The Audio Video Interleave (AVI) format was introduced by Microsoft in 1992. It became a staple of the early internet era for several reasons:
Deep Throat was, by all accounts, a crudely made film. However, its timing was perfect. It premiered at the dawn of a new, permissive era, in a New York City that was crumbling but also culturally fertile. With its blend of goofy humor and explicit content, Deep Throat became a must-see sensation, coining the term "porno chic". It played in legitimate movie theaters, was reviewed by mainstream critics, and became a cocktail party conversation piece for the cultural elite. The film was also staggeringly profitable; made for less than $50,000, it went on to gross between $100 million and an estimated $600 million worldwide.
Instant access to millions of titles on demand. The Nostalgia Factor in the Portable Age