Is the Beta battle over?
By
GRAHAM PARKER
and
AVENE FLANNERY
Beta versus VHS — is the battle over or is it just starting again with Bmm?
When video was introduced to the domestic market in New Zealand about six years ago, three formats competed to become the best seller — VHS, Beta, and the V2OOO format. The V2OOO format did not last long, the main problem being a lack of available software. It was an excellent format which gave great reproduction quality (in fact better than the other two formats in this regard.) Another problem with the unit was the cost. It was dearer than the other formats in terms of features for dollars and, as a result of the cost of pre-re-corded tapes, retailers catered for the bigger selling formats. The Beta camp pushed its claim at this stage. The three main brands were
competing — Sanyo, Sony and Toshiba. The three giants were determined to overcome the stronghold that even then was being developed by the VHS distributors, lead by National, JVC, Hitachi, and towards the end of this era, Mitsubishi. The Beta camp had models' to cover all price ranges, from the cheapest of the Sanyo models to the most expensive Sony C 9 (also the best VCR of this time.) However the VHS publicity and dealer networks seemed to get stronger and stronger. Toshiba was the first to pull out of the market, but was replaced by NEC — good cheap and reliable VCRs, but by this time VHS had more than 70 per cent of the market. In the past 12 years Sony has slowed down. It has changed distributor and has just recently released the first of the
Bmm format VCRs and Camcorders. Toshiba has also come back onto the market under the direction of a new distributor, with a range of VHS format VCRs. NEC has switched to the VHS format, and Sanyo’s new models are also VHS.
In light of all this, the answer is “yes,” Beta is finished as a format. Although this is a shame, it reflects world trends. The Beta format was (and still is) a good format. Most units gave excellent reproduction qualities, were very reliable and priced right. Once again, there were several factors behind its losing battle. VHS had the market tied up and retailers had to put their money where they could get the “best returns.” This resulted in libraries offering a good selection for VHS owners, but a
very limited selection for Beta owners — in fact most libraries stocked VHS only. Glenmore Distributors, the Sony distributors, has released the new Bmm format. It has been hailed as the format to combat VHS. It is good, but it faces a hard battle to hurt the dominance that VHS now has. Sony has done its homework and has come up with a range of products that captures the imagination. We will just have to wait and see what happens as other companies release new Bmm equipment onto the market. This will include other well-known makes such as Kodak and Polaroid. The valiant Beta battle has ended, but owners of Beta units should not despair. Video libraries that have stocked Beta tapes in the past will continue to do so.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 24 June 1986, Page 17
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540Is the Beta battle over? Press, 24 June 1986, Page 17
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