The CED: RCA's Very Late, Very Weird Video Gamble (Pt. 1)
Technology Connections・19 minutes read
RCA's failed attempt at a low-cost videodisc system, the CED, aimed to provide an alternative to expensive video tape recorders, facing challenges such as fragile discs and the need for protective caddies. Despite launching the CED system in 1981 with sleek players and affordable movie catalog, RCA's entry into the VCR market supporting VHS overshadowed the SelectaVision Videodisc System, highlighting flaws in the CED system.
Insights
- RCA's Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED) system, introduced in the early 1980s, aimed to provide a cost-effective alternative to videotape for home entertainment, offering up to 60 minutes of video per side. Despite its sleek design and simplicity compared to VCRs, the CED system faced challenges such as fragile discs and the need for protective caddies, ultimately leading to its failure in the market.
- RCA's decision to enter the VCR market while simultaneously launching the CED system showcased a strategic misstep, with the company supporting the VHS format for VCRs. This move, coupled with the reuse of the name SelectaVision for VCRs, highlighted the disconnect between the intended purpose of VCRs for recording live TV and the naming convention borrowed from the failed videodisc system.
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Recent questions
What was RCA's failed video format attempt?
CED
What was the purpose of RCA's videodisc system?
Cost-effective home entertainment
What challenges did RCA face with the CED system?
Fragile discs and protective caddies
How did RCA's CED system compare to VCRs?
Simplicity in operation
What was the pricing range for RCA's VideoDiscs?
$15 to $30
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Summary
00:00
RCA's Failed Attempt at Home Videodisc
- In the mid-1960s, television viewing options were limited to network affiliates and UHF stations.
- Video tape recorders were considered expensive and unlikely to be marketed for home use.
- RCA began research on a home videodisc system in 1964, leading to the Capacitance Electronic Disc system (CED).
- The CED system, marketed as SelectaVision Videodisc System, was RCA's failed attempt at a video format.
- RCA's goal was to create a cheap, mass-produced video format using technology similar to a record player.
- The CED discs contained up to 60 minutes of video on each side, with bandwidth limitations.
- RCA envisioned the CED as a cost-effective alternative to videotape for home entertainment.
- The development of the CED system faced challenges such as fragile discs and the need for protective caddies.
- By 1981, RCA had launched the CED system with sleek players and a catalog of movies, priced at $500.
- Despite the CED's launch, RCA had already entered the VCR market, supporting the VHS format and introducing long-play recording.
13:09
RCA's SelectaVision: Videodisc System vs VCRs
- RCA used the name planned for their videodisc system for their VCRs, SelectaVision, which was odd as VCRs were primarily for recording live TV, not selecting content.
- The simplicity of RCA's videodisc player, compared to VCRs, was highlighted, with a basic mechanism involving a turntable, pickup mechanism, and decoding electronics.
- The player's operation involved inserting a caddy, lifting the disc towards the stylus, and using a single-speed AC motor to spin the disc at 450 RPM in NTSC countries and 375 RPM in PAL countries.
- The stylus on the player tracked the disc physically, with a titanium electrode sensing changes in capacitance due to groove depth, allowing for video signal recreation.
- The player controlled the stylus position using an electromagnet and carriage movement, with the ability to bump the stylus for finer control or to resolve a stuck groove situation.
- Despite efforts to keep discs clean, the caddies could damage them if not stored correctly, highlighting flaws in the system.
- RCA's VideoDiscs were priced between $15 and $30, offering 60 minutes of content per side with image quality comparable to VHS tapes.
- The CED system faced competition from laserdiscs, with early comparisons showing similar image quality, but potential for improvement if RCA had adopted laserdisc innovations.
