DVD Market To Thrive As Players Are Added To More CE Products

20-Dec-02

With DVD playback being combined with an increasing number of consumer electronics products, DVD is everywhere, according to In-Stat/MDR (www.instat.com). The high-tech market research firm reports that, in addition to TV sets, VCRs, cars, and home theatre systems, in 2002, DVD players have been added to cable set-top boxes and personal video recorders. As a result, the DVD player market will hit 84 million units in 2006.""DVD player shipments have increased again in 2002, growing by 61 percent,"" says Michelle Abraham, a Senior Analyst with In-Stat/MDR. ""The increased form factors and low prices are keeping interest in purchasing DVD players up, though the DVD player market is maturing and the worldwide shipment growth rate is slowing down."" In 2005 and 2006, DVD recorders will be purchased in place of DVD players, reaching 32 million units in 2006.In-Stat/MDR has also found that:- Though growth is slowing in the U.S., it will still be the largest region in unit shipments through 2004. The growth rate in Europe will be higher than that of North America through 2005. Europe has been one year behind the U.S., in terms of the market's unit shipment growth rate. China's domestic market will surpass that of the U.S. in unit shipments in 2006.- The first blue laser DVD products are expected in late 2003, but their high prices will put them out of reach for most consumers.- As more manufacturers move to produce DVD recorders, pricing will drop to under $400 by the end of 2003, possibly under $300 with fierce competition. At less than $300, more consumers will purchase DVD recorders. - DVD recorders will ship over one million units in 2002, which is just the beginning as the market will experience triple-digit unit shipment growth rates through 2005.The report, ""DVD, DVD Everywhere And Not An Opportunity To Miss"" offers forecasts for DVD+VCR and DVD home theatre systems. Five-year forecasts and market trends are also provided for portable DVD, automotive DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD, DVD players, and DVD recorders. In-Stat/MDR includes a discussion of DVD components, their suppliers, and five-year bill of materials forecasts for DVD players and DVD recorders.