Youtube Fred Astaire 58' clip.

[old_tv_nut]

It's hard to believe that the FCC had anything to do with videotape standards. I would have thought this would be hashed out (possibly with some acrimony) within SMPTE.

On the other hand, I have heard and do believe that RCA had particular adjustments to the various recording parameters (I would guess cneter frequency, deviation, and pre-emphasis) that improved the color performance.

As to the quality of these clips, I think it has to do both with the quality of playback (note no visible quad head banding) and restoration (noise reduction), and the low resolution of the posts, which appear to be appropriately filtered in the process of resolution reduction.

Is there some record of the FCC ordering standardization of tape parameters? Always in the past, manufacturers have tried to avoid involving government agencies except where it's obviously necessary to establish a broadcast service. This means the FCC gets into the act in specifying radiated signals, but never in terms of studio practice.