Word: rca
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...machine. Furthermore, last year a disastrous 2.3 million tons of shipping were lost-including what may become the biggest marine claim ever, the sinking in the Caribbean in July of a 293,000-ton oil tanker, the Atlantic Empress. In addition, members face potential claims of $75 million from RCA for a communications satellite lost in space and perhaps a further $75 million from NBC if the network ends up not televising the Moscow Olympics because of the U.S. boycott...
...Using RCA SelectaVision technology under a license, CBS will manufacture discs to be played on RCA machines. This will give CBS, the nation's largest record maker, entry into the business. RCA will win not only royalty fees but also the support of CBS, which spent months looking at the systems of both videodisc competitors. Now CBS's library of programs will be available to owners of RCA machines...
...addition, RCA has signed licensing agreements with nearly 20 Japanese and European companies, including Plessey in Britain and Matsushita in Japan. Of course, Magnavox, a subsidiary of North American Philips, has not been idle. Sony has a license to use Magnavox's videodisc technology, and the U.S. company also has a longstanding deal with MCA, the parent of Universal Pictures, to make its discs...
...Both RCA and Magnavox accept that only one of them can win. Their technologies are so dissimilar that the discs of one cannot be played on the other's machine. Just as the 33%-r.p.m. audio record won out over the 45-r.p.m., ultimately one company will dominate the market. While RCA essentially uses a phonograph-like needle to "read" its discs, Magnavox uses an optical laser. Magnavox machines offer more features, such as stereo sound, freeze frame, slow motion and reverse viewing. Partly because of its advanced technology, Magnavox's players are likely to be more expensive...
Magnavox players are already on sale in Atlanta, Seattle and Dallas, and the company hopes to be selling coast to coast by early 1981. RCA has not sold a single unit yet, but is aiming for nationwide launch at about the same time. The stakes will be high. Every one of the 72 million U.S. homes that now have TV sets is a potential customer for a videodisc system. On an estimated 30% to 50% penetration of that market by the end of the decade, RCA projects industry annual sales of 5 million to 6 million players...