Video Formats: VHS & Beta

The next major advancement in video technology was the jump from film to magnetic tape. While professional video recording was still largely done using celluloid film, magnetic tape had been used in the television industry since the 1950s and in the consumer market starting in the 1970s. Displayed are a Betamax (developed by Sony) and a VHS (Video Home System) designed by JVC as an open standard. The competition between these two standards, based on video and audio quality and maximum duration, persisted through the 1970s and 80s with VHS ultimately winning the format war.