Editing Format war (section)

==1970s==
[[File:VHS-and-Betamax-comparison.jpg|thumb|VHS and Betamax tapes]]
*[[Quadraphonic]] encoding methods: CD-4, SQ, QS-Matrix, and others. The expense (and speaker placement troubles) of quadraphonic, coupled with the competing formats requiring various demodulators and decoders, led to an early demise of quadraphonic, though 8-track tape experienced a temporary boost from the introduction of the Q8 form of [[8-track cartridge]]. Quadraphonic sound returned in the 1990s substantially updated as [[surround sound]], but incompatible with old hardware.
*[[Videotape format war|Analog videotape formats]]: [[VHS]] vs. [[Betamax]] vs. [[Video 2000]]. The competition started in 1976 and by 1980, VHS controlled 70% of the North American market. VHS's main advantage was its longer recording time. From the consumer perspective, VHS blank media held more hours and therefore was less expensive.
*[[Reel-to-reel]] video formats: The first small format video recording devices were open reel-to-reel 1/2" "portable" [[EIAJ-1]] recorders, most of which came with [[television tuner]]s to record TV broadcasts. These never caught on in the consumer market but did find their way into [[educational television]] and were the mainstays of early [[public-access television]] stations. The uniformity of the EIAJ-1 format was the result of a developmental format war between Sony and Panasonic, each of whom were aiming at this market. The existence of the [[Electronic Industries Association of Japan]] (EIAJ) was the Japanese electronics industry's answer to some potential format wars.
*[[Videodisc|Analog videodisc]] formats: [[Capacitance Electronic Disc]] (CED) vs. [[LaserDisc]] (LD) vs. [[Video High Density|VHD]] (Video High-Density). All ultimately failed to achieve widespread acceptance, although LD found a considerable [[videophile]] niche market that appreciated its high-quality image, chapter select and widescreen presentation. The LaserDisc remained available until the DVD arrived. Mainstream consumers preferred the recordable videotape for capturing broadcast television and making [[home movies]], and made VHS the de facto standard video format for almost 20 years (circa 1982 to 2002).