Sony Betamax

1975-2002

In 1975, Sony launched an innovative home video tape recorder called Betamax. When JVC released the competing VHS format a year later, it started a decade long videotape-format war. Betamax was higher quality than VHS, but it was also more expensive. The VHS could record a full movie, whereas the Betamax was initially limited to only one hour. While Sony refused to license the format to other firms, JVC built an ecosystem of partners and offered a greater selection of films. By the middle of the 1980s, VHS had won the war. This classic story of tech innovation failure demon- strates that technical excellence and being first to market is not enough. Sony learned from their failure. They successfully introduced the digital Compact Disc (CD) by strategically partnering with the music industry. The company bought a record company and is now a giant in both entertainment and electronics.

Additional info:
Wikipedia Betamax, and more interesting: Wikipedia about the video tape format war.
Grin.com – Case Study of the Competitive Battle of Video…
qz.com – Sony is finally putting Betamax out of its misery
TheGuardian – Betamax is dead, long live VHS

First Betamax – Salesman Training Video 1977: