pressed ▁video ▁and ▁audio ▁of ▁varying ▁formats ▁( o ften ▁multi - channel ▁formats ▁as ▁described ▁below ). ▁Typ ically , ▁the ▁data ▁rate ▁for ▁DVD ▁mov ies ▁ranges ▁from ▁ 3 ▁M bit / s ▁to ▁ 9 . 5 ▁M bit / s , ▁and ▁the ▁bit ▁rate ▁is ▁usually ▁adapt ive . ▁DVD - Video ▁was ▁first ▁available ▁in ▁Japan ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁( with ▁major ▁releases ▁beginning ▁December ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 ), ▁followed ▁by ▁a ▁release ▁on ▁March ▁ 2 4 , ▁▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁- ▁to ▁line ▁up ▁with ▁the ▁ 6 9 th ▁Academy ▁Awards ▁that ▁same ▁day . ▁ ▁The ▁DVD - Video ▁specification ▁was ▁created ▁by ▁DVD ▁Forum ▁and ▁can ▁be ▁obtained ▁from ▁DVD ▁Format / Log o ▁Lic ens ing ▁Corporation ▁for ▁a ▁fee ▁of ▁$ 5 , 0 0 0 . ▁The ▁specification ▁is ▁not ▁public ly ▁available ▁and ▁every ▁subscri ber ▁must ▁sign ▁a ▁non - dis closure ▁agreement . ▁C ertain ▁information ▁in ▁the ▁DVD ▁Book ▁is ▁propriet ary ▁and ▁confident ial . ▁ ▁Video ▁data ▁ ▁To ▁record ▁digital ▁video , ▁DVD - Video ▁uses ▁either ▁H . 2 6 2 / MP EG - 2 ▁Part ▁ 2 ▁compression ▁at ▁up ▁to ▁ 9 . 8 ▁M bit / s ▁( 9 , 8 0 0 ▁k bit / s ) ▁or ▁M PE G - 1 ▁Part ▁ 2