RTA 211: Production Theory // Dana Lee
Lecture 10: 2 of 2
Distribution-and-versioning
History But Not Really……
1960’s: Cable TV
The introduction of cable TV allowed TV signals to be distributed to neighbourhoods via
coaxial cable network.
1980’s: VCR
The invention of the VCR wasn't cheap but it allowed people to record movies and
shows on tapes. The TV and movie industries, at first felt that this machine was
essentially “making illegal downloads of any shows that went on the air” because people
were taping shows with VHS tapes to watch them later.
1980’s and 1990’s: VHS tapes and video stores
Entrepreneurs saw potential in renting VHS tapes and stores such as blockbuster
sprang up in malls.
People made money off of money makers.
1990’s: DVD players.
The DVD player came about. They were cheap and being rented out more than VHS
and had less moving parts so were more durable.
You couldn’t record on DVD’s tho…
1990’s: More Cable Channels & Satellite.
These technologies weren't really in competition with the local cable company. The
latter was still the only way of receiving many channels of programming, including by
now many more cable channels via satellite.
1993 (1997 in canada tho...): Satellite & Direct TV.
Satellite has been launched and the beginning of Directv's DBS service.
2006: Bell Entertainment Service.
Bell tests Bell Entertainment Service, an alternative platform of television signals via
internet protocol.
2015: It Keeps On Growing.
Lecture 10: 2 of 2
Distribution-and-versioning
History But Not Really……
1960’s: Cable TV
The introduction of cable TV allowed TV signals to be distributed to neighbourhoods via
coaxial cable network.
1980’s: VCR
The invention of the VCR wasn't cheap but it allowed people to record movies and
shows on tapes. The TV and movie industries, at first felt that this machine was
essentially “making illegal downloads of any shows that went on the air” because people
were taping shows with VHS tapes to watch them later.
1980’s and 1990’s: VHS tapes and video stores
Entrepreneurs saw potential in renting VHS tapes and stores such as blockbuster
sprang up in malls.
People made money off of money makers.
1990’s: DVD players.
The DVD player came about. They were cheap and being rented out more than VHS
and had less moving parts so were more durable.
You couldn’t record on DVD’s tho…
1990’s: More Cable Channels & Satellite.
These technologies weren't really in competition with the local cable company. The
latter was still the only way of receiving many channels of programming, including by
now many more cable channels via satellite.
1993 (1997 in canada tho...): Satellite & Direct TV.
Satellite has been launched and the beginning of Directv's DBS service.
2006: Bell Entertainment Service.
Bell tests Bell Entertainment Service, an alternative platform of television signals via
internet protocol.
2015: It Keeps On Growing.
