The Business of Research: RCA and the Videodisc Margaret B

Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-36821-6 - The Business of Research: RCA and the VideoDisc Margaret B. W. Graham Index More information

Index

Acoustical & Electromechanical Re- Biewener, John, 171, 177, 179 search Laboratory (A&ER), 68, Bilby, Kenneth, 190, 205 87, 89, 90-2, 94 Bitting, Robert Adler, Robert, 170 assembles Video Playback System advanced materials control, 21 Team, 124 advertising, 213 background and experience, 118, Airco Technical Company (Canada), 228 163 conflict with RCA Laboratories, Alcoa, 227, 233 125, 178-9 Alexanderson Alternator, 35 heads new venture team, 118 Alexanderson, Ernst, 35, 52 leaves RCA, 147 Alic, James, 207 relinquishes programming re- Allied, 233 sponsibilities, 140 AM signal format, 101, 135, 137, reports to Consumer Electronics 153 Division, 145 Ampex, 68, 91, 226 succeeded by Bricker, 149 antitrust litigation, 41, 81, 139-40 warned of Japanese competition, Applied Research Group, 98 130 Applied Technologies Division, 99 Bradshaw, Thornton Armstrong, Edwin, 54 analyzes VideoDisc failure, 217 Arthur D. Little, 155 appointed chairman, 217 AT&T, 8, 15-16, 31, 37, 43, 121, 218 focuses on core business, 217 audio disc technology, 174, 203 withdraws VideoDisc, 213 autocoater, 163, 185-6, 198, 201, 211 Brandinger, Jay, 207 Avco, 146, 150 Bricker, Gordon, 149, 166, 171, 177 Brown, George, 65, 86, 89, 92, 95, Baker, Walter, 55, 64 106 Ball, Henry, 125-6, 130-2, 138, 151, building-block research, 71-3, 7b, 160 78-80, 103, 224 Banquet frozen foods, 12 Burns, John, 11, 81-3, 84, 87, 171 Barone, Stephen, 193 basic materials research, 51 basic science research, 69-75 cable television, 107-8, 151 Bell & Howell, 132, 146, 149-50 caddy, 16-17, 194, 200, 203 Bell Laboratories, 57 California space program, 73 Bendix, 233 Camden (N.J.) facilities, 44, 51-3, Betamax (Sony), 22-3, 181, 188-91, 56, 58, 60, 63, 70, 82, 91-2, 96, 194, 205-6, 208 98-9, 117-18 245

© in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-36821-6 - The Business of Research: RCA and the VideoDisc Margaret B. W. Graham Index More information

Index capacitance systems, 5, 20, 22, 24, consumer safety issues, 17, 202 93, 97-8, 101-2, 135, 153, 156- Coronet Carpets, 12, 26 7, 169, 175, 183, 208, 212; see cross-licensing agreements, 45, 68 also Discpix, VideoDisc Cartrivision (Avco), 22, 146, 150 Daniels, Josephus, 36 cathode ray camera, 53; tubes, 59 David Sarnoff Research Center, 27, CBS 29, 48, 61, 76, 78, 102, 104-5, building systems technology, 10 225 color camera technology, 114 see also RCA Laboratories color television systems, 61-2; Decca, 22, 134, 181 early sales, 65; kinescope op- decoding circuitry, 17 posed, 66; withdrawn from deForest, Lee, 35 market, 65 Depression, 53, 56 disc production capability, 208-9 Discovision, 23 divisional structure, 61 Disco Vision Associates, 212 EVR videoplayer announced, 22, Discpix, see also VideoDisc 100, 102; color version prom- capacitance technology, 96-7, 108 ised, 109, 115; competitive RCA feasibility goals, 112 stance, 109, 111, 116-17, 168; Morsey applies pressure on, 110 press reaction, 120-1, 133; writ- PREVS decision against, 116 ten off, 146; see also EVR project started, 96-8 formed, 43 proprietary technology, 108 Hytron acquired, 61 Records Division dislikes, 117, McCoy joins, 208-9 123 NBC rival, 43 renamed VideoDisc, 136 postwar systems RCA competitor, Stanley-Tan report considers, 102, 61, 170, 226 107-8 prewar RCA rivalry, 21, 61 Teldec approach judged inferior, RCA disc agreement, 21, 208 135 VHF TV spectrum requested, 61- tentative introduction date, 116 2; FCC grants, 62-3; decision discs, 15, 16, 17, 177 reversed, 64-5 coated, 15, 18, 92, 154-5, 162, CIT Financial Corporation, 26, 208, 180, 185-6, 197-200, 202, 211 217-18 conductive, 202-3, 226 clean-room production, 21, 133, uncoated, 15, 92-3, 97-8, 199, 155, 163 201-3 Clemens, Jon, 97, 135, 137 Dynagroove, 87 Close, Frederick, 227 color encoding, 151 electromechanical technologies Colortrak, 158-9, 207 mastering, 15, 18, 112 Columbia Pictures, 128 pickups, 15, 134 compression molding, 203 recording, 101, 134, 154, 156, 201, Conrad, Anthony, 13, 150, 156-7, 203 171, 179, 182, 184, 186-8, 190 electron beam equipment, 137, 163- consumer electronics industry, 6, 4 24, 128, 183, 191, 194, 217 electron beam technologies Consumer Electronics Division (In- mastering, 15, 17, 163-4, 180, dianapolis), 73, 96, 130-1, 133, 186, 201 136-7, 145-7, 207 microscope, use in, 81, 101, 222 Consumer Electronics Laboratory, recording, 92, 101-2, 153-5 90, 98-9 scanning, 151, 154 246

