Commercials From Australia 1977, 1978 And 1979

Here is some information on the National Cartridge Video Recorder, the format these commercials were recorded onto.
(NCVR) was made in the United States. It was developed and manufactured by National Semiconductor, an American company based in Santa Clara, California.

National Semiconductor introduced the NCVR format in the mid-1970s as a consumer-friendly, easy-to-use video recording system. Although it was not widely adopted and eventually discontinued, the NCVR remains an interesting footnote in the history of home video recording technology.

It's worth noting that while the NCVR was developed in the United States, the cartridges and players may have been manufactured in other countries, such as Japan or Taiwan, under license from National Semiconductor. However, the original design and development of the NCVR format were done in the United States.
Here are some additional details about the National Cartridge Video Recorder (NCVR):

1. Release year: 1976 (announced) and 1977 (released)
2. Developer: National Semiconductor
3. Format: Cartridge-based video recording system
4. Video quality: 250-300 lines of resolution (comparable to early VHS)
5. Recording time: Initially 30 minutes, later increased to 60 minutes
6. Color recording: Yes, NCVR supported color recording
7. Audio: Linear audio, separate from video signal
8. Player and recorder: Combined unit, with optional portable player
9. Cartridge size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches (19 x 14 x 2.5 cm)
10. Weight: Around 2 pounds (0.9 kg)
11. Price: Initially around $1,000 for the player-recorder (That's $7,475 in 2024), and $20-$30 per cartridge ($149.50 to $224.25 in 2024)
12. Availability: Mainly in the United States, with limited international distribution
13. Discontinuation: Around 1980-1981, due to competition from VHS and Betamax

Some interesting facts:

NCVR was designed to be user-friendly, with a simple interface and automatic recording level control.
The cartridges contained a 1/2-inch wide video tape, which was pulled out and wrapped around a drum for playback.
NCVR had a built-in timer and could record from TV or external video sources.
National Semiconductor also released a few accessories, including a camera and a video editing unit.

It's also interesting to note that NCVR's color recording capability was likely achieved using a chroma subsampling method, which was common in early color video formats. This method reduced the color information to conserve bandwidth and improve recording time.

The NCVR format is now largely forgotten, but it played a role in the development of home video recording technology. Its legacy can be seen in later formats that improved upon its design and functionality.
Keep in mind that information about NCVR is limited, and some details might be hard to find due to its relatively short lifespan and limited adoption.