The CED Part 1: The History of RCA's Madness

My dad still has two CED disc players and close to 50 discs. I used to love it as a kid, because I could watch Star Wars any time I wanted. Can’t wait for part II!

Jonathan Austin

This was delightful. Thank you. Very much looking forward to Part 2.

Ken McGlothlen

I had an RCA SJT-400 CED player. Absolutely loved it. Did consider LaserDisc/LaserVision at the time, but the place I bought the CED player from rented a ton of CED titles whereas LaserDisc rentals were much rarer.

Chris Wallace

Techmoan never told me that RCA marketed VCRs at the same time!

Wrenly Bewick

Now at DLP, but will watch when back home!

SEEYOUINMAINSTREET

I thought I knew about all the weird obscure video formats of this era but I guess not. I'm not entirely convinced that a time traveler didn't go back to the 70s just to invent a new format for you to do a video on. 😂

Steve Streza

Part Deux now!

Eric Korenman

Hey Alex, I used to be pretty into antique radios. Did you ever read the book Empire of the Air? A lot of your stories are in the book, and I'm sure you know the story of David Sarnoff as well.

Paul Han

All the wibbly-wobblies!

Linh Pham

Wow! We actually had one of these in 1986 along with some of those exact same movies. That was back when "movie night" was still a thing, so it was kinda special to turn it over and while we made some more popcorn. I was 19, so I thought it was some groovy "laser" technology.

Great to see! Always been fascinated by this tech so good to see you talk about it. Can't wait for part 2!

HEY! I'ts not old, I remember when they came out....well...damn.

lohphat

Yessss gimme all the weird old tech

Adam Wishneusky

Great video. Cant wait for the CED trash talk in part 2!

Insider Chad

Thanks for the video. The CED story is one of my all time favorites. It's not so much the technology, as I've never experienced it, and it doesn't seem that inspired, but if this exact format made it to market in the early to mid 70s it would have totally changed tech history. The cultural and historical context for all of the decisions that led to its belated launch and failure are fascinating and would make a hell of a movie! I keep thinking about an anime saga covering the format wars from the 70s and 80s. Flashbacks from middle aged salarymen who are getting laid off from JVC after the Japanese economic bubble pops in the early 90s, and they collectively start reminiscing about their underdog battle with Sony for the best tape format. Along the way there are cocky but ominous threats by RCA engineers who talk of the $600 million they have for development and claim they are about to wipe all of the Japanese competition out with something they've been working on since the early 60s. In the end Sony weakens the pride of the US with their Trinitron dominance, but the overconfident stubbornness of Beta is a step too far, and the humble VHS tape wins the day. The RCA chairman is a true capitalist who realizes defeat and licenses VHS but allows a token launch of CED after muddling up the branding irretrievably, just to make a small return on the huge investment. This insult is too much for the RCA chief engineer, a WWII USAF veteran, who was a mentor to many of the JVC engineers during the occupation of Japan when he taught them electronics as young kids, and resigns RCA and personally goes to congratulate his former proteges for surpassing him.

Joe Moorman

Another great video! I had never heard of this.

Joshua Rouw

Excited to watch this when I get home. My best friend’s Grandfather sold players and he tells me every once in a while he’ll dig up a cache of old players for my dead media collection.

Yay! Been so looking forward to this!

Richard Stifle

Finally! I’ve been waiting since you teased this way back when...

Sean Hearrell