±ndex Electronic Components Division, 80 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) electronic retrieval devices, 15 investigation, 41 electronic systems, 217 film, see high-density information Electronic Videorecorder, see EVR storage media electronics industry, 218, 224 film companies, 142 electronics research, 68-9, 71-2, 90, FM signal format, 54, 62, 101, 135, 218 137, 153 Electronics Research Laboratory, 93, follower strategies, 182-5 98-9 Folsom, Frank, 60, 65, 81 Emerson, 60 Ford, 12, 223 Enders, William, 107-9, 112-13, Fotomat, 214 115, 130 "Four Star International," 140 Engstrom, Elmer Fox, Len, 202, 226 backs long-range research, 83 frame-by-frame information format, director of research and engineer- 92, 97, 117 ing, 69 freeze-frame, 112, 161, 203-4 favors central funding, 56 Frey, Donald, 146, 149 focuses on home information, 218 Frost & Sullivan videoplayer report, head of RCA Laboratories, 80-1 195 institutes research budget, 81 notes Sarnoff's lack of formal General Electric training, 229 announces videodisc venture, 212 RCA president, 83 divests RCA, 45 replaced by Robert Sarnoff, 103 electronics R&D, 69 research director, 51 forms NBC with RCA, Westing- supports RCA Laboratories, 78 house, 43 supports Homefax, 89 Harrison (NJ) electric tube plant European Common Market, 12 transferred to RCA, 45, 51, 74 Evanoff, George nonmagnetic television recording, appointed corporate staff mem- 92 ber, 113 radio, little interest in, 50 functions taken by Sonnenfeldt, RCA, joint stake in, 31, 37-9 171 rights to Alexanderson Alterna- marketing report videorecorder, tor, 35 1969, 116 standardization committees, ac- marketing review prerecorded tive in, 40, 55, 63-4 videoplayers 1974, 165-6, 174 supports JVC disc model, 212 plan rendered obsolete by Phil- television research, 52, 60, 65 ips-MCA entry, 177 views RCA disc demonstration, recommends Videodisc, 166 198 EVR (CBS), 22, 100, 102, 108-9, General Electric Laboratories, 44, 57 115-17, 119-21, 126, 129, 134- Ginsberg, Charles, 68 5, 146, 168, 226, 233 Goldmark, Peter, 61, 109, 170 Ewing, Douglas, 70, 72, 82 Goldsmith, Alfred N., 32, 49-50 Goodman, Julian, 108 government research contracts, 11, Farnsworth, Philo, 53 58-9, 70, 75, 78, 82-5, 92 fast search capability, 20 Griffiths, Edgar H. Federal Communications Commis- agrees to continue VideoDisc pro- sion (FCC), 52, 55, 61-3, 89, gram, 190-5 144 appointed RCA CEO, 14, 188 247

