The rise of the RMVB (RM) format coincided with the narrow bandwidth era, when its technology was considered cutting-edge. RMVB files were small in size, and for the same file size, their video quality easily outperformed other formats like MP4 and MPEG.
At that time, there were also high-definition, high-compression codecs available, but they required payment. RMVB, on the other hand, was free, which meant it had the perfect conditions for growth. Many Chinese media players extracted its codecs and provided support for RMVB, indirectly contributing to its widespread adoption.
However, the company behind RMVB failed to seize the opportunity when broadband technology was advancing, which left them lagging behind. There were rumors that some codec companies had proactively reached out to the RMVB team, offering to implement newer HD codecs and even providing technical support.
The primary reason RMVB fell behind and nearly disappeared was simple: they started charging for it. The very company that rose to prominence by offering a free format now wanted users to pay. Ordinary consumers were not willing to pay for codecs, so the company assembled a legal team to sue platforms and players that supported RMVB without licensing.
This led to a rapid shift: after software updates, smart TVs and media boxes no longer supported RM or RMVB files. While some customer service representatives would privately provide plugins for continued use, officially, the format was no longer supported.
During this period, smart TVs and media players were booming in China. Brands like WeTV, Baofeng, and others—now defunct—were dominant at the time. Xiaomi’s smart TVs and media boxes, along with those from other major home appliance brands, stopped supporting RM and RMVB formats within months.
As a result, the RMVB format was essentially abandoned by the market. Enthusiasts from within the tech community may recall how, during this time, many people scrambled to find format converters to convert their cherished RMVB files into other high-definition formats. One specific converter saw its download numbers skyrocket from obscurity during this period, only to follow the same path as RMVB by eventually becoming paid and then fading away.
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