Ye olde analogue High Definition video from 1987 at DVinfo.net

Andrew Smith · January 7th, 2026, 07:00 PM

Freshly uploaded to YouTube, this is from the master tape for the industry demo of the Japanese Hi-Vision television format from way back in 1987 - 18 years before HDV video cameras came on to the market (which for most of us would be the earliest HD format access). This is the industry demo for the format.

On a side note, I remember seeing a HDTV demonstration at World Expo '88. I can't remember which pavilion it was in except that it was one of the corporate ones. It would have been on a CRT screen back then of course, and my main reaction to it was "wow, it looks like a movie". No idea if they were playing back from this particular early format or not.

Enjoy.

Andrew

Doug Jensen · January 8th, 2026, 08:47 AM

A blast from the past. I saw that at NAB in 1988.

Christopher Young · Yesterday, 10:18 PM

Yup! Same here. But at IBC in '88. They also showed some tennis coverage footage from Wimbledon. It just blew our minds that we could see the hairs on the tennis ball close-ups and the fine stitching on Princess Diana's clothes on the close-ups as she was being presented to the players.

Chris Young

My how times have changed.
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK...Eng-Inf-34.pdf

W. Bill Magac · Today, 01:22 PM

Looked pretty good on my 2024 MacBook Pro. Not just resolution, I was also impressed how good the skin tones and colors looked.

January 7th, 2026, 07:00 PM	#1
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,144	Ye olde analogue High Definition video from 1987 Freshly uploaded to YouTube, this is from the master tape for the industry demo of the Japanese Hi-Vision television format from way back in 1987 - 18 years before HDV video cameras came on to the market (which for most of us would be the earliest HD format access). This is the industry demo for the format. On a side note, I remember seeing a HDTV demonstration at World Expo '88. I can't remember which pavilion it was in except that it was one of the corporate ones. It would have been on a CRT screen back then of course, and my main reaction to it was "wow, it looks like a movie". No idea if they were playing back from this particular early format or not. Enjoy. Andrew NHK's This Is Hi-Vision (1987 Analog HDTV Sony HDV-1000 HDVS 1" Master Tape Demonstration Footage) - YouTube

January 8th, 2026, 08:47 AM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,504	Re: Ye olde analogue High Definition video from 1987 A blast from the past. I saw that at NAB in 1988. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

Yesterday, 10:18 PM	#3
Christopher Young Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,609	Re: Ye olde analogue High Definition video from 1987 Yup! Same here. But at IBC in '88. They also showed some tennis coverage footage from Wimbledon. It just blew our minds that we could see the hairs on the tennis ball close-ups and the fine stitching on Princess Diana's clothes on the close-ups as she was being presented to the players. Chris Young My how times have changed. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK...Eng-Inf-34.pdf Attached Thumbnails

Today, 01:22 PM	#4
W. Bill Magac Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: New England USA Posts: 89	Re: Ye olde analogue High Definition video from 1987 Looked pretty good on my 2024 MacBook Pro. Not just resolution, I was also impressed how good the skin tones and colors looked.