SPECS BROS., LLC
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    • White Paper: Common Signs of ​Problem 3/4" and Beta Videocassettes
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    • Preservation Video Tape Proliferation Until 2000
    • Preservation History of Tape Obsolescence
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PRESERVATION
VIDEO TAPE FORMATS
​UNTIL 2000

Picture
The Proliferation of Video Formats Up to the Millennium

Over 65 formats in 45 years
 
The 1st videotape format became available in 1956.  This was 2” wide and a single hour weighed over 20 lbs.
 
Within 10 years, 10 new video formats became available.  These included the first consumer format.  All of these tapes types were reel-to reel.
 
Over the next 10 years, an additional 16 new formats became available.  These including the 1st new widespread broadcast tape and the introduction of the 1st cassette tapes for both the professional and consumer markets.
 
The next 10 years saw another 12 new formats introduced.  Among these were multiple new broadcast formats and the 1st digital format.  During this time, there was also the 1st major change in the chemistry used to manufacture video tapes.
 
The next 10 years saw an additional 18 new formats.  These were mostly digital and included the 1st consumer digital tape and the 1st HD tape.
 
During the last 4 years up to the Millennium, 9 new formats were introduced.  All of these were digital.
 
After the millennium, a number of new tape formats were introduced but, by this time, tape had already started to lose its preeminence as the medium for recording and processing video.


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  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us History
    • About Us Clients
    • About Us Client Comments
  • Archival Transfer
    • Archival Transfer Basics
    • Archival Transfer Getting Started
    • Archival Transfer Commercial Services
    • Archival Transfer Consumer Services
  • Disaster Recovery
    • Disaster Recovery Services
    • Disaster Recovery Emergency Response
    • Disaster Recovery Magnetic Tapes Can Survive Flood Exposure
    • Disaster Recovery Institutional Disaster Response For Magnetic Tape Materials
    • Disaster Recovery Images of Flood Damaged Tapes
  • White Papers
    • White Paper: Basic Material Identification of Legacy Tapes In An Archive
    • White Paper: Basic Inspection Techniques To Sample The Condition of Magnetic Tape
    • White Paper: Dangers of Inadequate Restoration
    • White Paper: The Benefits of Tape Cleaning
    • White Paper: Common Signs of ​Problem 3/4" and Beta Videocassettes
  • Preservation
    • Preservation Basics
    • Preservation Tape Endangerment Issues
    • Preservation Minimum Tape Handling Standards
    • Preservation Effects of Moisture On Tape
    • Preservation Effects of Temperature On Tape
    • Preservation Legacy Tape Timeline
    • Preservation Video Tape Proliferation Until 2000
    • Preservation History of Tape Obsolescence
    • Preservation Standards and Recommended Practices in Print
    • Preservation FAQs
  • Contact Us