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From: msc@qubix.UUCP (Mark Callow)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: French Video tapes
Message-ID: <749@qubix.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Jan-84 22:49:54 EST
Article-I.D.: qubix.749
Posted: Wed Jan  4 22:49:54 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Jan-84 02:09:31 EST
References: <306@crystal.ARPA>
Organization: Qubix Graphic Systems, Saratoga, CA
Lines: 40

I sent a personal reply to the originator of the query but in view
of this other response there are some things I'd like to repeat.

First I am surprised how many people seem to be unaware of the
different TV standards used around the world.  Here's a short list:

NTSC (National Television Standards Committee or Never The Same Colour)
	USA, Canada, Japan

PAL  (Phase Alternating Line or Please All Lobbies)
	Europe (except France), Scandinavia, Israel + a few others

SECAM (Sequential something...)
	France (just had to be different), Russia (I think)

with more to follow for DBS signals.  Hopefully a single world
standard will be chosen.

Second some video production studios have the necessary conversion
equipment.  One local studio (Breene Kerr Productions, Palo Alto, CA)
charges $120 for a 30 minute tape, $180 for a 60 minute tape.
They can handle Beta, U-Matic and VHS format cassettes and 1/2 inch
tape.  I think they charge more for tape.  The cost reflects the
high capital cost of the conversion equipment.  I'm not sure if
they can handle SECAM.  I was inquiring about PAL.

Third I have heard rumours (in this newsgroup) that the Japanese are going
to introduce low cost standards converters but I have seen absolutely
nothing about them anywhere else.

Fourth the new generation almost-digital TV's just starting to appear
use multi-standard chip sets.  To make the TV set multi-standard would
only add a small increment to the cost of the set.  Multi-standard sets
should become more common.  Multi-standard VCR's should also become
more common.  Note that these do not convert signals from one standard
to another.
-- 
From the Tardis of Mark Callow
msc@qubix.UUCP,  decwrl!qubix!msc@Berkeley.ARPA
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