Why VHS won the Tape Wars

In the 1970s Sony came out with Betamax while JVC came out with VHS. 

Thus a competition was born!:

BETAMAX

Made by: Sony

Patent: Exclusive

Price: Higher

Record Time: One Hour

Size: smaller size, but originally needed two tapes for a single feature film.

Quality: Better at first, then worse

VHS

Made by: JVC

Patent: Licenced

Price: Lower

Record Time: Two Hours

Size: Larger

Quality: Worse at first, then better

Betamax originally had better quality, was smaller, but only one hour of recording time - so a feature film would have to be on two tapes. 

They eventually expanded recording times but in doing so worsened the quality, making VHS superior. 

JVC licensed their patent, meaning other companies could pay a licensing fee and make VHS’ and (I think) VCRs. 

This meant when a customer went to a store they’d see more VHS’ than Betamax's and because of the competition that drove down prices - so VHS’ were more affordable.

Universal (and Disney) sued Sony in a trail that lasted years and went all the way to the Supreme Court: Sony Corp. v. Universal City Studios, Inc. - it was resolved in 1984 in favor of Sony… but obviously there was bad blood.

Lastly: what I like to believe was the biggest contributor: 

adult film industry began to release their films on VHS…

That’s a Final Fatality if I’ve ever heard one.