The 5-inch CD-Video Laserdisc / CD Hybrid
Five minutes of Laserdisc video and twenty minutes of CD audio, solely an impractical collectible at this point.
I've had my copy of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" CD-Video since about 1988 or so, and I'm pretty sure I was ever only able to view the video portion of it once. Someone hired an obvious music fan as the buyer for the Clackamas Town Center Montgomery Ward store, and there were import curiosities with very little demand strewn about the small set of racks for music. A different time... I'm guessing my best friend bought it for me for my birthday since I likely had no money.
Over the years I've shelved and boxed and re-shelved it and I've always wondered how many of them were ever produced, and how it all came to be in the first place, needing a gigantic LaserDisc player to watch about three minutes of analog music video, along with a few CD tracks to take up the rest of the space on the disc.
The Rise and Fall of CD Video: A Hybrid Music and Video Format of the 1980s
In the late 1980s, as the home entertainment industry was navigating the transition from analog to digital media, Philips introduced an innovative but short-lived format called CD Video (CDV or CD-V). Launched in 1987, CD Video was a hybrid optical disc format that merged the digital audio capabilities of the Compact Disc (CD) with the analog video technology of the LaserDisc. This ambitious attempt to bridge audio and video entertainment aimed to capitalize on the growing popularity of music videos and the technological synergy of laser-read media. Despite its ingenuity, CD Video struggled to find a foothold in the market and faded by the early 1990s. This article explores the creation, technical details, and legacy of the CD Video format.
Origins and Development
The CD Video format emerged during a period of rapid innovation in optical media. The Compact Disc, introduced in 1982 by Philips and Sony, had revolutionized audio with its digital clarity and durability. Meanwhile, the LaserDisc, pioneered by Philips and MCA in 1978, offered superior home video quality compared to VHS, albeit with analog video and, by the mid-1980s, the option for digital soundtracks. Both formats relied on laser technology to read data, sparking the idea of combining their strengths into a single disc.
By 1985, advancements in LaserDisc technology allowed for digital audio tracks, delivering CD-quality sound alongside analog video. Philips, a key player in both CD and LaserDisc development, saw an opportunity to unite these technologies. The result was CD Video, a format designed to deliver short music videos—then a cultural phenomenon driven by MTV—alongside digital audio tracks. Philips unveiled CD Video in 1987 without consulting other CD stakeholders, a decision that led to skepticism among industry partners. Unlike the standardized "Rainbow Books" that defined CD specifications, CD Video never received an official designation, reflecting its unconventional analog-digital hybrid nature.
Technical Specifications and Variants
CD Video discs came in three sizes, each tailored to different use cases:
-
12 cm (4.7 inches): The smallest and most iconic CD Video disc, identical in size to a standard audio CD. These gold-colored discs were the only ones with CD-compatible content, offering up to 20 minutes of digital audio (equivalent to 4–5 songs) playable on any CD player. Additionally, they contained up to 5–6 minutes of analog LaserDisc video with digital CD-quality sound, viewable only on compatible LaserDisc or CD Video players. The gold hue, possibly chosen to reduce oxidation compared to the aluminum used in standard CDs, also distinguished CD Video discs from their silver counterparts.
-
20 cm (7.9 inches): These larger discs, essentially LaserDiscs with digital soundtracks, were used for music video compilations. They lacked CD-compatible audio and were not true CD Video discs, despite being marketed under the CD Video brand.
-
30 cm (12 inches): The largest variant, also a LaserDisc with a digital soundtrack, was used for longer music video compilations or feature films. Like the 20 cm discs, these were not CD-compatible.
The 12 cm CD Video disc was the format’s flagship, designed to appeal to the youth market with single music videos priced at a suggested $9.98 in the United States. A typical release, such as one by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, included three audio tracks and one music video. A variant called Video Single Disc (VSD) was also released, containing only an analog video track without CD audio, further diversifying the format’s offerings.
Playback and Hardware
Playing a CD Video disc required specific hardware, which limited its accessibility. The audio portion of the 12 cm disc was universally compatible with standard CD players, but the video content demanded a LaserDisc player capable of reading CD-sized discs and decoding analog video with digital sound. One of the first compatible players was the Pioneer CLD-1010, released in 1987, followed by Philips’ CDV 475 in 1988, which supported all CD Video disc sizes, and a smaller model for 12 cm discs only.
The need for specialized, expensive hardware—LaserDisc players cost significantly more than CD players or VHS decks—posed a major barrier. The youth demographic, most likely to embrace music videos, found the players and discs prohibitively priced, undermining CD Video’s market potential.
Market Performance and Decline
CD Video debuted with promise, with over 170 titles released, primarily pop music videos and some compilations. However, the format struggled to gain traction. In the United States and Europe, CD Video vanished from shelves by 1990, unable to compete with the affordability and ubiquity of VHS for video and standard CDs for audio. Japan, a stronghold for LaserDisc technology, sustained the format slightly longer, with releases continuing until 1992.
