Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - My VCR has never done this before

I'm pretty cable when it comes to problems with my vcr's. Hell, after taking one to a repair shop(after which it still didn't work) I tinkered around with it until it is still working to this day. Now for the problem. We recently had Foxtell Digital installed on our panasonic vcr, and we we're told to record programmes we would have to push an AV button the the digital remote controll. I did this and the screen just when blank. I inserted a tape, which was playing fine, counter running and everything, but no picture or sound. I immediatly discconected the video player, took it to another Television9without any digital) connected by the yellow,white and red cords -- and it was the same deal. I tried connecting it with just a regular ariel, I tuned it in, and it was still just the blank screen. Then I noticed that if I press fast forward on the tape(while watching), there is a slight flicker of the picture coming through, but when I press play, it just goes blank. I would think the AV outputs have been damaged, but when I change channels on the video, for example av to channel 1, I get the usual snow picture which would be ready to tune into a station. Even more mindboggling, I have noticed that when I press MEnu on the vcr, the SOUND of the tape that is playing actually comes through! I have cleaned the heads already, but I can't do much more because this player(If the cover is removed) just continously ejects any tape you put in (must be a safety precaution thing) If anyone has any ideas, questions, wants to know more details please let me know if you could have any suggestions.