"You're just thinking from a conventional point of view, but I have a deeper level of concern. Hiroshi Yamauchi, who had been struggling for a while, finally shook his head, "Didn't Sharp launch a color TV, which is claimed to be able to provide a better entertainment experience than other similar products when paired with the second-generation Xiaobawang game console, this is not a lie." ”

Speaking of which, Hiroshi Yamauchi called his secretary and gave some orders, and soon a Sharp color TV and the second-generation Xiaobawang game console were moved in.

"If it weren't for Yokoi Junhei and their reminders, I wouldn't have realized that the new product of the second-generation Xiaobawang game console is likely to force changes in the TV industry. Hiroshi Yamauchi pointed to the connection line between the second-generation Xiaobawang game console and the Sharp TV.

……

At Sony's headquarters, in front of Akio Morita and Norio Oga, there is also a combination of a Sharp TV and a second-generation Xiaobawang game console, as well as a combination of a Sharp TV and an Epson video recorder.

"We seem to be a little behind in terms of technology adoption. Akio Morita smiled wryly and put down the remote control in his hand.

As a terminal, the TV is also advancing with the continuous development of the entire TV program system, such as the transformation of program signal data from analog composite to analog component.

In black-and-white televisions, the display is based on the grayscale of brightness, and in color televisions, a color-coding method called YUV has been developed.

Among them, "Y" represents brightness, and "U" and "V" are chromaticity and intensity.

If you ignore the "U" and "V", then the remaining "Y" signal is the same as the previous black-and-white TV signal, that is, the color TV is compatible with the black-and-white TV.

Current. It is different from the video recorder of the TV station and the home TV game console. How do you transmit your own program data to a television set? It mainly relies on a device called an RF modulator -- a radio frequency modulator.

In short, it is. Have the TV receive this signal through a blank channel as if it were a regular TV program.

This particular channel is Channel 3 or 4 between 66 and 72 MHz in North America, 36 in Europe, 90 to 102 MHz in Japan and 13 to 210 MHz in Japan.

RF modulators are usually in the form of external boxes to prevent their radio waves from affecting the normal operation of the TV.

But. The RF modulator modulates the composite signal and then demodulates the TV, which inevitably introduces more noise and degrades the picture quality.

In order to solve this problem, the Epson video recorder, the second-generation Xiaobawang game console and the Sharp TV provide a direct cable connection between the A_V terminal, the program data signal of such entertainment appliances and the RF signal sent by the antenna or cable TV are processed separately, thus greatly changing the picture quality.

As for the RF modulator, it can go into history.

Of course, A_V terminals are not the perfect solution. Guy because it avoids signal loss caused by RF modulators. However, the current analog composite signal is designed to mix YUV signals together. It caused a degrade in image quality at the root.

The most effective solution is, of course, to carry out a technological change from analog composite and analog component to digital composite and digital component.

However, at the current level of the industry, A_V terminals are already the most suitable solution.

Norio Oga understands that Akio Morita, who has seen all this, is worried about the current videotape format war between Betamax and VHS, and since this year, the balance of victory and defeat has changed in Sony's favor.

"The decisive factors in this format battle are probably more than technical and marketing, and more like a battle for who will best win the favor of entertainment content providers. Norio Ohga groaned and said, "From the current relationship between laser records and record companies, we can also see such commonalities. After JVC agreed to all of Tang Huan's requests, the VHS format began to undergo significant changes in terms of competitiveness. ”

"I really didn't expect that Tang Huan's influence in Hollywood would determine who would win Betamax or VHS in the end. A trace of regret flashed on Akio Morita's face, knowing this, he made concessions at the beginning and won Tang Huan over, but he was exploited by JVC in the form of almost selling his body.

You know, just this year, the home video recorder market began to explode, with the further popularization of the price of video recorders and video tapes, this kind of home appliances have become the standard configuration of middle-class families.

But in this boom, VHS is thriving, and Betamax is stagnant.

The biggest reason is that Tang Huan, who was rejected by Sony, fully embraced the VHS format and carried out a series of dazzling and dizzying technical upgrades, and the A_V terminal is only the latest achievement.

"Betamax has lost the initiative in the home video recorder market, but it still maintains its advantage in the broadcast market, and we can't afford to lose ground anymore. Akio Morita thought for a moment, and finally ordered, "I need a detailed summary report of Tang Huan's role in promoting VHS." ”

Seeing the puzzled look on Norio Oga's face, Akio Morita explained, "Maybe we can be like Tang Huan, by controlling an influential Hollywood film company in the industry, to promote Sony's consumer electronics business from the soft factor." ”

At this time, the subordinates reported that the representatives of the RCA asked to make an appointment for a meeting.

Akio Morita was slightly stunned, "I remember, didn't they go to Panasonic and JVC?"

"These Americans are arrogant and cunning, and they may come to us to find some bargaining leverage in their favor. Norio Ohga guessed.

"Then arrange for them to come over as soon as possible. Akio Morita nodded.

……

Of course, Tang Huan has also noticed the major changes that are taking place in the home video recorder market, but he looks at it from a slightly more special angle.

In Tang Huan's view, the strong consumer demand for home video recorders is related to a factor that is difficult to publicize, that is, another A_V. After all, with a VCR, this kind of content is not limited to going to some small theaters.

In the 1980s, Japan followed the example of Europe and the United States, which were heavily regulated, and completely opened the door to this field.

It is said that just last year, the first best-selling film appeared, and the sales of videotapes reached 130,000 boxes. As for the format, it's VHS.

It is not difficult to imagine what the result would be after such an alternative weight was added to the balance of the videotape format war. (To be continued.) )