In 1954, RCA revolutionized home entertainment when it introduced the first consumer color television. Though it would take another decade for color television to become widely available, the launch established RCA as a pioneer at the forefront of media technology.
By 1985, a damaged and devalued RCA was bought by General Electric, effectively ending 66 years of dominance in consumer electronics and communications. So what happened? A $580 million gamble called SelectaVision.
In the latest video on our YouTube channel, Popular Science Host Kevin Lieber analyzes the ill-fated launch of the SelectaVision 400. But to understand why this ambitious technology brought down an entire electronics empire, Kevin first had to get his hands on a SelectaVision and see how it performed. And there the problems began.
Can Kevin turn off the loud sound of the player he bought on eBay? Why did RCA miss its predictions for a $7.5 billion revenue stream? Back to the FutureLea Thompson stars in an interactive murder mystery? And how did it happen? There were a lot of questions, but this Popular Scienceyou know we found the answer.
Do you want to wince at the big technological promises of the past, or sit back in awe of the science that changed the world? apply Popular Science On YouTube.
