Sony Kills Off Obsolete Betamax Tapes

Yep, it was still making those.

Sony plans to cease production of its Betamax videotapes in March, the company announced Tuesday.

The Betamax was widely used when it debuted in 1975. But JVC introduced the VHS tape just one year later, and within a few years Sony was losing a market battle. During that clash, the adult entertainment industry's preference for the VHS played a key role in the Betamax's demise.

"That greater adoption and lower cost saw the pornography industry pick VHS as the format of choice for its home videos, which is largely considered the turning point that propelled VHS to victory," The Guardian explains.

A not-so-sleek Betamax. Sony says the tapes will soon officially be history.
A not-so-sleek Betamax. Sony says the tapes will soon officially be history.
Science & Society Picture Library via Getty Images

Sony sold its last Betamax video recorder in 2002, according to CNN Money.

Overall, The Verge sums it up pretty well.

"It is probably news to you, then, that Beta cassettes are still a thing you can buy," the site says. "This will not be very useful news for long, however, because Sony just announced it'll stop selling them."

Ethan Miller via Getty Images

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