The LD player, also known as LaserDisc player, was introduced in the year 1978. The LaserDisc format was developed and released by Pioneer Corporation in Japan, and it was one of the first optical disc formats for consumer video playback. LaserDiscs were large discs, measuring 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter, and they used analog video and audio signals for playback. The LD player provided an alternative to VHS and Betamax tapes, offering better video and audio quality, as well as interactive features. However, the LaserDisc format eventually declined in popularity with the rise of DVD and other digital video formats.