Index Griffiths, Edgar H. (cont.) creates laboratory linkages with chooses new VideoDisc leader- product divisions, 86-7 ship, 206-7 emphasizes home entertainment, commits RCA to VideoDisc 85 launch, 21, 196-7, 205-6, 207-8 investigates EVR, 100 follows traditional RCA policies, opposes Magtape, 150 205-6 prefers Discpix, 115 orders market report for Video- speech to IEEE, 76 Disc, 188 states RCA Laboratories planning prefers VideoDisc program can- priorities, 84-5 cellation, 184 supports electron-beam technol- provides RCA Laboratories with ogy, 101-2 support base, 225 technical background, 82 questions importance of technol- vice-president RCA Laboratories, ogy leadership strategy, 182 76 reviews VideoDisc program, 190- Hitachi, 209 5 Hittinger, William, 148-50, 158, Sonnenfeldt link, 228 188, 191 Gruber, Peter, 128 holograms, 98-9, 132-3 Holopix Halter, Jerry, 154, 156 becomes Holotape project, 104, Hannon, William, 99, 118, 135 107 Harbord, General James, 39, 58-9 description of technology, 98 Harrison (NJ) facilities, 45, 51-2, 56, disc format dropped for tape, 58, 74 107, 117 Harvard Business School, speeches hologram research, 98-9 at, 35, 42 pricing goals, 100 Hazeltine facilities, 63 rival to Discpix project, 99, 102 Hear-See player, 91, 94, 96 see also Holotape Hertz, 12, 26 Holotape Hewlett, Richard, 227 budget ended, 145 high-density information storage candidate for home information media, 15, 17, 218 center, 121 high-density recording, 90, 96, 134 crash program at Laboratories, high-resolution recording, 222, 225 115, 118-19, 223 Hillier, James designed to rival CBS EVR, 120- appointed head of RCA Laborato- 1, 134, 233 ries, 82 gains corporate attention, 123-5, attempts restructure of RCA Lab- 230 oratories, 76, 78, 80, 84-5, 87- high component costs, 112 9, 224-5 loses corporate favor, 134, 136, attempts technology transfers, 145, 156 158-9, 174, 180 product divisions dislike, 153 backs Videodisc program, 156, proprietary technology, 108, 115 164, 171, 179 public demonstration, 104, 115, considers technology leadership 117, 119, 120-1, 122, 128, 168 strategy, 113-4, 230 relations with corporate staff corporate vice-president Research worsen, 119, 125 & Engineering, 89, 106, 108, research advances, 117, 118-19, 164; replaced, 188 126, 132-3

248

Index rivals Discpix and Phototape proj- Kell, Ray, 100 ects, 107-9, 116, 117, 123, 127, Korean War, 63, 70 130, 135 Kreuzer, Barton, 94, 96, 145-6, 149 schedule adjustment, 130 specifications reopened, 126, 132- Lancaster (PA) facilities, 60, 107, 3 112, 136, 147 target prices, 116, 129, 133, 178 Land, Edwin, 227 technologies involved, 111 LaserDisc (Pioneer), 23 Homefax, 89-90, 107, 121 lasers, 19, 96-9, 101, 124, 151, 169, Honeywell, 13 212 Husky Company (Canada), 163, 185 see also optical mastering Hytron, 61 Laservision (Philips-MCA), 23, 206, 212 IBM, 11, 12, 107, 111, 121, 212, 218, leadership strategy, 113-14, 182-4 227 Lend-Lease Act, 57 ICL, 13 Lewis, Henry, 99 iconoscope, 52-3, 59 Lockhart, Kenneth, 153 Indianapolis facilities, 45, 60, 63, 73, long-playing (LP) records, 15-16, 91, 94, 96, 132, 135, 145, 147, 140, 218 152-3, 157-9, 169, 179-80, 184, 186-7, 196, 198, 200-2, 204, McCoy, Donald 207, 211 advises Colortrak on colorimetry, information encoding, 131, 151, 204 159 information storage formats, 15 appointed chief technical officer injection molding, 163, 203 for VideoDisc, 180-1 innovations, 1-7 attempts VideoDisc technology incremental, 19, 35 transfer, 159, 162-3, 169, 171 nonincremental, 35, 223 attends Philips demonstration, Institute of Electrical & Electronic 151 Engineers (IEEE), 76 demonstrates VideoDisc in Japan, Institute of Radio Engineers, 32 175 Interim Research Planning Commit- develops disc production capacity tee (IRPCO), 87-90 at CBS, 208-9 Isom, Rex, 63, 117, 154, 158 director of Consumer Electronics ITT, 12, 45 Laboratories, 123, 133 reports on VideoDisc technical Japan Victor Corporation (JVC), 24, problems, 177-9 156, 199, 206, 212, 216 revises Holotape price upwards, Japanese color television, 107 133 Japanese competition, 23, 28, 111, McDermott, Thomas, 140-5, 147, 128-9, 131, 149, 155-6, 170, 176, 205, 209 188, 191, 194-5, 216, 235 Magnavision (Magnavox), 206 Japan, demonstrations in, 175-7, Magnavox, 23, 146, 206 198-9 magnetic technologies J. C. Penney, 209 discs, 91 Johnson, James, 165 head pickups, 15 Joliffe, Charles, 54, 61-2 recording, 92, 226 tape, 14-15, 68, 91-2, 94, 148-50, Keizer, Eugene, 90-1, 96-8, 135, 160, 165, 181, 191, 212 153 videocassettes, 22

