I doubt that. Programming a PVR is 10 times easier than programming a VCR linked to a STB. My aging parents love their Panasonic PVR.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. That's why we still record on the VCR!

819 lines did not prevent Japanese imports. They did make 819 line sets for France, an example is the Sony TV9-90UM. I don't believe the closure of 819 lines had anything to do with the introduction of scart and I don't believe the French thought for a moment it would stop Japanese imports.

Well, the 9-90UB was 405/625 (for the UK), so it's certainly possible that they made a 625/819 version for France, but that would certainly be the exception rather than the rule - it was the only Japanese dual-standard set that I know of (and was B&W of course).

Believe it or not, it's what's always been suggested (and believed by the UK trade) - and French regulations apparently required all sets sold in France to have a SCART socket, or they couldn't be sold.

There was also the inland customs post that had to inspect all VCR's imported in to France, with a VERY small staff and only able to process a small number of machines per day

Here's a link you might find interesting:

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/questio...1071355AAqG4hr

I certainly remember that story when in the TV trade (my therapy sessions have removed most TV trade history from my mind however ) with the exception of 14" or smaller TV's sold in France that didn't have to comply.

Some time after I got my own PVR several years back, I was speaking to my Dad about it. I remember commenting that if someone explained what it did and asked my techno-phobic Mum if she'd want one, the answer would almost certainly be no... but if she was actually *given* one, she'd probably end up really liking it, even moreso than my Dad, I guessed.

Lo and behold, not long after that my brother bought them one for their Christmas... and I was spot on, my Mum ended up loving it.

As for programming a video recorder connected to a separate digibox- *that* is a nuisance, even if you're technologically literate, i.e. having to set the video's timer *and* the digibox to come on at the same time. As opposed to browsing through a menu of programmes and simply pressing "record" on the ones you want to, er... "tape".

I know my parents and they are just terrified of the new technology. If they were forced to use it then they would pick it up easily but they are just not willing to try.

I don't know why people have such a downer on the tape based home recording systems. There are far worse items that are still selling well - those stupid dough mixers for one.

https://sites.google.com/site/collec...sion-annees-70

Scroll to the bottom, a Sony dual standard 625/819 line colour set.

There were at least 3 Sony 625/819 monochrome sets though I can't remember the model numbers at present.

Even assuming there were three models (which is a VERY small number ), it rather proves the French 'ban' was EXTREMELY effective