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From WGRZ-TV Buffalo LaserDisc Players: wave of the future?

From Martin D – Mr. Pop – Do you remember the laser disc format? It was like DVD – but much larger – about the size of a record album. When did its popularity peak?

Mr. Pop History – Videophiles flocked to the 12-inch laser disc format – which offered much better quality over VHS tapes. Movies on laser disc began being showing-up in 1987 and by around 1990 – most movie studios were offering product on the format. Between say – 1991 and 1997 – studios had a steady $300-million-a-year business via the format – which at its peak – had just over 2 million users. Then 1997 came and so did the smaller 5-inch DVD.

Part of lasersdisc’s problem – it was never a recordable medium – just playback. That still made VHS better. Also, the average cost of a laserdisc was high – about $35. Also, – there weren’t that many manufacturers of laserdisc players.

The industry peaked in 1996 with $345 million in sales and was already dropping off in 1997. As far as players –in 1993 - some 287,000 laser disc players were sold. That number dropped to 27,000 by 1998!