U-matic is a videocasette format from Sony that was introduced in 1969. U-Matic was one of the first internally-enclosed formats, as opposed to more common open-reel tapes at the time. The tape width was 3/4", and was fed in U-shape path about the helical head drum, giving the format the name. It is different from VHS or Betamax formats, which were developed much later.