D-VHS
| Media type | Magnetic cassette tape |
|---|---|
| Encoding | NTSC, PAL, SECAM, ADAT |
| Capacity | 50 GB |
| Read mechanism | Helical scan |
| Write mechanism | Helical scan |
| Developed by | Hitachi, JVC, Matsushita, Philips |
| Usage | Home movies, Television production |
| Extended from | S-VHS |
| Released | December 1997 |
D-VHS (short for Digital VHS) is a digital video recording format developed by JVC in collaboration with Hitachi, Matsushita, and Philips. Introduced in December 1997, it was designed to record digital video, including high-definition content, using the same higher-grade tapes as S-VHS (Super VHS), which could accommodate the increased data rates required by the format.
Unlike analog-based VHS and S-VHS, D-VHS records video digitally using MPEG-2 compression and stores it in an MPEG transport stream, a format also used in DVDs and digital television broadcasts. The format was standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission as IEC 60774-5.
JVC also developed D-Theater, a proprietary variant of D-VHS used for prerecorded high-definition movies. D-Theater tapes featured studio-released content in 720p or 1080i resolution, offering a home viewing experience similar to early Blu-ray and HD DVD formats. However, the system required compatible D-VHS players and included copy protection, which limited its adoption.