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Hollywood Studios Sign On to Discovision

At least three major studios, including Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox and Paramount, enter into agreements to have their films available for the upcoming Discovision (laserdisc) format. The studios preferred this disc format over videocassette, as their players...

Sony Demonstrates the Betamax and Urges Standardization

Sony presents the Betamax system before the heads of Matsushita and JVC hoping they would adopt the format. The meeting doesn’t go well, as Sony left no room for negotiation. Insulted, the other companies continued with the development of their own videocassette...
Sanyo VTC-7100 (V-Cord I)

Sanyo VTC-7100 (V-Cord I)

Sanyo introduces their own videocassette system, the Sanyo VTC-7100 (later referred to as V-Cord I). It’s an early 1/2″ black and white videocassette system which uses the inferior skipfield process. Designed as a portable machine with a camera.
Time-Life Advertises Telecourses On the U-matic Format

Time-Life Advertises Telecourses On the U-matic Format

Time Life begins advertising the availability of “telecourses” for Sony’s U-matic system. The programs are mostly business related, included training for secretarial work, professional communication and a 4-hour course on speed reading with TV...
Avco Discontinues Their Cartrivision System

Avco Discontinues Their Cartrivision System

Due to a variety of reasons, including high cost, faulty equipment, poor marketing and disintegrating cartridges, Cartrivision didn’t meet sales projections. As a result, Avco discontinues the system and Cartridge Television Inc’s assets are...