249

Index magnetic technologies (cont.) MIT, 70, 118 videorecorders, 94-5 Morsey, Chase videotape players/recorders, 22, background at Ford, 106, 223 107, 111, 124, 129-30, 136 backs Corporate Venture Group, Magtape 122 Bell & Howell arrangement, 132, backs videoplayer research, 108-9 149-50 cuts off Homefax support, 107 Consumer Electronics Division heads corporate new product prefers, 136 planning, 106 corporate backing decreases, 150, new marketing plan, 122 157 puts pressure on Discpix, 110 Hillier opposes, 15 puts pressure on Holotape, 116, mass market economics lacking, 121-2 156 refuses McDermott funds, 144 programming, 144, 147 seeks programming director, 140 project started, 132; ended, 148, sees CBS as threat, 109-10, 114- 157, 167 15 proprietary technology lacking, sets up Advanced Product Plan- 156 ning group, 107 startup plan by Venture Group, Motorola, 146 138-9, 145 system, 146-7; difficulties, 147 Nally, Edmund, 33, 37, 39 Marconi (British), 31 National Research Council (NRC), Marconi, Guglielmo, 31, 33-5, 53 50 Marconi Wireless Company of National Television Standards Com- America mittee (NTSC) concentrates on growth, 32 first, 55, 62 neglects technology, 33-5 second, 63-5 patents expiring, 35 NBC precedes RCA, 30 and Alic, James, 207 sold to GE, 37 cable television project proposed, U.S. Navy takes over, 36 107 wireless research, 34-5 Discpix involvement suggested, mastering systems, 15, 137, 153-4, 102 175, 185-6, 193, 199-202 financial difficulties, 206-7 materials research, 222 formed, 43 Matsushita, 10, 27, 154-6, 175, 183, President Julian Goodman, 108; 191, 195, 199, 205-6, 216, 234 Robert Sarnoff, 11, 105; Herbert MCA, 23, 151, 161, 166, 168-9, 171, Schlosser, 20, 205 177, 181, 206, 212, 217 profits, 183 see also Philips N.V. programming expertise, 139, 141 media RCA disliked, 105, 124, 140 contributes to VideoDisc failure, Selectavision demonstration, 8 216-18 Sonnenfeldt moves to, 206 favors VideoDisc, 212 television costs, 60-1, 66 negative effect on research, 233 "Today" show, 19 reaction to Magtape shelving, 148 "Tonight" show, 114 Melpar, 82, 86 nonmagnetic technologies Mills, Delbert, 108 approach, 92, 94, 96-7, 102 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing tape, 15 (3M), 111 videoplayers, 90 250

Index Olson, Harry, 89, 91, 93 15-16, 154-5, 174, 183, 234 (see optical technologies also capacitance systems) discs, 22-3, 168 pilot programs, 174-5, 179-80, 184, images, 15 194, 196, 201, 211, 221 mastering, 15 Pioneer, 23 systems, 24, 151-2, 161, 212 playback vs. recording concept, 188 optics, 59, 222 player design, 152-3, 178, 184, 196, orthicon, 59 201, 203-4, 208-9, 212-13, 216, Owens-Illinois, 233 218 Playtape, 111 patents, 222 playtime, 18, 151-2, 161-2, 181, see also RCA patents 195, 203 pattern innovations, 75 Polaroid, 227 pause capability, 20 Pollack, Roy Philco, 68 Consumer Electronics Division Philips, N.V. head, 148, 177 Discovision, 23 Group Vice President, 20, 188, Japanese market sought, 174-5, 207 199-200 opposes VideoDisc, 188, 190-1, Laservision made by Magnavox, 227 206 replaces Sonnenfeldt, 206-7 MCA, joint venture with, 23, 168, television turnaround, 207 177, 181, 217, 233; videodisc timing described as VideoDisc demonstrated, 168-9; press failure, 217 coverage, 169-70; mass market Prerecorded Electronic Video Sys- not sought, 170, 183, 200, 233 tems (PREVS), 108, 110, 115-17 North American, 23 prerecorded tapes, 217, see also pro- optical videodisc system demon- gramming strated, 151, 161; system fea- process control, 18, 222 tures, 161-2, 165 process innovation, 18 organization, 10 programming, 112, 136, 139-44, RCA VideoDisc rivalry, 162, 165, 146-7, 165-6, 178, 181, 183-5, 169-71, 191, 195 195, 201, 207, 209, 214-26 technology to Japan, 235 proprietary advantages, 9-10, 68, videocassette system demon- 92, 103, 108, 115, 144, 155-6, strated, 131, 149; compared to 180, 191, 194, 199-200, 225, RCA Magtape, 131 234-5 videodisc technology, 169-70, 195, 217 radar research, 59 visited by RCA Venture Group, Radio Company, 37 145 see also RCA photographic images, 15, 22 Radio Corporation of America, 12, photolithography, 222 31, see also RCA Photophone sound recording, 44 radio industry, Photopix, 97,100 buffs in, 33, 39 Phototape, 100, 108, 110, 115 early history, 32-40 pickups first stations, 38 laser, 15, 24 sales, 38-9, 42 magnetic head, 15 Sarnoff's Radio Music Box, 32, 38 optical, 174 standardization of components, piezo electric needle or pressure, 40 251

