If someone comes to me and says, I've got this device,' I then ask: One, does it give us a better look on the air? Two, is it more reliable? Three, is it cost-efficient?' If it doesn't serve one of those three things, I say. There's the door. I don't need it.'
- Julius Barnathan, President of ABC Broadcast Operations and Engineering.
The first videotape machine purchased by WRAL-TV in the mid-50s was made by AMPEX
The invention of videotape fulfilled the pent-up demand to reliably and cost effectively record programming for broadcast, and it looked better on the air. The first videotape machine purchased by WRAL-TV in the mid-50s was made by AMPEX. It resembled a household appliance, like a kitchen stove or washing machine. The stout looking machine appeared to be able to take a beating and keep on ticking, but videotape tape was a bit more delicate. It was 2 inches wide with the top edge of the tape containing the audio track. The lower edge contained the control track. If the top or bottom edge was crimped to the slightest degree, that portion of the tape was damaged beyond repair. Thankfully, the tape operator could simply cut off that part of the tape and use the remaining tape on the reel. Plus, the tape was reusable; erase it and record again. As WRAL grew, so did the need for more equipment. In the late 50's, housing one or two machines was simple, but by the late 60's WRAL had added more machines and needed more space.
In 1970, videotape operations moved to temporary quarters in the basement of the original building. The videotape operators must have felt like they were in the engine compartment in the belly of a ship. Actually, it kind of looked like one.
Tom Gallagher operating a Quad.
The big bulky machines, also known as Quads due to the four video heads used to record and playback the tape, were very noisy. Air compressors would hiss and spit when the reel-to-reel machines would spool up to speed for the tape to come down off of the supply reel to be vacuum sucked against the recording and playback heads and then pulled back up to the take-up reel. There was a constant high pitch whine as well.
A TCR , also known as a Tape Cartridge Recorder, or cart machine.
Add to that, there was another machine called a TCR , or Tape Cartridge Recorder, or cart machine. It had a revolving carousel that looked like tank treads that held red Pop Tart size boxes called carts. The TCR was used to play back commercials in a semi- automated fashion. During a commercial break, it would load and unload a cart every 30 seconds while the carousel would move another one into position after each playback. The tape room was so loud that videotape operators wore headsets in order to effectively communicate to master control and the control rooms.
Time marched on and video tape changed as well. The formats scaled down and quality scaled up. The old 2 VTR and TCR machines used for programming and commercials gave way to 1 machines for studio production and MII for commercial playback. News used MII as well.
The videotape main floor at WRAL.
In 1987, the videotape operators were liberated from their 17 years in the dungeon and moved up to the main floor adjacent to master control, still in the original building. Legendary engineers PB Jernigan and Al Dunbar moved and wired the equipment while the station continued to broadcast through the day without missing a beat.
WRAL-TV's current videotape room.
Just a few of years ago, tape operations moved again to its present location along with master control. Videotape is still hanging in there in the format of DVCPro, but its days are numbered. In fact, it has been relegated to a back-up role.
It has been a long and winding road for videotape. It served us well, and thankfully was stout enough to last until we could digitize their images into our archives.
Thanks to Corp's Pam Allen for this capcom story & these photos. Pam Parris Allen is a former WRAL newscast producer/director who now works as a researcher and producer on the CBC History Project.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
New Adobe Premiere Color Grading Mode Accelerated on NVIDIA GPUs
Joel Pennington May 13, 2026
0 Comments
New NVIDIA RTX-accelerated features streamlin...
13/05/2026
Grass Valley announced that dB Broadcast has delivered new IP-based outside broadcast (OB) trucks for Cloudbass, featuring Grass Valley LDX 100 Series cameras a...
13/05/2026
Ikegami will exhibit the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast production cameras, control units, viewfinders and monitors on stand 5D3-1 at Broadcast...
13/05/2026
FISE, working with the founding members of the XR Sports Alliance (XRSA), Accedo, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and HBS, have collaborated to develop an immersive...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
If someone comes to me and says, I've got this device,' I then ask: One, does it give us a better look on the air? Two, is it more reliable? Three, is it cost-efficient?' If it doesn't serve one of those three things, I say. There's the door. I don't need it.' 
