DVD Sales Expected to Rise Dec 18, 2002

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The rapid growth in sales of DVD players will remain strong in coming years, fueled in part by demand for DVD recorders, according to a recent study. Research firm In-Stat/MDR said DVD player shipments grew by 61 percent in 2002, driven by consumers attraction to the format's improved picture and audio quality as well as smaller discs.
The study showed that the DVD player market will hit 84 million units in 2006, spurred by the emergence in 2005 of units than can record as well as play DVDs. Shipments of DVD recorders will reach 32 million units in 2006, the study said. More manufacturers soon will produce DVD recorders, and competition could push prices under U.S. $300 by the end of 2003. More than 1 million units are expected to ship in 2002, In-Stat/MDR said.

Experts have said that the DVD format, introduced in 1997, will likely be ubiquitous in U.S. living rooms within 12 years, less than half the time it took for video cassette recorders, or VCRs, to do the same. In-Stat/MDR also found that although growth is slowing in the U.S., it will still be the largest region in unit shipments through 2004. China's domestic market will surpass that of the U.S. in unit shipments in 2006. (Reuters)

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