RCA SelectaVision

Background
SelectaVision was a brand name used originally on RCA's VHS VCRs, and later for the Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED) system that RCA marketed from 1981 to 1986. Initially, RCA released films and other programs on their own label, while MGM/CBS Home Video started releasing CEDs shortly after the format's launch. Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, MGM, Avco Embassy, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and others licensed their films to RCA for release on the CED format.

Beginning in 1982, 20th Century Fox Video began releasing CEDs on their own label, and by 1983, all the other studios had began releasing their films on the CED format. Vestron Video, and Embassy Home Entertainment were also releasing CEDs by 1984. By 1984, RCA was releasing CEDs on a limited scale under its own label, while other studios had picked up the pace of CED release. Some titles were released twice on the format, once by RCA, and again by 20th Century Fox Video or CBS/FOX Video. For Your Eyes Only was released twice, first by MGM/UA Home Video and again later by CBS/FOX Video. Grease was released twice, first by RCA and again by Paramount Home Video. A small handful of titles were issued twice, once in mono, and again in stereo as stereo players became available. RCA ceased manufacturing of titles under their own label by 1985, as they also had RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video for that material. RCA ceased CED Player manufacturing in the spring of 1984, and disc manufacturing ceased on June 27, 1986.

The fanfares were used only on titles that were released through RCA. A handful of RCA-released titles, namely Warner Bros. titles, used the Warner Home Video logo instead. Columbia also did not use the RCA fanfare on their RCA released material, instead going to the opening Columbia logo on their films. On Disney titles, the fanfare was followed by the 1978 Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo. All other studios releasing material on CED used their normal logos. For a complete list of material released in the U.S. on CED, visit CED Magic.

1st Logo (1981-1982)
Logo: On a black background, we see a thin ring zoom out, with star-like spheres gliding around it. It then flips to its side, creating a line with a muted rainbow of colors under it. The line extends along with the rainbow and a huge white RCA logo arises from the rainbow before quickly fading out. The rainbow of colors pans down as the words (with the rainbow trail following them) "A SelectaVision VideoDisc Presentation" in a white Helvetica font, pan up word by word, in sync with the music. The "V" in "SelectaVision" has an overhanging edge over the "i" next to it, serving as that letter's dot.

FX/SFX: All the animation in the logo. Appears to be made from basic, yet good 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A synth choir rendition of Mussorgsky's "Promenade" with 4 fancy chime notes at the end, an excerpt from Isao Tomita's 1974 synth arrangement of "Pictures at an Exhibition".

Availability: Very rare. Seen only on videodiscs released by RCA until early 1982.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1982-1985)
Logo: On a grid with a  sunrise at the horizon, we see (at an angle) three, , and  rings move to the right at us. They then fuse together, creating a white disc that flashes and shines like a vinyl disc. The RCA corporate logo appears on the disc, and it turns to us, turning black. "RCA" zooms forward at us, while the disc moves to the upper right hand corner with a rainbow trail following it. The rainbow trail places itself into another ground grid, revealing a sunrise and the text "A SELECTAVISION VIDEODISCS PRESENTATION" in a Copperplate Gothic font, which zooms in shining. The logo then cuts out as the text suddenly starts to speed up.

FX/SFX: Very good '80s CGI done by Robert Abel & Associates.

Music/Sounds: A soft synth heard at the beginning, which leads into a triumphant orchestral fanfare at the end.

Availability: Rare. Used on RCA-released videodiscs only from 1982 to 1986. However, for the 1st time in 35 years, it appeared on the Amazon Prime Video print of Jane Fonda Workout (the original one), since it used the CED copy of it.

Editor's Note: None.