[J Ballard]

Once we got the HD cameras operating in the desired standard (1050i/59.94 or 787.5/59.94), we had to connect the camera to other equipment-sync gens, distribution, test signal gens, VTRS). In the late 1980s, reference signals could be H&V drive, tri-level, or bi-level-there was no one standard.

Recording/editing meant using the Sony HDD-1000 digital R-R VTR, but it would only work on 1125/60. NBC and others tried ordering a VTR that would operate on other standards, but Sony said no, presumably not wanting to upset NHK. So we ordered the VTRs anyway, and said we would modify them; that would void the warranty, they said. I believe they were $300K each and the tape stock was $1500/reel. NBC ordered two, and Zenith and others ordered some, and modified them in house, despite loud protests from Sony.

To be fair, Bosch had an analog HD VTR, but based on earlier experience with the HDVS Sony system, analog machines were noisy and had poor K factor.
Bosch later married two D-1 VTRs together and were able to record 1440 pixels per line, similar to HD Cam much later.

The HDD-1000s suffered from head clogging, despite the installation of a razor blade "cleaner" in the tape path. If you were unaware of this feature, you could injure your fingers. There are some surviving machines at the Museum of Broadcast technology in Woonsocket, RI. Staff from the Museum will be at NAB this year, so stop by.

You cannot imagine the political headwinds against progressive scan, and I have enduring respect for Zenith and others such as Kerns Powers of RCA Laboratories who had patents on 720P. Another was Tony Uttendayle (SP?) of ABC and yet another Jukka Hammalinen of Panasonic The Japanese publicly were against anything other than 1125/60, and even tried to convince the Europeans to drop 50 HZ. One thing the Japanese did not understand in the emerging HD debate was the powerful influence of the computer industry in the US, and they naturally wanted pro-scan and square pixels; they got the latter.
Eventually, Panasonic broke the log jam with their D-5 HD VTR which had 720P mode buried in the menus. Later, they made 720P cameras that ABC used on "Monday Night Football." BTS made a 720 P CCD camera, and soon thereafter, there were switchable standard cameras from Breda using their 9MM pixel DPM sensor. The Japanese finally began making multi standard equipment.
One thing about UHD-it will sink the interlace/progressive argument for good.

Thanks Wayne for the comments on the KCH-1000 mods.