The VHD Video Disc was supposed to be the 'perfect' videodisc format; one that would be both sophisticated, but simple and low-cost. It was also to overcome all the problems, both technically and in the eyes of the public, that Magnavision/DiscoVision and the RCA SelectaVision CED systems were having at the time. In every area, VHD was the videodisc salvation. As compared to CED and DiscoVision, the following points were made in its favor:
* - Extremely sophisticated, with full-feature performance such as slow-motion, freeze frame, chapter search, interactive capabilities, etc, from regular, 60-minute-per-side discs. No interactive 30-minute format and 'crippled' 60-minute format like Laser.
* - Low cost... the discs were made of standard carbon-impregnated vinyl and were made on standard LP record presses. Since the discs were only 10.2 inches in diameter, material cost was reduced by 25% over LD or CED discs. The simple flat-stylus and electro-tracking didn't require sophisticated mirror servos or electronics. Yet the system was much more advanced than RCA's CED VideoDisc.
* - Large program library... Since VHD was getting a 'late' start in the market, VHD Programs, Inc. set about overcomming the problems with programming that both CED and LD were having. VHD Programs made sure to select a broader, more interesting range of programs for the initial catalog, and to insure continued new-releases by allowing individual studio's to custom press titles at the VHD plant... at the time, neither MCA nor RCA allowed custom pressing, requiring all titles to be released under the MCA DiscoVision and RCA SelectaVision VideoDiscs labels.
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