Below is a timeline for every notable event in the history of movies in the home (with more being added). It should be noted that this website uses the term, “Home Video,” in two different ways. Firstly, it uses it as an umbrella term for the viewing of movies in the home, physical or otherwise. Secondly, its also the label given to the era in time where movies are being released on physical video formats.
March 17th, 1975 (Billboard, 1975/03/01, p. 1)
Teldec TeD
The Teldec TeD (Television Disc) becomes the first consumer videodisc to reach the market. It’s an 8 or 12-inch in diameter disc which at most contains 10 minutes of video. In its first three months, 6,000 units (each costing $600) and 50,000 discs are manufactured and distributed throughout Germany.
April, 1975 (Broadcasting, 1975/04/21, p. 16)
HBO Announces They’ll Be Broadcasting Via Satellite
In order to provide their service nationwide in a cost effective way, HBO reveals that they’ll be leasing a transponder on the Satcom I satellite for five years. They are the first television channel to broadcast their channel via satellite.
May 10th, 1975
Sony Betamax LV-1801 & SL-6300
Sony launches their new Betamax system in Japan, available in two distinct versions. The LV-1801, which is a television console unit, and the SL-6300, a standalone deck. The cassettes themselves are far smaller than anything else on the market, and at this time, only capable of recording a single hour.
November, 1975
Sony Launches the Betamax in the U.S.
Sony introduces the LV-1901 (the same model as the LV-1801 in Japan) to the U.S. market with the pricetag of $2500. Its a TV / VCR combination unit. Like the Japanese model, the unit is only capable of recording 60 minutes per videocassette.
September 9th, 1976
JVC Victor HR-3300 (VHS)
JVC launches their first VHS VCR in Japan with a cost of approximately $1060.
October, 1976 (Videography, 1976/10)
Home Cinema Service Advertises Movies on Videocassette
Joel Jacobson’s Home Cinema Service begins offering prerecorded U-matic and Betmax cassettes of public domain and adult films through advertisements in Videography Magazine.
October, 1976 (The Videophile Newsletter, Jim Lowe, Issue 1)
The First Newsletter For the VCR Community Is Published
Legislature staffer Jim Lowe publishes the first issue of “The Videophile Newsletter.” In it, collectors trade videos recorded off broadcast television and offers technical advice on using the machines. Its list of subscribers grew dramatically over the following months, eventually evolving into a full-color magazine.
November 15th - 17th, 1976
First Annual International Videodisc Programming Conference Is Held
The first annual International Videodisc Programming Conference is held. Strangely, representatives from neither MCA nor RCA (the forerunners of the videodisc race) are present.
January, 1977
Quasar VR-1000 (The Great Time Machine)
Utilizing Matsushita’s VX format, Quasar (the American subsidiary of Matsushita) releases the Great Time Machine (model VR-1000) to the American market. The device immediately fails and no subsequent models are released in the U.S.
1977
Universal Changes the Name of Castle Films to “Universal 8”
Universal conducts a complete upgrade of their own home movie division by rebranding it as “Universal 8.”
February, 1977
Zenith Partners With Sony To Sell Betamax VCRs
Zenith, America’s biggest TV manufacturer, agrees to market and produce Betamax machines in the U.S.. This is a major move by Sony to capture the American market.
March, 1977
Entertainment Video Releasing Offers Movies On Videocassette
Mark Slade’s company, “Entertainment Video Releasing” begins advertising adult films on U-matic and Betamax in Videography magazine. They would later include a variety non-adult titles to their catalogue, likely public domain features.
March, 1977
Sony Launches Their 2-Hour Betamax Cassette
Sony introduces Beta-II, a new two-hour videocassette that can record an entire movie on a single videocassette. These new cassettes require the latest Betamax VCR to record the full two hours, the SL-8200.
March, 1977
3M Announces Metafine IV Magnetic Tape
3M reveals their latest creation, Metafine IV, a magnetic tape that not only allows for longer recording durations, but at an affordable price. The new tape makes videocassettes even more competitive against the upcoming videodisc formats.
May 25th, 1977
Star Wars Opens in Theaters
George Lucas’s sci-fi epic, Star Wars, opens in theaters across the country. Although seemingly unrelated to home video, the hit rejuvenates Hollywood, specifically its distributor, 20th Century Fox. Months later, they would agree to license out their classics for videocassette distribution.