Prior to the invention of video cassettes and the video home system (VHS) machines, people rarely could view a film on demand. When video cassettes were perfected in the 1970s, however, people suddenly had a way to view a film whenever they desired, which paved the way for the "on-demand" media concept popular with companies such as Netflix, TiVo and Comcast.
Video cassettes paved the way for newer technologies. Although the video cassette was portable, easy to mass produce and relatively inexpensive to purchase, the tapes could break easily and wear out over time. As a result, manufacturers developed other means of capturing images, such as hard-disc drives and digital video disc (DVD) technology.
Prior to the development of video cassettes, film producers depended on revenue earned through theater showings. When video cassettes were introduced, however, film producers found a new source of revenue by selling films on tape. More revenue, in turn, meant a greater number of movies made and a larger number of actors and writers being put to work.
Video cassettes allowed people to tape their favorite shows from TV. These tapes then could be traded and/or sold without the permission of the networks or production companies, who then were faced with copyright violations. This negative trend continues today--as most programs and movies can be easily downloaded from the Internet and burned to a disc. Revenue is lost via these violations.
Plastic is the main component of the video cassettes. This and other materials from which the tape are made are not readily biodegradable. There now exists the problem of how to dispose of all the tapes, many of which are ending up in landfills rather than being recycled.
Video cassettes of political speeches and/or programs have been circulated freely around the globe, which helps keep government officials accountable for their actions and introduces ideas that, in some cases, contradict governmental ideals or regulations. Although the changes this produces in many instances are positive, conflicts are still common, especially in third world countries where VHS is a primary means of being introduced to global concepts.