Index Radio Keith Orpheum (RKO), 94 financial difficulties, 13-14, 143- Radio Manufacturers Association, 4, 197, 213, 217, 225 55 government contracts, 11, 107 radio spectrum disputes, 54-5 Government Systems Division, 80 Radio Shack, 209 holding company structure, 45 Radio Trust, 41, 43; Justice Depart- Home Instruments, 11, 94, 102, ment suit against, 44-5 108-9 (see also Consumer Elec- Radiotron Division, 40, 45, 51, 56 tronics Division) Radiotron Standardization Commit- image, 12, 19-20, 28, 105, 190, tee, 40 205, 228 Ramberg, E., 92 Industrial Electronics, 82, 86 RCA (see also RCA Laboratories; integrated systems strategy, 21 RCA research; RCA television) joint ventures, 12 acquisitions, 12-13, 43, 121, 208 License Laboratory, 50-1 (see also RCA divestments) licensing, 13, 27, 41, 50, 56, 65, advanced development groups, 71, 80-4, 86, 105, 135, 145-6, 26, 72-3, 86-7, 94, 130-1, 135, 150, 154, 164, 169-70, 174-5, 145, 152-3, 162 178-9, 183-5, 191, 193, 199, Advanced Product Planning, 107, 206, 211, 216, 231, 234 130 Licensing Department, 23, 193, Board of Directors, 13, 81, 94, 177 231 Broadcast Division, 91 Licensing Division, 184 camera technology, 114 management shake-up, 182, 188 Communications Research, 56 "Manhattan Project," see Video- computers, 10-14, 27, 82-3, 93, Disc product program 106-7, 126, 144, 156, 164, 171, Manufacturing Company, 54 180, 190, 193, 233 manufacturing locations, 59, 60, consumer electronics, 8, 10-11, 66, see also Camden, Indianapo- 14, 191, 195 lis, Lancaster Consumer Electronics Division, marketing, 104-6, 112, 130, 144, 15, 23, 26-7, 107-8, 110-11, 165, 183, 194, 226, 231 117, 120, 124, 148-50, 152-3, New Business Programs, 171 157-8, 162, 201, 207-8 operating divisions organization, Consumer Electronics Laboratory, 1970, 12 123, 159 organization 1965, 11 Consumer Electronics Sales & origins, 37 Marketing, 207 overseas licensees, 13, 106 corporate facilities, 178 patents, 10, 37-8, 40-1, 54, 56-7, corporate staff organization, 12- 60, 65, 81, 131, 171, 186, 202 13, 106, 130, 144, 161, 164, 166, product divisions, 17, 72, 80, 82, 225; strengthened by R. Sar- 86-8, 226-7 noff, 106 Professional Broadcast Division, cross-licensing, 37 94-5 dealers, 8, 19-21, 25, 40, 60, 164- Professional Broadcast Equip- 6, 183, 191, 194, 195, 207, 209, ment, 11 213-16, 218 Records Division, 26-7, 87, 91, development costs, 83 102, 111-13, 117, 123-4, 136, diversification, 43 139-41, 152-6, 158 divestments, 208, 217-19 Research Center, 14, 26 (see also Electronic Components, 11, 107 RCA Laboratories)

