“I have a program that is marketable. Only problem is, it’s on video tape. How can I sell it?”

Easy: Turn it into a DVD and put it back out on the market. Transferring a program from video tape to DVD is actually a simple production process!

Most programs made ten years ago and beyond will be on videotape. Once-dominant professional and broadcast formats include 8mm, one-inch (1”, or reel to reel), three-quarter (¾”), Betacam SP and countless others. Although these older formats are hardly used anymore, the program content on these tapes might still be useful and re-mastering it to DVD might make sense.

First, understand most tape formats from that time area are analog and DVD’s are digital. You must be able to digitize your current program before you can recreate a new master on DVD. eHow.com provides a nice explanation of the difference between analog and digital:

Analog data is a series of electrical pulses, frequently designed to represent what they embody. Example: An analog clock with rotating hands is designed to imitate the way the Earth rotates — giving time both a number and a visual representation…

Digital data is a numerical representation. All data on your computer is digital. Example: Digital data stores information in binary form, using ones and zeros to create the interfaces and data that you use on your computer.

The major difference between analog and digital data is that digital allows for identical copies of the data–no matter how many copies you make of a [digital DVD or CD], the quality will not be lost. However, with analog copies of a [DVD or CD], the quality is slightly degraded with each [generation].

Most higher-end video production or tape transfer companies have the equipment and knowledge to transfer professional video tape to DVD. Additional benefits available include menu functions, navigation, closed captioning, trailers, multiple language tracks, motion graphics and other marketable options that enhance the consumer experience, expand the available market and provide other benefits—options that were cost-prohibitive or unavailable when the program would have been produced originally, on video tape.

Once completed, you can begin the copy process with your new DVD master. With this new DVD master, you can produce one or just a few copies (DVD duplication) to millions (DVD replication) depending on your needs.

Revive that old program and resell it on DVD!