Table of Contents
The competition between the companies led to the release of three different, mutually incompatible VCR formats: Sony’s Betamax in 1975, JVC’s VHS in 1976, and the Philips V2000 in 1978. Two of these would come head-to-head in the 1980s in what became known as the first Format War.
What year did VHS become popular?
In the later 1970s and early 1980s, there was a format war in the home video industry. Two of the standards, VHS and Betamax, received the most media exposure. VHS eventually won the war, gaining 60% of the North American market by 1980 and emerging as the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period.
How much did a VCR cost in 1980?
By the 1980s … That nearly $1,500 top retail price had fallen to an average of $200 – $400, a fraction of the college tuition it once costed families.
How much did a VCR cost in 1987?
By 1987, the cost of a VCR had dropped to $250 and blank videotapes were selling for $5 or less, down from $20. As VCR ownership became more widespread, the educational and income gaps among its users narrowed. Still another factor in the early spread of VCRs was pornography.
What was the first movie released on VHS?
FIRST FILM EVER RELEASED ON VHS: THE YOUNG TEACHER The South Korean drama, The Young Teacher, was the first film to be released for home VHS consumption. Considering the first VCRs were released in 1976, it makes perfect sense that the first movies would also accompany it in the same year.
When were VHS stopped being made?
As of 2005, around 95 million Americans still owned VHS-format VCRs. Gradually, Hollywood stopped releasing movies on VHS. The last movie to be produced in VHS format was “A History of Violence” in 2006, signing the definite death of the VHS. Just shy of a 30-year run.
How much were VCRs when they first released?
When the VHS dropped on the home theater scene in 1977 (a couple years after Betamax’s introduction), VCRs retailed between $1,000-$1,400. Now, that’s still a boatload of money (especially for the time), but you can see why people flocked to the nearly half price VHS/VCR format.
How much did a VCR cost in 1988?
But the $2000 recorders and the $30 cassettes (in 1988 dollars about $6000 and $90) were big and heavy. The VCR unit measured 24.25 by 8.125 by 18.125 inches (61.6 by 20.6 by 46.4 centimeters) and weighed in at 59.5 pounds (27 kilograms).
When did VHS tapes become affordable?
Affordability: When VCRs were introduced in 1975, the average machine cost between $1,000 and $1,400. By 1985, you could buy a much better VCR for $200 to $400 with a remote control, freeze frame, search, and other nifty features.
What came before DVD?
The LaserDisc (LD) is a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium, initially licensed, sold and marketed as MCA DiscoVision (also known simply as “DiscoVision”) in the United States in 1978.
How much was a VCR in 1982?
The first VCR, introduced in 1975 by Sony, carried a list price of $1,400. Five years later, according to figures compiled by the Electronic Industries Association, a Washington-based trade group, the average price to dealers was down to $771 a unit. In 1982, it dropped to $640 and then to $528 in 1983.
What are VCRs worth?
Contents Many VHS tapes are worth 50 cents to a few dollars, though collectible tapes can sell for up to $50 or more. Betamax tapes can sell for up to $20 or more. Here are some real-world videotape values. TITLE FORMAT SOLD PRICE The Legend of Hillbilly John VHS $70 Garbage Pail Kids (original blue tape hard case) VHS $104.
Which came first VHS or Betamax?
The first consumer-grade VCR to be released was the Philips N1500 VCR format in 1972, followed in 1975 by Sony’s Betamax. This was quickly followed by the competing VHS format from JVC, and later by Video 2000 from Philips.
Will VCRs ever be made again?
For VHS to really make a come back, shops would have to get on board with the idea if they were ever to make it back into the mainstream. However, this is very unlikely. The last film released on VHS was back in 2006, so more than ten years later it’s not very likely they will be put back into production.
What was the last Disney movie released on VHS?
Here is a bit of trivia for you: the direct to video animated sequel Bambi II was the last Disney film released on VHS. Even though Disney had been releasing DVDs since 1997, Bambi II was the last VHS produced by the mouse house, hitting store shelves in 2006.
How much did Titanic VHS cost?
Discounted as low as $9.95 on the Internet (shipping and handling is extra) and with an average retail- store price of $19.99, “Titanic” was released in two VHS tape versions (a DVD version is due this fall).
When did blockbuster switch to DVD?
On June 19, 2007, after a pilot program launched in late 2006, Blockbuster announced that it had chosen Blu-ray over HD DVD format to rent in a majority of its stores. In the pilot program, Blockbuster offered selected titles for rental and sale in 250 stores.
When did DVDs overtake VHS?
The DVD format changed the game for prerecorded movies in March 1997 and ended up entirely replacing VHS. Hollywood studios stopped offering movies on VHS. The VCR, though, refused to die quickly. As of 2005, some 94.5 million Americans still owned VHS-format VCRs.