252

Index research and development bud- product division links, 80, 86-7, gets, 26, 78, 149 105 Research & Engineering, 188, 193 relation to corporate staff, 225 sales, 26, 39, 102 restructuring, 87 satellite research laboratory, 26 Section 13 1/2, 93 service, 11 seed money, 86, 94-5 service company, 60 share in corporate R&D budget, shareholders, 13, 85, 187, 190 78 Special Programs, 142, 145, 147 staff divisions, 70-1 strategy, 229-35 strategic planning, 84-5 diversification, 106, 223 television, color, focus on, 66 focus on R&D, 74 RCA research research control, 50, 56, 58 advanced electronics, 51, 58 research role played down, allocated corporate funds, 56 105-6 applications-oriented stress, 82 review, 165 combination of groups involved, Systems Research Laboratory, 86, 51 90-4, 96, 98 color television emphasis, 61 technical organization, 8, 10 core electronics technology, 83 technology transfers, 65, 157-60 data processing, 82, 85, 88, 93 vacuum tube technology, 40 early history, 49-52 venture group, 113-16, 122-6, entertainment electronics focus, 129-32, 135-8, 141, 145-7 85 Victor, 45, 52, 60 fundamental, emphasis on, 91 Video Playback Systems Team, funding by manufacturing divi- 124 sions, 55; corporate, 56 see also Selectavision; VideoDisc long-range emphasis, 56, 83 RCA Laboratories, 5-7, 15, 17, 46, organization, 17, 26, 45, 159-60 76, 131, 136-7, 144-5, 150-1, product-oriented focus, 88-90 153-9, 164, 174, 177-9, 186-7, radio, 50, 54 190, 197, 201-3, 211, 218, 224- staff goals, 222 6,231 television, 52-3; as pattern inno- back prerecorded video concept, vation, 75 107-9 RCA television budgets introduced, 81 black and white, 52 corporate control of, 110 color, 8, 10-12, 14, 52, 107, 157-8 criticized by Robert Sarnoff, 104- early research, 52 5 field testing, 54 electronics focus, 48, 68-9 iconoscope, 52-3, 59 fundamental research emphasis, investment costs, 53 69 orthicon, 59 group rivalries, 82, 88 patent protection, 54 increased staff, 83 sales, 138, 207 leadership change, 81 singled out by Sarnoff, 53 magnetic tape focus, 94-5 spectrum, 54-5 New Business & Research Evalu- standardization, 55, see also Na- ation, 89, 98, 107 tional Technical Standards postwar staff, 67-70 Committee Princeton facility built, 58, 61 real-time mastering, 18, 133, 137, Princeton University ties, 58, 70 151, 154, 164, 178, 200, 203

253

Index replication, 193, 200 leadership style, 30, 47, 205 research, negative stereotypes of, Navy service, 36 220-1 pressure on researchers, 223 research and development (R&D) promotes licensing abroad, 84, definition, 221 234 institutional character, 224 RCA career, 29 joint ventures, 234 receives Japanese award, 84 managing, 220-35 relies on color television, 85 mistrust of, 220-1 research strategy, 231 researchers, 220-1, 226 speech "Message to Broadcasters/' Rhodes, Roland, 153, 162 1947, 30 Riverhead (Long Island) facilities, speech to Harvard Business 49,56 School, 1928, 35, 42 Rockefeller Center demonstrations, spokesman for Cold War, 73 168, 178, 197 supports color television, 62-5; Rockville Road facilities, 184, 211 electronics, 72; Homefax, 89; roll-out plans, 179, 194, 208, 211, RCA Laboratories, 78, 83; re- 219 search, 56-7; VideoDisc, 20 Royal Navy (British), 33 Sarnoff, Robert appoints McDermott, 140-1; Son- Sanyo, 29 nenfeldt, 171 Sarnoff, David CEO, 103 alarmed by EVR, 100 commits RCA to technological anniversary presents, 49, 67, 223 leadership, 170 backs Laboratories, 225 dislikes CBS competition, 114 builds company, 9 ends Magtape, 150 cites importance of self-obsolesc- introduces Selectavision, 104 ence, 49 loses faith in Selectavision, 231 commitment to innovation, 227 modifies David Sarnoff's research commitment to technological strategy, 11, 231 leadership, 41-2, 46-7 planning session, 171 continuing leadership, 11 presents Holotape, 120-2 creates corporate research center, PREVS presentation, 115 4-5 replaced, 182 dislike of bureaucracy, 46 reviews VideoDisc, 156-7 early years Marconi, 31-6 style of management, 12, 104-10 early years RCA, 37-9 survives reshuffle, 164, 166 entrepreneurial vigor, 118 VideoDisc, 168, 179 executive vice-president, 45 Sauter, Jack, 25-6, 207 failing health, 113 Savage, Donald, 113 focus on home information, 218; scanner module, 131 on innovation, 291; on tele- scanning electron microscope, 137 vision, 52-5 Schairer, Otto, 56 frequent visitor to Laboratories, Schlosser, Herbert, 20, 205, 207 48-9 Screen Actors Guild, 142 known as the General, 48, 54, 67, Sears, 209 100 Selectavision lack of formal engineering train- business plan, 183 ing, 229 corporate budget, 145 leadership becomes less effective, dealers, 194 67 early products, 190 254

