Demonstration of VERA Video Recorder on Panorama

Britain's first videotape recorder, VERA, was invented by the BBC and unveiled on a live edition of Panorama on 14 April 1958. Richard Dimbleby introduced the technology before its effectiveness was demonstrated with a playback of the first few minutes of the programme, seemingly rewinding time.

There followed an interview with Peter Axon, who had led the development of the system in BBC Research. Dimbleby - perhaps realising video's potential to transform television production - congratulated Axon on his achievement.

VERA stood for Vision Electronic Recording Apparatus. It was developed out of a wish for a recording device that allowed instant replay, which – unlike film – only had to be rewound before it could be used. The other great advantage of the system was that the tape could be re-used repeatedly, thus saving money over film in the long term.

VERA took six years to develop and recorded on half-inch tape running as fast as 200 inches per second. However, its triumph was short lived, as the delivery later that year of a machine from American manufacturer Ampex – which was demonstrably superior – sealed its fate.

Video technology came to be the dominant medium in television. The arrival of domestic video recorders in the 1970s gave consumers the power to record and watch programmes whenever they wanted. In today's digital world it is difficult to imagine how captivated viewers would have been by the first demonstration of VERA in 1958.