Black Screen of Death

The black screen of death is a test card that is shown at the end of a VHS tape.

It is really just a sound change, but it is a surprising thing.

It is most common on VHS tapes from GoodTimes Home Video, but it is on other tapes from 1985-1989 from other companies. This list shows you which companies used which version. Excluding Goodtimes tapes, the last tapes to use the Black Screen of Death were printed in April 1989, but sometimes some other companies used it after April 1989.

350hz (Lowest Pitched)

1. Oasis Video (South Korea)

400hz (Lower Pitched)

1. CBS/Fox Video (1988-1989) (Seen on a copy of Bad Dreams.)
2. Buena Vista Home Video (1985-1988, and also heard on 1984 VHS of A Disney Christmas Gift, and on The Small One, A Walt Disney Christmas, Old Yeller, Son of Flubber, Pete's Dragon, Mary Poppins, Pollyanna, Treasure Island 1985 VHS, Mickey Knows Best, The Importance of Being Donald, The Parent Trap, The Happiest Millionaire, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Disney's Sing Along Songs: Zip A Dee Doo Dah, The Absent Minded Professor 1986 VHS, and on 1987 VHS of Flight of the Navigator, Monkey's Go Home, Five Mile Creek Volume 19, The Story of Robin Hood, Winnie the Pooh and A Day of Eeyore, Disney's Sing Along Songs: Heigh Ho, The Reluctant Dragon, Walt Disney Cartoon Classics Volumes 1-5, the 1988 print of Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, Dumbo, and The Sword in the Stone).
3. MGM/UA Home Video (1986-1989, and also heard on 1982 VHS of The Nutcracker, also heard on 1985 VHS of The Yearling and The Wizard of Oz, 1983 VHS of Fame, 1989 VHS of Easter Parade, Show Boat, Bugs and Daffy The Wartime Cartoons, and Child's Play, Also Heard on the 1988 print of Maytime, Singin in the Rain, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and An American in Paris, Electra Glide in Blue, West Side Story, The Secret of NIMH, Cartoon Moviestars series, Fatal Beauty,The Spy Who Loved Me, also heard on 1987 print of A Sunday in the Country, Anchors Aweigh, Summer Stock, and MGM Cartoon Christmas, also 1986 print of Viddy-Oh For Kids series, and The Thin Man)
4. KIDMARK INC (1985)
5. Touchstone Home Video (1986-1989 and it also heard on 1989 Demo VHS of Big Business., Also heard on 1986 print of Off Beat, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, 1987 print of The Color of Money, Ruthless People, Tough Guys, and 1988 print of Good Morning Vietnam, Outrageous Fortune)
6. Questar Home Video (1990's-2001) (Seen on a pressing of Remember Pearl Harbor: America Taken by Surprise)
7. Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (1982) (Seen on a pressing of Pinocchio in Outer Space)
8. CIC Video (1995) (Seen at the start of an Australian pressing of True Lies)
9. Chevron Video Showcase (1988)
10. Word Lifeware Video (Seen on a Pressing of Orel Hershiser on Excellence)
11. ADV Films (1998) (Seen on a Pressing of Legend of Crystania: Resurrection of the God's King)
12. Sony Video Software (1988-1989)
13. View Master Video (1986) (Seen on copies of Kidsongs: Good Night, Sleep Tight, I like to teach the world to sing and Sing out America.) (lasts until the very end of the tape.)
14. Paramount Home Video (1988) (Seen on a copy of The rainmaker.)
15. VidAmerica (1988)
16. International Video Entertainment (1988)
17. Orion Home Video (1987-1988)
18. Wizard Video (1986-1988)
19. Lorimar Home Video (1986-1988)
20. Embassy Home Entertainment (1985-1987)
21. Nelson Entertainment (1987-1989)
22. New World Video/LCA (1985-1988)
23. Vestron Video (1988) (some tapes)
24. Lightning Video (1988) (some tapes)
25. Children's Video Library (1986-1987)
26. HBO/Cannon Video (1986-1987)
27. HBO Video (1988-1989, seen on a pressing of Heaven Help Us)
28. Cannon Video (1986-1988)
29. MCA Home Video (1985-1988 and on some early printings of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and also heard on 1985 print of Fletch, 1986 prints of Weird Science, Gotcha, The Glenn Miller Story, Mask, Brazil,  Back to the Future, 1987 print of An American Tail,)
30. RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1985, on some copies of Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Special Edition)
31. Warner Home Video (1985-1989, and also heard on 1984 VHS of What's Up Doc, and 1982 Print of Chariots of Fire, also heard on 1985 print of Pale Rider, Lost in America, Cheyenne Autumn, 1986 print of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, European Vacation, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, Wildcats, Follow the Bird, The Goonies, Revolution, Spies Like Us and Under the Cherry Moon, 1987 print of Heartbreak Ridge, Lethal Weapon, Club Paradise, True Stories, Over the Top, Also heard on the 1988 print of Innerspace, Stand and Deliver, Beetlejuice, Funny Farm, Arthur 2: On The Rocks, Firefox, Bugs Bunny Hare Raising Tales, The Lost Boys, the 1989 print of Stealing Home, Caddyshack II, The Dead Pool )
32. Karl Home Video (1984)
33. Sparrow Communications Group (from Sparrow Home Video) (1991) (Seen on a copy of Steve green hide em in your heart vol 1 vhs)
34. Cabin Fever (1989) (Seen on a copy of The Real Patsy Cline)
35. Geffen Home Video (1987) (Seen on a copy of Whitesnake Trilogy)
36. Forum Home Video (1987-1988)

500hz (Low Pitched)

1. MSD Video (Heard on a 1986 Canadian pressings of "Woody Woodpecker and Friends Vol. 1".)
2. Time-Life Video (Heard on pressings of Life at the Movies, Olly Olly Oxen Free and Gas Pump Girls)
3. Paramount home video (seen on some 1980 pressings of The Shootist, Mandingo, and Star Trek Volume 1: The Menagerie.)

