From: u8902989@cs.uow.edu.au (Chung Ming Liu)
Subject: LD development (History from HI-VI Japan)
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Wollongong University, Australia
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 08:21:26 GMT

The following is a brief history of LD evolution :- 
(Translated from HI-VI (Japan))
The model number might varies.

Please correct me if I'm wrong !

Years-Months
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1973	Pioneer obtained the exclusive licenses to RCA(CED) Disc format.

1974	Philips/MCA release the specification for optical disc format,
	Pioneer dropped their committment to RCA(CED).

1977-10 Pioneer & MCA formed UPC (Universal Pioneer Ltd.) MCA would lead the 
	LD software division.

1978	Victor(JVC) had released their VHD format.

1978	US Magnabox begin the production of family/home use LD players.

1979	US General Motors (GM) purchase 12,000 units of professional 
	LD players PR-7820.

1980-1  National/Panasonic adopted the Victor(JVC) VHD spec.
	US Thorn EMI , GE, National/Panasonic, Victor formed VHD Electronics
	to manufacturer VHD Disc.  

	Later in the year Toshiba, Sanyo, Mitshibishi, Home Electronic,
	Fujisu General, Yamaha, Trio(Kenwood), Pioneer, etc have all joined
	the VHD band wagon.

1980-6	Pioneer had released the first home use LD player VP-1000 
	(top loading) begin selling in the US market.

1980-11	Pioneer, Philips, MCA, IBM formed Laservision Association.
	Same year, Pioneer also concentrate on LD software production.

1981-3	Pioneer Laser Disc Corp. has offically formed.

1981-10 Almost a year later after the US releases, VP-1000 begin selling
	in Japan at 228,000 Yen.

1982-4  Japan has approx 70 different LD titles in production.
	Japan Laser Disc Giant Pioneer Video Corp. (PVC) was also formed.

1983-4	Victor(JVC) begin selling VHD player, many soon follows.

1983-7	Star Wars LD is selling like hot cakes it tops the chart and sold
	10,000 copies in one month. (9,260 Yen)

1983-9	PVC has total LD software sells over 5 million disc. It can produce
	at 400,000 LDs per month.

1983-11	Pioneer had had released the first front loading LD , LD-7000 
	(199,800 Yen).
	Japan LD titles over 1000.

1983-12 Sony also jointed the LD band wagon.

1983	US Pioneer Video Manufacturing (PVM) is formed.

1984-4	Sony had began sale of LD player (Pioneer as OEM supplier to Sony).

1984-6	Asia Pacific formed the Laservission Association Pacific (LVAP).

1984-9	Pioneer had released the first MultiDisc LD/CD player CLD-9000
	(249,800 Yen). 
	Production of 20cm LD has began.

1984-11 Teac had began sale of LD player (Pioneer as OEM supplier to Sony).

1984-12 Star Wars (Empire Strike Back) has sold 35,000 copies in one week.

1985-2	Hitachi had began sales of LD player (Pioneer as OEM).

1985-3	Marantz had began sales of LD player (Pioneer as OEM).

1985-6	US Video Giant CIC had obtained LD software license.
	Sony had manufactured its own LD player LDP-505 Lasermax (159,000 Yen).
	Japan had produced over 2000 different LD titles.

1985-11	Yamaha had maunfatured the cheapest LD player LV-X1 (98,000 Yen).

1985-12	LaserVision Association Pacific 1st Annual Conference, had over 38
	LD software manufacturer.

1986-1	Pioneer 2nd generation MultiDisc LD player CLD-7 (158,000 Yen).
	Japan had produced over 3000 different LD titles.

1986-4	Hitachi had manufactured a LD Karaoke player VIP-20D (129,800 Yen).

1986-5	Pioneer had manufactured a LD Karaoke player LD-9200D (129,800 Yen).
	Star Wars (Return of The Jedi) had the highest sale in LD software
	history 100,000 copies.

1986-11	Pioneer had released a reference class LD player LD-S1 (250,000 Yen).

