an incompatible format, you can use a computer with a DVD drive to play or rip the disc, or use a region-free/multi-standard DVD player.

Overall advice
For both VHS and DVDs, digitizing the content (using capture hardware) is the most future-proof solution, ensuring compatibility with today’s digital devices and preventing further tape or disc degradation.

Check with your local public library to see if they provide any devices that will play these formats, and if they offer digitization resources to convert them to digital.