Index label, 205 see also National Television Stan- program announced, 117, 231 dards Committee projects, 15, 147, 159, 165, 228, Stanley, Thomas, 93, 96, 98, 102, 232 107-8, 113, 115, 123, 125, 160 status report, 150 Stanley-Tan Report, 102-3, 107 Selectavision Holotape, see Holotape statistical process control, 222 Selectavision Magtape, see Magtape stereo, 20, 213, 217 Selectavision VideoDisc, see stop motion, 112 VideoDisc product program stylii, 17, 93, 153, 158, 169, 175, 177, Selectavision Business Develop- 184, 194-5, 198, 201-4 ment, 145 systems semiconductors, 80, 86, 200-1, 217, advantage, 166 222 approach, 51, 90, 113-14, 122, sensors, 17 139, 197 Sharp, 209 innovation, 20, 61, 66, 113 Siemens, 10, 13 Research Laboratories, 65 signal encoding, 15, 92, 96-7, 203 signal-to-noise ratio, 18, 96, 152 takeover threats, 217 skipped field approach, 131 Tan, Henry, 102 SLX (Sony), 166 tape solid-state research, 69, 91, 158 formats, 131 Sonnenfeldt, Richard replication, 131, 133 appointed to VideoDisc, 171 transport mechanism (TTM), 132, assesses Japanese competition, 149 199-201 technology backs VideoDisc continuance, leadership, 184-5, 190, 193 194-5 obsolescence, value of, 35, 49, 85, cancels pilot operations, 201 205 effectiveness, 228 sharing, 60 familiarity with statistical process transfer, 86, 135, 179-80, 223, control, 222 232, 235 goes to NBC, 206-7 Telefunken, 10, 22, 35, 134, 145, imposes schedules, 186 152, 181 management approach, 180 television (see also television, black presides at VideoDisc demonstra- and white; television, color) tion, 168-9 defense-related research, 55 presses for improvements, 197-8 early experimental station, 52 promotional abilities, 190 FCC restricts syndication, 144 qualifications, 171 field testing, 54 reassigned, 206 interests sacrificed to radio, 143-4 reports to Conrad, 179, 182-4 market decline predicted, 84 solidifies control, 178-9 orthicon used in, 59 staff vice president for VideoDisc, production technology improved, 168 59 studies VideoDisc, 174, 177 RCA alienates industry, 65 visits Indianapolis, 180 regulatory environment, 54 Sony, 23, 94, 129-30, 166, 181-2, standards, 55, 62-5; RCA stan- 188, 190-1, 194-5, 197, 208 dard adopted, 65 Sorenson Consulting Group, 112-13 Worlds Fair broadcast, 55 Stancel, Al, 154-5 television, black and white standardization, 138, 193, 206 obsolescence foreseen, 85 255

Index television, black and white (cont. House Marine & Fisheries Com- pricing experience, 226 mittee, 36 programming, importance of, 139 Justice Department, 44 RCA mass-market receiver, 60 Navy, 35-37 roll-out marketing pattern, 219 Office of Naval Research, 69 Sarnoff insists on its introduction, Office of Scientific Research & 60 Development, 59 success frequently cited, 228 Senate, 55 technology sharing, 60 Supreme Court, 63 television, color advent of, 61 burden on RCA consumer divi- vacuum sions, 80 coating techniques, 180, 222 commercial broadcasting begins, tubes, 51, 59, 80 65 Van Cortland Park (NY) facilities, golden age, 8 49-50, 52 growth predicted, 85 venture groups, use of, 104, 113- importance as RCA product, 120 14, 228 improvements, 193 see also RCA venture group Japanese competition, 107, 188, VHF spectrum, 54-5, 62 191 VHS (Matsushita), 22-3, 27-8, 205- manufacturing investments, 191 6 pricing experience effect, 226 VHS (RCA), 205 programming scarcity, 139 Victor Talking Machine, 43-4, 51, Sarnoff tries to force develop- 56 ment, 223 videocassette recorders (VCRs), 23, Sonnenfeldt influenced by experi- 131, 149, 206, 208, 212, 214, ences of, 194 216-19, 229 Sony enters market, 181-2 Videodisc development project Systems Research Laboratory role advanced development groups in developing, 86, 92 involvement, 152-6; technology Zenith gaining market share, 107, transfer to, 157-61, 169 182-3; losing to RCA, 208 background, 75, 97, 136 (see also Teldec, 22, 134-5, 137-8, 151-2, Discpix) 154, 160, 181 research, 28, 137-8, 152-5; re- Texas Instruments, 228 search team low morale, 123 Thompson Brandt, 10 Sarnoff, Robert, backs, 148, 156-7 Thomson (France), 151 technical performance goals, 18, Thorn, 10 152, 177 time-shift capacity, 167 technology, 150-1; compared to Toshiba, 10, 209 competition, 151-2, 161-2 transistors, 91, 94 Webster supports, 164, 179-80 turntables, high-speed, 17 VideoDisc product program accelerated development, 196-7, UHF spectrum, 62 207 Umatic (Sony), 23, 129, 166 announced, 168-9 United Fruit, joint owner of RCA, Bilby supports, 190 31, 37 business plans, 166, 177-8, 182, United States 188-9, 194 Congress defeats Navy proposal, competition, 181, 188, 194, 199, 36 216-17 256