1987-3	Philips release the CDV specs.
	Japan now had produced over 5000 different LD titles.

1987-5	Sony had released a 3 discs player MDP-9 (148,000 Yen)

1987-6	Pioneer had released a MultiDisc LD player including CDV, the CLD-70
	(148,000 Yen).

1987-10	Pioneer had released another MultiDisc LD palyer with Fast Forward/Rev
	and slow motion features to their LD player CLD-99S (158,000).

1987-10	Top Gun LD had already sold 100,000 copies on its first batch.
	(4,700 Yen).

	Sanyo had had released the world first double side LD player SLV-J1.
	(138,000 Yen).

1987-12	Marantz had released its MultiDisc LD player CDV-770 (180,00 Yen).

1988-4	Pioneer had released a 2 disc LD player with continous playback LD-W1
	(220,000 Yen).

1988-8	National/Panasonic had had released a MultiDisc LD player LX-300
	(150,000 Yen).

1988-10	Sony had released a MultiDisc LD player MDP-911 (220,000 Yen).

1988-10	Pioneer had released a MultiDisc LD player using digital TBC 
	technology and both side play features CLD-970 (188,000 Yen).

1988-12	Yamaha had released a MultiDisc LD player with picture quality 
	adjusting features CDV-2000 (220,00 Yen).
	Japan now had produced over 7000 different LD titles.

1989-5	Sony had released a low cost MultiDisc LD player MDP-111 (88,000 Yen).

1989-5	Pioneer had released a low cost MultiDisc LD player CLD-100
	(79,800 Yen).

1989-9	Marantz had released the cheapest MultiDisc LD player CDV-390 
	(75,000 Yen).

1989-10	Pioneer had released a Auto Reverse MultiDisc LD player CLD-909
	(168,000 Yen).

1989-12	Pioneer had released a New Generation High End Reference Class LD 
	player LD-X1 (400,000 Yen).

1990-2	Sony Pioneer had released its High End MultiDisc LD player MDP-999
	(280,000 Yen).
	Japan now had produced over 10,000 different LD titles.

1990	The low end LD player price war had began.

1990-5	Sony had released a low cost MultiDisc LD player MDP-333 (69,800 Yen).

1990-6	Pioneer had followed Sony and released a low cost MultiDisc LD player
	CLD-110 (69,800 Yen).

1990-6 	Marantz also follow with a CDV-400 (69,800 Yen).

1990-8	National/Panasonic had released a Auto Reverse MultiDisc LD player
	LX-1000 (170,000 Yen).

	Kenwood had design a MultiDisc LD player which mainly concentrate on 
	audio quality LVD-700 (99,800 Yen), and a low cost player LVD-300
	(69,000 Yen).

1990-11	Pioneer had released a MultiDisc LD player which based on the LD-X1
	design, with Auto Reverse (188,000 Yen).

1990-12	Philips had released a contrevoral MultiDisc LD player 
	(with PAL -> NTSC)  PLD-600WS (220,000 Yen).

1991-4	National/Panasonic had released a low cost MultiDisc LD player MASH
	LX-101 (69,800 Yen).

	Pioneer Video Corp. produce 2,700,000 LDs per month.

1991-5	Pioneer had released a low cost MultiDisc LD player CLD-200 
	(69,800 Yen)


1991-7	Sony had released a low cost MultiDisc LD player MDP-405 (69,800 Yen).
	Japan now had produced over 12,000 different LD titles.

1991-9	Pioneer released 3 more Auto Reverse LD player CLD-535, CLD-737, 
	CLD-939.

1992-5	Pioneer released a new generation MultiDisc LD player CLD-1750
	(a NTSC->PAL, PAL, NTSC), replaced the CLD-1450. This player with
	be able to playback future 16:9 LD software on 16:9 TV.


Hope you enjoys this, this is my first time effort, please e-mail or follow
up if you have any comments.

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Chung Ming Liu			   	| 
u8902989@cs.uow.edu.au			|  
University of Wollongong, Australia. 	|
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Enjoys : Anime, Manga, Hi-tech toys, model kits
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