Out of Print DVD/VHS

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The first domestic video cassette recorders were launched in the early 1970s, but it was not until the Japanese systems, Sony's Beta (1975) and JVC's VHS HR-3300 (1976) recorders were launched, that video tape moved into the mass market, resulting in what came to be known as the "format wars". Although Beta was the preferred video format and most often used in the professional industry, it was not the preferred one by consumers as it turned out.

 

Distinct from the one-hour recording time of U-format and Beta format Video tape recorders, the JVC VHS technology had two-hour recording capability and good picture quality. With a weight of 30 pounds, it was smaller and lighter than any other equivalent Video tape recorders. JVC utilized its technology and marketing techniques and educated the public to accept VHS as a new standard of video format far better than Beta did.

 

The recorder's simple structure also made mass manufacturing easy and many manufacturers entered the market for Video Tape Recorders with the VHS format. The number of VHS Video Tape Recorders steadily outstripped sales of Beta format Video Tape Recorders despite its head start. In 1977, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) launched the VHS format in the United States and the American market contributed to the enormous growth of the VHS format.

 

 

With the introduction of the DVD format in 1996 in Australia, VHS video format has however lost the battle for supremacy in the home entertainment industry . The exception to this is unless the film on video tape has never had a DVD release. Some consumers will consequently still buy second-hand copies of the video format. But even then, many  die hard movie collectors are prepared to wait for the release of their favourite movie as more and more vintage films enjoy a re-release.

 

The Video rental library industry has noted however the DVD format is not as durable as the Video tape was. The Video tape’s casing included a hood that covered the magnetic tape which gave some protection for the tape when it came to children and any rough handling by others. DVDs do not have such protection and the disc’s often were scratched and in some cases not playable after one use. DVD distributors have tried to introduce a coating that gives further protection to the disc against such damage. In addition to this measure, most DVD libraries do have buffing (repair) facilities that remove most scratches but not all. When scratches cannot be removed, the video library also has the option to replace the dvd fairly cheaply due to the low retail prices due to the high consumer dvd demand.

 

Other key reasons for the demise of the video tape are ; DVD technology allows for easier scene viewing via the scene selection feature; picture and sound quality is better; more information can be stored on the disc allowing for more special features in addition to the movie and finally the packaging is more compact for both the DVD itself and the player which appeals to the consumer.

 

 

We hope you have found this brief history of the Video tape format informative. Without the video tape format which was largely responsible for the birth of the commercial Home Movie Entertainment Industry, the rapid growth of the DVD consumer market would not have occurred so aggressively.