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VHS is dead, but at least it outlived Betamax by nine months VHS is dead, but at least it outlived Betamax tapes by nine months
(about 1 hour later)
The 40-year-war between Betamax and VHS is finally over, but while victorious 28 years ago, VHS only managed to outlive its rival by 9 months. The last VHS tape will roll off the production line at the end of this month. The 40-year-war between Betamax and VHS is finally over, but while victorious 28 years ago, the VHS video cassette recorders only managed to outlive its rival’s tapes by 9 months. The last VHS VCR will roll off the production line at the end of this month.
It’s the end of the home analogue magnetic video tape era. Japan’s Funai Electric, the last remaining VHS tape manufacturer after Panasonic pulled out several years ago, has ceased production citing a sharp decline in sales and trouble sourcing parts. It’s the end of the home analogue magnetic video tape era. Japan’s Funai Electric, the last remaining VCR manufacturer after Panasonic pulled out several years ago, has ceased production citing a sharp decline in sales and trouble sourcing parts.
“A company that was making parts for us said it was too tough to keep making them with sales at this level so they stopped, which led to our decision - we can’t make them without that part,” said Funai Electric, which has since been overwhelmed with desperate calls from Japanese VCR tape owners.“A company that was making parts for us said it was too tough to keep making them with sales at this level so they stopped, which led to our decision - we can’t make them without that part,” said Funai Electric, which has since been overwhelmed with desperate calls from Japanese VCR tape owners.
In recent years the US has been the biggest consumer of the firm’s VHS tapes, sold under the Sanyo brand among others, but sales have dropped from 15m in their heyday to just 750,000 in 2015. Frankly, most will be amazed that they’re still made and sold at all anymore. In recent years the US has been the biggest consumer of the firm’s VCRs, sold under the Sanyo brand among others, but sales have dropped from 15m in their heyday to just 750,000 in 2015. Frankly, most will be amazed that they’re still made and sold at all anymore.
But while many left VHS and the humble video cassette recorder for dead many moons ago, replaced first by DVD recorders in 1999, then personal video recorders (PVRs) such as Sky’s + box in the early 2000s, around 58% of US households still had a VCR according to a Gallup poll. But while many left VHS and the humble VCR for dead many moons ago, replaced first by DVD recorders in 1999, then personal video recorders (PVRs) such as Sky’s + box in the early 2000s, around 58% of US households still had a VCR according to a Gallup poll.
While Sony’s Betamax could offer better video quality, VHS cassettes could run longer, were produced more cheaply and had the backing of the porn industry VHS won out in 1988 when Sony conceded victory by producing its first VHS VCR, therefore shunning its own format.While Sony’s Betamax could offer better video quality, VHS cassettes could run longer, were produced more cheaply and had the backing of the porn industry VHS won out in 1988 when Sony conceded victory by producing its first VHS VCR, therefore shunning its own format.
Originally about the size of a briefcase with a top-loading slot for videotapes, VHS VCRs became popular in the 70s and 80s spawning a whole new industry: the humble video rental shop.Originally about the size of a briefcase with a top-loading slot for videotapes, VHS VCRs became popular in the 70s and 80s spawning a whole new industry: the humble video rental shop.
Like VHS tapes, the once giant rental chains such as Blockbuster video went the way of the dodo after gaining a brief reprieve with the launch of the DVD player in the late 90s, before succumbing to the success of streaming video and video on demand services from the mid 2000s on.Like VHS tapes, the once giant rental chains such as Blockbuster video went the way of the dodo after gaining a brief reprieve with the launch of the DVD player in the late 90s, before succumbing to the success of streaming video and video on demand services from the mid 2000s on.
VHS isn’t the only analogue magnetic tape still in circulation. Analogue audio cassette tapes first released back in 1962 are still popular in Japan, and have seen a retro resurgence in some countries. One of the few remaining audio cassette tape manufacturers in the US, National Audio Company, reported a 20% rise in sales following production of 10m tapes in 2014.VHS isn’t the only analogue magnetic tape still in circulation. Analogue audio cassette tapes first released back in 1962 are still popular in Japan, and have seen a retro resurgence in some countries. One of the few remaining audio cassette tape manufacturers in the US, National Audio Company, reported a 20% rise in sales following production of 10m tapes in 2014.
But while videos and memories captured on VHS might live on with new formats, the last standing analogue magnetic tape for home video is will now fade to dust. But while videos and memories captured on VHS might live on with new formats, the last standing analogue magnetic tape recorders for home video is will now fade to dust.