| VHS: Is The End Near? | |
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I have been reporting a lot this year on DVD players and DVD recorders as these technologies impact the home theater market. Despite the rapid growth of DVD, which is now in 35% of homes, VHS is the dominant video format for the average consumer, still being used in 90% of homes.
However, recent developments may signal the beginning of the end for VHS. Not only DVD, but digital cable, satellite, HDTV, and Digital Camcorders have also impacted VHS as its inferior image quality is not up to the standard for current and future video recording and playback needs. S-VHS, the higher-resolution version of VHS, has never caught on with consumers in great numbers. Even JVC's recent announcement of HD D-VHS, although very impressive, may eventually be eclipsed by upcoming disc-based High Definition recording and playback formats.
In addition, Borders Books and Music has indicated that it will only carry special interest videos on VHS, while Circuit City has recently announced the elimination of VHS movie titles from its shelves altogether. Other retailers, such as Best Buy, have cut back enormously on its VHS shelf space, devoting an overwhelming percentage to DVD. It must be noted, however, that part of this cutback can be attributed by the selfishness of consumer electronics retailers to sell more DVD players as much as it is an indication of the lessening of demand for VHS movies. Profit margins are definitely higher for newer technology items, with HiFi Stereo VCRS selling for as low as $60 and VHS movies selling for less than $9, VHS is just taking up valuable retail real estate.
Despite criticism by videophiles and professionals that standard VHS produces inferior image quality, it has, nonetheless, been the mainstay for both recording and viewing movies in homes for an entire generation of viewers. Whether VHS or BETA had won the video format war of the 70's and 80's, we would probably be in the same boat today. DVD (playing and recording) is well on its way to becoming the heir-apparent to VHS and it, too, will eventually be replaced. With the committment to disc-based video technology, it is expected that all future DVD-based video record/playback formats will be backwards compatible. In other words, today's DVDs will be playable on future incarnations just as all DVD players now play music CDs and most players play CD-R/RW and other formats, such as MP3-CDs. There are even some players that play DVD-Audio, SACD, and photo CDs. DVD capabilities have even been incorporated into the Sony Playstation2 and Microsoft XBox videogame systems. In essence, the DVD platform is much more flexible and adaptable to changes and improvements than VHS could ever hope to be.
VHS is definitely at a crossroads.
On the one hand, VHS has been the main form of video entertainment for consumers for years, despite challenges from BETA, CED, and Laserdisc. In addition, VHS subformats such as S-VHS and D-VHS prove that VHS can be adapted for higher resolution needs. With well over 100 million VHS VCRs in use worldwide, the aging format will not disappear overnight. Although sales of DVD players have only recently eclipsed sales of VCRs, sales of TV/VCR and DVD/VHS combos are still on the rise. In fact, the increased popularity of DVD/VCR combos may actually serve to extend the useful life of VHS as a recording medium, while DVD becomes the main way of watching pre-recorded programming.
On the other hand, the writing is certainly on the wall for the demise of VHS as new stanalone VCRs and movies to play on them will slowly disappear off store shelves. DVD, Recordable DVD, and DVRs continue to encroach on former VHS territory, providing affordable, higher quality, and more interactive video entertainment options. In addition, as retailers lose confidence in the ability of VHS-related products to generate profits, the death of VHS will be artificially accelerated.
VHS definitely has earned its place in technological history. The VHS VCR literally established the foundation for consumers to take control of their TV and movie viewing. Despite fears from movie studios that VCRs would doom their industry, the opposite has occured: more people are going to the movies than ever. In addition, the VHS VCR has enabled the consumer to time-shift their favorite shows for more convenient viewing.
When VHS finally retires to gadget heaven, it should be duly credited with paving the way for the current home theater phenomenon; a job well done....
Feel free to email me at hometheater.guide@about.com
with your questions and/or comments.
