Page "SECAM" Paragraph 27

Some have argued that the primary motivation for the development of SECAM in France was to protect French television equipment manufacturers.

However, incompatibility had started with the earlier decision to unusually adopt positive video modulation for French broadcast signals.

The earlier systems System A & the 819-line systems were the only other systems to use positive video modulation.

In addition, SECAM development predates PAL.

NTSC was considered undesirable in Europe because of its tint problem requiring an additional control, which SECAM and PAL solved.

The joke was that " SECAM " stood for " Something exceedingly Contrary to the American Method " versus NTSC " Never Twice the Same Color " whilst " Peace At Last " or " Perfection At Last " could only be obtained through the PAL system.

( But another version of the joke expands PAL as " People Are Lavender ", " Picture Always Lousy ", or " Pay Another License ").