Several factors contributed to CD Video’s demise. The requirement for costly, niche playback hardware deterred consumers. The short video capacity of the 12 cm disc (5–6 minutes) limited its versatility, making it less appealing than VHS tapes or full-length LaserDiscs. Additionally, Philips’ unilateral development of the format without broad industry support alienated potential partners, hindering standardization and adoption. By 1993, Philips shifted focus to the fully digital Video CD (VCD), which offered greater compatibility and longer video playback, effectively replacing CD Video.
Legacy and Significance
Though commercially unsuccessful, CD Video was a bold experiment in the evolution of optical media. It represented an early attempt to merge audio and video on a single disc, foreshadowing the multimedia capabilities of later formats like DVD and Blu-ray. The format’s gold-colored discs, later echoed in advanced formats like HVD, added a distinctive aesthetic to its legacy.
CD Video also highlighted the challenges of introducing hybrid technologies in a fragmented market. Its reliance on analog video, incompatible across regions (e.g., NTSC vs. PAL), clashed with the digital standardization that made CDs universally accessible. Nevertheless, CD Video remains a fascinating footnote in the history of home entertainment, a testament to the era’s ambition to push the boundaries of laser-read media.
As Philips and its collaborators moved toward fully digital solutions like Video CD, CD Video’s brief existence underscored the importance of affordability, compatibility, and industry consensus in shaping the future of media formats. For collectors and enthusiasts, those shimmering gold discs remain a nostalgic relic of a transitional moment in music and video history.
Adding to that nostalgia is the release list. Just look at how many truly great songs are on this short list of CD-Video discs, in a market fragmented by both competing music labels and hardware manufacturers.
| Artist | Title | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animals | Shake, Rattle, and Roll | ||
| Badarou, Wally | Hi Life | Island | 1988 |
| Badarou, Wally | Hi Life (Promo) | Island | 1988 |
| Badfinger | Come and Get It | EMI (Japan) | 1990 |
| Baker, Anita | Sweet Love | Elektra | 1988 |
| Bananarama | Venus | London | 1988 |
| Bangles | In Your Room | 1990 | |
| Beach Boys | California Girls | Pioneer (Japan) | 1991 |
| Bee Gees | Massachusetts | Pioneer (Japan) | |
| Black Sabbath | Iron Man | Pioneer (Japan) | 1990 |
| Bon Jovi | Livin' On a Prayer | Mercury (Japan) | 1988 |
| Bon Jovi | Livin' On a Prayer | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Bon Jovi | Never Say Goodbye | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Bon Jovi | Wanted Dead or Alive | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Bon Jovi | You Give Love a Bad Name | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Bowie, David | Jazz For Blue Jean | ||
| Bruce Hornsby and the Range | The Way It Is | RCA | 1987 |
| Cameo | Candy | Atlanta | 1988 |
| Cameo | Word Up! | Atlanta | 1988 |
| Cinderella | Don't Know What You Got | PMV | 1988 |
| Cinderella | Gypsy Road | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Cinderella | Nobody's Fool | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Cinderella | Nobody's Fool | Mercury/Polygram (Japan) | 1992 |
| Cinderella | Somebody Save Me | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Cinderella | The Last Mile | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Clark, Will | 1989 Season Highlights | Laserstar | 1989 |
| Cray, Robert | Don't Be Afraid of the Dark | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Cray, Robert | Right Next Door | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Cray, Robert | Smoking Gun | Mercury | 1987 |
| Cray, Robert | Smoking Gun (Promo) | Mercury/Polygram | 1986 |
| Cream | Strange Brew | Pioneer (Japan) | 1991 |
| Crowded House | Don't Dream It's Over | Capitol | 1986 |
| Cure | Just Like Heaven | Elektra | 1988 |
| Cure | Just Like Heaven | Fiction (Japan) | 1989 |
| Curiosity Killed the Cat | Misfit | Mercury (Japan) | 1987 |
| Curiosity Killed the Cat | Misfit | Mercury (Japan) | 1987 |
| Cutting Crew | I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight | Virgin | 1988 |
| Dan Reed Network | Get to You | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Dan Reed Network | Get To You | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| David and David | Welcome to the Boomtown | A & M | 1988 |
| Dire Straits | Brothers in Arms | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Dire Straits | Money for Nothing | Warner Brothers | 1987 |
| Dire Straits | Sultans of Swing | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Dire Straits | Twisting By the Pool | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Dire Straits | Walk of Life | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Doors | Break on Through | Pioneer (Japan) | 1991 |
