RCA

: This article is about the electronics, audio, and video company. RCA is also the abbreviation for The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. RCA is also used for RCA jack.

RCA's decline

In many ways the story of RCA is the story of David Sarnoff. His drive and business acumen led to RCA becoming one of the largest companies in the world, successfully turning it into a conglomerate during the era of their success. However in 1970, now 69 years old, Sarnoff retired and was succeeded by his son Robert. David Sarnoff died the next year; much of RCA's success died with him.

Related Topics:
Conglomerate - 1970

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RCA was one of the eight major computer companies (along with IBM, Burroughs, Control Data Corporation, General Electric, Honeywell, Scientific Data Systems and UNIVAC) through most of the 1960s, but abandoned computers in 1971.

Related Topics:
Computer - IBM - Burroughs - Control Data Corporation - General Electric - Honeywell - Scientific Data Systems - UNIVAC - 1960s - 1971

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RCA was a major proponent of the eight-track tape cartridge, which it launched in 1965. The eight-track cartridge initially had a huge and profitable impact on the consumer marketplace. However, sales of the 8-track tape format peaked in 1974-75 as consumers increasingly favored the compact cassette format.

Related Topics:
Eight-track tape cartridge - 1965

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During the 1970s, RCA Corporation, as it was now formally known, became increasingly ossified as a company. Robert Sarnoff was ousted in a boardroom coup by Anthony Conrad, who then resigned after admitting failing to file income tax returns for six years. Despite maintaining a high standard of engineering excellence in such fields as broadcast engineering and satellite communications equipment, other businesses such as the NBC radio and television networks declined. Forays into new consumer electronics products, such as the innovative but technologically obsolescent SelectaVision videodisc system, proved money losers.

Related Topics:
1970s - Boardroom coup - Satellite - NBC - Consumer electronics - SelectaVision - Videodisc

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This eventually led to RCA's sale to GE and its subsequent break-up.

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