880hz (Slightly Lower Pitched)

During this tone, a single click can be heard every second.

1. MCA Videocassette Inc (1981) (Heard on a 1981 pressing of "The Killers".)

963hz (Slightly Low Pitched)

1. MGM/UA Home Video (Heard on the 1989 pressing of The Horror Show AKA House III)

1000hz (Normal Pitched)

1. Time-Life Video (1978-1982, mainly on Bell & Howell Video Systems pressings)
2. Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (1980)
3. GoodTimes Home Video (1984-2005)
4. Kids Klassics Home Video (1985-1998)
5. Unlimited Energy (from GoodTimes Home Video)
6. GTK, Inc. (from Kids Klassics Home Video)
7. Gaiam (Specifically Seen on Some Really Rare 2005-06 VHS Tapes)
8. Scholastic Home Video (from GoodTimes Entertainment)
9. HGV Video Productions (Canada)
10. Strand VCI Entertainment/Strand Home Video/Video Treasures/Anchor Bay Entertainment (1990-2002) (Seen on Thomas the Tank Engine Videos from HGV Video Productions in Canada)
11. Paramount Home Video (1979-1983)
12. MCA Videocassette Inc (1980-1981)
13. MCA Home Video (from GoodTimes Home Video)
14. MCA/Universal Home Video (from GoodTimes Home Video)
15. Universal Studios Home Video (from GoodTimes Home Video)
16. Worldvision Home Video Inc. (from GoodTimes Home Video and/or Kids Klassics Home Video)
17. Orion Home Video (from GoodTimes Home Video)

1020hz (Slightly High Pitched)

1. Vestron Video (1986-1987)
2. Lightning Video (1986-1988)
3. Children's Video Library (1986-1987) (some tapes)
4. MGM/UA Home Video (1986-1988) (420 hz tone Seen on a copy of the 1986 vhs of 9 1/2 weeks) and (1020 hz tone seen on copy of 1986 print of That's Entertainment 2, the 1987 print of Solarbabies, and Walk like a man)
5. VidAmerica (1987)
6. Orion Home Video (1987)
7. Prism Entertainment (1986-1987)
8. Sony Video Software (1986-1987)
9. New World Video/LCA (1986-1987)
10. HBO/Cannon Video (1986-1987) (Also heard on 1987 print of Back to School and Three Amigos)
11. HBO Video (1987) (seen on 1987 print of Making Mr. Right, Amazing Grace and Chuck, as well as a pressing of Hoosiers)
12. Touchstone Home Video (1987) (Seen on a pressing of Outrageous Fortune)
13. Warner Home Video (1986-1987) (some copies of Police Academy 4, and European Vacation)
14. Walt Disney Home Video (1986-1987) (420 hz ) on some copies of Dumbo, Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty 1986 VHS, and Five Mile Creek Volume 3 1984 VHS (1987 Reprint)

1100hz (Higher Pitched)

1. RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1987-1988)
2. Paramount home video (1987) (Seen on a pressing of Children of a Lesser God)

with Japanese Text

This variant only appears at the end of VHS tapes that were released in Japan. The Japanese text on the screen translates to "Notice: This audio signal is used for quality control. It is a signal. (Not abnormal)". On Japanese tapes from Warner Brothers, the text is rearranged.

1. Warner Home Video (Japan)
2. CIC Video (Japan) (some tapes)
3. CBS/Fox Video (Japan)
4. FoxVideo (Japan)
5. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Japan)
6. RCA Columbia Pictures International Video (Japan)
7. DreamWorks Home Entertainment (Japan) (some tapes)
8. Buena Vista Home Video (Japan) (some tapes)
9. Konami Video (Japan) (Seen on a Japanese pressing of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Master's Guide)
10. Benesse Corporation (Japan) (Seen on 2002 Japanese pressings of Kids Challenge Hope Video: You Can! and Challenge Second Grade-Exciting Video-July Issue)
11. Unknown Japanese Video Company (Japan) (Seen on the 1997 Japanese pressing of Power Up Series: 30 Minute Video June 1997)
12. Avex Mode (Japan)

With printdate

This variant is mostly common on VHS Tapes from the UK and Australia, but sometimes this variant can be seen on tapes from other countries.

1. BBC Video (UK)
2. Columbia TriStar Home Video (Canada)
3. Paramount Home Video (Canada)
4. DreamWorks Home Entertainment (UK and Italy)
5. Buena Vista Home Video (UK)
6. Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Australia) (With a 1000Hz tone) (Seen on the 2004 Australian pressing of Spiderman VS Doc Ock)
7. Warner Home Video (UK)
8. Channel 5 Video (UK)
9. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Australia) (Sometimes with a tone)
10. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Limited (UK)

With glitchy bars

1. Jünger Video Edition (Germany) (Seen on a German pressing of The Best of Stephen King's World of Horror)
2. Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (Seen on a 1981 pressing of The Guns of Navarone)

With countdown

1. CBS/Fox Video (UK) (Seen on a 1984 British Pressing of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.) (Happens before the Color Bars.)
2. Oasis Video (South Korea)