Videotape and Multimedia

The first videotapes were made with large magnetic particles. These particles were too large to be effective, which limited the tape’s effectiveness. Eventually, cobalt was added to improve the tapes’ magnetic properties. In the 1950s, the Daily N.B.C. show was recorded on videotape as a way to promote television broadcasting. Now, every live and recorded show on television will be filmed on videotape.

The technology of videotape recording has influenced the home entertainment and media industries. Initially controlled by television companies, the technology is now widely used and controlled by the private sector. The videotape’s invention changed the way people create and distribute information. Even the smallest of changes in videotape storage can be seen today. The new HDTV format requires high resolution and high-speed storage. It is also expected to eventually lose its use as more content is stored in nonlinear formats.

In the 1960s, a single-camera VTR system replaced the multiple-camera Blockbuster. It was a multimillion dollar business, but the Blockbuster video experience is long gone. The video tape industry continues to face challenges as it migrates to digital platforms. Inventors like Barry Jentz and E. Grayson Mattingly have written articles about videotapes and single-camera VTR systems. And wesley A. Smith wrote a Layman’s Guide to Videotape Recording