A review of the design considerations of 1/2-in. cassette-based Y/R-Y/B-Y component recording system for broadcast applications. Physical characteristics (size, weight, etc.) were related to electromechanical design requirements such as writing speed, drum diameter, loading mechanism, power requirements, and tape carrier. Electrical characteristics included were the basic recording format, a time compression/division multiplex encoding technique for the color component signals, and the adaptability of equipment currently in use in a component system. The application of CCD technology to the encoding and decoding of component signals to improve recording density and chrominance component isolation is discussed.