Index Conrad commitment to, 157, 182, marketplace entrance, 181, 212 187 next-generation, 180 Consumer Electronics Division Philips' features, 170 unenthusiastic, 27 RCA publicity, 151, 168 dealers negative toward, 214-15 research applications, 281 demonstrations in Japan, 174-7, technology, 174, 200 199 videoplayers, 14, 17, 22, 90, 103, description, 16, 19 129, 183, 195, 221-2, 225-6, feasibility questioned, 190-5 230, 232, 234 Griffiths and, 182, 188, 196, 197, videotape recorders, 68, 90-2, 149, 208 193, 195, 200, 205, 226 Hillier supports, 164, 179, 188 videotapes, 23, 214-26 introduction, 8, 19-22, 24-5; vidicon, 97, 99, 112, 124 scheduled, 178, 187, 191, 199- 200, 206, 213; too late, 229 investment costs, 26, 165, 196, Wards, 209 204; losses, 213, 218 Warner, John, 40 lessons of, 200, 226 Warren, Ray, 96, 124, 131-2, 137, management staff, 207-8, 225 149, 160 manufacturing, 21, 162-4, 185-6, Watson, Thomas, 227 198, 201, 211 Webster, William marketing, 25-6, 188-9, 194, 209, background, 89, 98 211, 219 budget cutbacks managed, 145 pilot program, 180, 184-5, 196, criticizes erratic funding, 225 201 discounts CBS videoplayer Pollack opposes, 190-1, 188, 227 claims, 100 press hostility, 217 electromechanical recording op- pricing, 20, 23-4, 178, 188-9, 200, posed, 154 204, 208, 213, 216 Electronics Research Laboratory production discontinued, 213 experience, 93 programming, 20, 140-4, 146, fosters competition among re- 165-6, 183, 209-11 searchers, 91 proprietary advantages, 185, 191, Laboratories head, 89, 98 193-4, 199 magnetic tape opposed, 130 RCA Laboratories involvement, pressured to promote VideoDisc, 27, 137-8, 150-1, 200-5, 211 179 risks, 21, 195, 208 PREVS strategy meeting, 113-14; sales, 213, 216 project backed, 223 Sarnoff, R. supports, 148, 156, VideoDisc examined, 138; seeks 182 product status for, 156, 158-9, Sonnenfeldt heads, 168, 171; con- 164 solidates, 178-9; reassigned, videoplayer technology, unde- 206 cided on, 123 stereo version, 213, 217 Wertheim Report, 211 strategy assumptions, 218-19 Western Electric, 233 technology improvements, 170, Western Union, 43 181, 188-9, 211 Westinghouse videodisc systems color camera, 114 description, 14-15, 17-18 divests RCA stock, 34 magnetic tape competition, 212; electronics R&D, involvement in, price advantage over, 206 69 257

Index Westinghouse (cont.) Waters Guild, 142 facilities given to RCA, 50-1, 73- 4 Xerox PARC, 224 NBC, forms with RCA and GE, 43 Young, Owen D., 37, 38 radio, little interest in, 50 RCA, joint stake in, 31, 37-9 Zeiss, William, 170 standardization, participation in Zenith, 27, 65, 107, 170, 182, 188, committees on, 40 190, 208 WJZ, joint project with RCA, 38 Zworykin, Vladimir, 52-3 Woodward, J., 92

258