



The Commodore CDTV was a multimedia entertainment system and game console, introduced in 1991. It was one of the first systems to use CD-ROM as its primary storage, and predated the similar Philips CD-i system by a few months.
Internally, the CDTV was based on the Commodore Amiga 500 computer but with the addition of a caddy-loading single-speed CD-ROM drive. With the addition of an expansion kit containing a keyboard, mouse and floppy drive, the CDTV could be turned into a computer that could run most Amiga 500 software. Externally, the CDTV was designed to look like a piece of hifi equipment, with similar dimensions, a remote control, and a black colour scheme (the expansion kit was also in black to match it). As a multimedia device, it offered built-in MIDI support, and could play audio Compact Discs, CD+G, and video in the CDXL format.
As a forth-generation video game console, it did have some unique titles, but many were adapted from those already available for the Amiga 500. Some educational and reference titles on CD-ROM were also available.
The launch of the Amiga 570 computer with a built-in CD-ROM drive hurt sales, especially as it could run all CDTV software, but the CDTV was also expensive. It was a commercial failure, with sales perhaps as low as 30,000, and was replaced in 1993 by the Amiga CD32 that was marketed as a game console.
Figures
Dimensions: 120 mm × 1.2 mm