VHS vs Betamax - the history of the war that changed the world (TXT + Film, 10m)

The article analyzes the ongoing rivalry between two video standards - VHS and Betamax, which dominated the market in the 1970s and 1980s. The author outlines the beginnings of both technologies, indicating that Betamax was introduced earlier while VHS offered longer recording time, which attracted consumers. The competition between these formats not only changed consumption practices but also had an impact on the evolution of video equipment and distribution methods. As time passed, VHS gained an edge over Betamax, despite the latter's initial superior picture quality. The article concludes with reflections on how certain marketing decisions and viewer preferences influenced the final format choice, paralleling contemporary rivalries in the tech world, such as the differences between streaming platforms.