2002 DVD Sales Sets New Record Feb 12, 2003

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U.S. manufacturer-to-dealer sales of DVD players continued to set record-breaking figures with some 17.1 million units sold in 2002- the most units ever since its introduction to the market in 1997, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Other digital video products, such as camcorders, also enjoyed solid growth during the 2002 calendar year, and the continued success of digital television (DTV) set the course for continued category growth during 2003.

During the month of December, factory-to-dealer sales of camcorders increased some 32 percent over 2001 figures to 599,951 units. Sales of DVD players also continued to rise with more than 2.3 million units shipped to dealers for the month - a one-quarter increase, compared to the same period in 2001.

In addition to record-setting unit sales of DVD players, year-to-date manufacturer-to-dealer sales of camcorders also increased by more than 9 percent, totaling some 5.8 million units.

The continued growth seen in December helped finish off 2002 with strong numbers, setting the stage for an even more successful 2003. CEA projects unit sales of DVD players will reach 20.1 million by the close of 2003.

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