The CED: RCA's Very Late, Very Weird Video Gamble (Pt. 1)
Technology Connections・2 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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