| Fagan, Donald | New Frontier | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Fat Boys | The Twist | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Fat Boys | Wipeout | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Go West | Don't Look Down | Chrysalis | 1987 |
| Godley & Creme | Cry | Polydor | 1987 |
| Great White | Call It Rock and Roll | Toshiba-EMI (Japan) | 1991 |
| Heart | Never | Capitol | 1985 |
| Hothouse Flowers | Don't Go | London Records/Polygram | 1988 |
| Hurricane | I'm On to You | Enigma | 1988 |
| Jackson, Freddie | Have You Ever Loved Somebody | Capitol | 1988 |
| Jackson, Janet | Control | A & M (Japan) | 1988 |
| Joel, Billy | Honesty | Sony (Japan) | 1989 |
| Joel, Billy | Uptown Girl | Sony (Japan) | 1989 |
| Joel, Billy | We Didn't Start the Fire | Sony (Japan) | 1989 |
| Kingdom Come | Get It On | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Kingdom Come | What Can Love Be | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| KISS | Crazy Crazy Nights | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| KISS | Let's Put the X in Sex | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| KISS | Lick It Up | Polydor | 1987 |
| KISS | Tears Are Falling | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| KISS | Turn on the Night | PMV | 1988 |
| Kool and the Gang | Rags to Riches | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Kool and the Gang | Stone Love | PMV | 1988 |
| Kool and the Gang | Victory | Mercury/Polygram | 1987 |
| L.A. Guns | Sex Action | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Level 42 | Something About You | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Levert | Casanova | Atlanta | 1988 |
| Lovett, Lyle | She's No Lady She's My Wife | MCA | 1989 |
| Madame X | Just That Kind of Girl | Atlantic | 1988 |
| Madonna | Papa Don't Preach | Sire | 1988 |
| Madonna | Papa Don't Preach | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Malmsteen, Yngwie | Heaven Tonight | Mercury/Polygram | 1987 |
| McCartney, Paul | Birthday | EMI (Japan) | 1990 |
| McCartney, Paul | Once Upon a Long Ago | EMI (Japan) | 1989 |
| Mellencamp, John Cougar | Check It Out | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Mellencamp, John Cougar | Lonely Ol' Night | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Mellencamp, John Cougar | Paper in Fire | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Men Without Hats | Pop Goes the World | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Moody Blues | I Know You're Out There Somewhere Mercury/Polygram | 1988 | |
| Moody Blues | I Know You're Out There Somewhere Polydor/Threshold | 1987 | |
| Moody Blues | No More Lies | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Moody Blues | Your Wildest Dreams | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Moody Blues | Your Wildest Dreams | Polydor | 1988 |
| Mr. Mister | Kyrie | RCA | 1988 |
| New Frontier | Under Fire | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| New Kids on the Block | Please Don't Go Girl | Sony (Japan) | |
| New Kids On the Block | Step By Step | Sony (Japan) | |
| New Order | True Faith | Qwest | 1988 |
| Newman, Randy | I Love L.A. | Warner Brothers | 1988 |
| Palmer, Robert | Addicted to Love | Island | 1988 |
| Poison | Talk Dirty to Me | Capitol | 1988 |
| Poison | Talk Dirty to Me (Promo) | Capitol | 1986 |
| Police | Don't Stand So Close to Me | A & M | 1988 |
| Police | Every Breath You Take | A & M (Japan) | 1989 |
| R.E.M. | Music From Tourfilm (Promo) | Warner Brothers | 1990 |
| Redbone | Witch Queen | Pioneer (Japan) | 1993 |
| Rush | The Big Money | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Sa-Fire | I've Been Told | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Scorpions | Believe In Love | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Scorpions | Big City Nights | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Scorpions | Rhythm of Love | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Starship | Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now | RCA | 1987 |
| T. Rex | 20th Century Boy | Pioneer (Japan) | 1993 |
| Tears For Fears | Everybody Wants to Rule the World Mercury/Polygram | 1988 | |
| Tears For Fears | Everybody Wants to Rule the World Phonogram | 1988 | |
| The Rainmakers | Downstream | Mercury/Polygram | 1988 |
| Three Dog Night | One | Pioneer (Japan) | |
| Tony! Toni! Tone! | Born Not to Know | Wing | 1988 |
| Tony! Toni! Tone! | Little Walter | Wing | 1988 |
| Turner, Tina | River Deep | Pioneer (Japan) | 1988 |
| Turner, Tina | What You Get | Pioneer (Japan) | 1987 |
| U2 | With Or Without You | Island | 1988 |
| Various Artists | Bose: Adventures In Sound | Bose | |
| Various Artists | CD Single Demonstration Disc | Magnavox | 1987 |
| Various Artists | Eyes of the Wind | Philips | 1987 |
| Wham! | Last Christmas | ||
| Williams, Vanessa | The Right Stuff | Wing | 1988 |
| Winter, Johnny | Johnny B. Goode | Pioneer (Japan) |