Make a difference in our non-profit newsroom... and help Marketplace meet our year-end goal! Donate Today 💙
Final Note

Sony officially getting rid of its Betamax

Molly Wood Nov 10, 2015
HTML EMBED:
COPY
Final Note

Sony officially getting rid of its Betamax

Molly Wood Nov 10, 2015
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Cassette tapes may still be cool,  but I’m afraid those of you who have been holding on to your Betamax video cassettes will have to let go.

Sony announced today it will stop selling Betamax tapes in March 2016. 

I know what you’re thinking: “No, please no, don’t take my Betamax.”

Actually, I know what you were really thinking, and yes, they still make Betamax.

Even though the format lost out to VHS in the video cassette wars of the 80s, the Betamax stayed popular in music recording and a version of it was used in TV broadcast taping up until 2000.

Sony stopped making Betamax recorders in 2002, and this spring, it’ll be dead for good.

At least until the hipsters decide it’s cool again and bring it back.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.