Sony HDL-2000 Demonstration Disc (1988 Analog HDTV 1080i HDVS Video BGV)

This is the “Sony HDL-2000 Demonstration Disc“ (HD-100) from a Sony-made high-definition 12“ HDVS videodisc. The HDVS disc format was designed to be a highly portable 12“ laserdisc-derived media format for Sony’s “High-Definition Video System“ or “Hi-Vision“ back in the early 1990’s! Back then, high definition was a little different from how it is now. It was analog (not digital) & close to but slightly different in resolution to the 1080i picture we receive over the air today as it was technically 1125i/1035i. Before the earliest high-definition media was available to the public (via satellite, MUSE Laserdisc, & W-VHS tapes), Sony and other companies began shooting footage, doing research, and, showing public displays of high-definition television. There were three main ways of storing HDTV (or HDVS) at that time: Reel-to-reel tape (HDV-1000), cartridge tape (HDV-10 “UniHi“), & 12“ Laserdisc-style discs (HDL-5800 / HDL-2000). This footage came from one of the Laserdisc-style discs. These HDVS discs could only hold a maximum of 15 minutes of video (on CLV discs, even less on CAV discs)...but it held uncompressed, raw high-definition component video! Take that, Blu-Ray! This demonstration disc was intended for functionality and picture quality verification of the Sony HDL-2000 HDVS disc player. Featured on the disc is a lot of various footage of scenery and indoor/outdoor environments, much of it shared with footage found on the ED Beta Demonstration Tape & Sony’s TUNE UP A.V. LaserDisc, both released in 1988. As a result, it is very likely that all the footage contained in this video was taped no later than 1988. In addition, with a low catalog number (HDP-100), it may have been the very first disc released for the HDVS disc format. Fun fact: Look at the sides of the image. Do you see that they don’t fill your TV/monitor? Since this was recorded on the original 1984 pure-analog HDVS system, it also was recorded in the original, more-square 5:3 aspect ratio that NHK & Sony chose for the original HDTV system. By 1988, the HDTV standard was standardized to the 16:9 aspect ratio that began to be used on all HDTV systems forward and that we continue to use to this day; however, the hardware took a couple more years to be updated to 16:9. Surprisingly, YouTube supports videos uploaded in 5:3 aspect ratio so dust off & plug in your favorite 16:10 monitor to see less black bars than on a 16:9 monitor! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx This was recorded off on a Sony HDL-2000 Videodisc player which outputs analog component (1035i) video. Uploaded in the upscaled 4K ProRes for extra clarity! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More of my vintage HDTV uploads can be found in this playlist: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx If you want to follow me for updates or want to help me finally purchase a clean room for my mysophobic ducks, please click the link below: