[Info-vax] OT: About Digital and divisions

[glen herrmannsfeldt]

John Wallace <johnwallace4 at gmail.com> wrote:

(snip)
> Broadcasters used Betacam and related formats. They're not entirely
> the same as the domestic Betamax format, though they have some
> heritage in common.

As well as I understand it, there was a Beta-I format originally,
and then Beta-II and Beta-III were more commonly used for home
recorders, where pros stayed with Beta-I.  Home recorders could
play Beta-I, but not record it.  

> Has no one mentioned the lack of availability of "content" on Betamax?
> You could buy a VHS recorder confident that your local video shop
> would rent or sell you commercial pre-recorded stuff to watch. Pre-
> recorded Betamax stuff was quite rare.

It wasn't hard to find in 1986, and was starting to get harder
in about 1990 or so.  


-- glen