Nearly One Billion DVDs Shipped To Retail This Year; Robust Fourth Quarter Expected With Top Grossing Box-Office Hits Coming to DVD And Variety Of Players

DVD Players in More Than 63 Million U.S. Homes

20-Oct-04

DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group announced DVD hardware and software sales figures for the third quarter at today's TV on DVD Conference. According to figures compiled by Kaplan, Swicker & Simha on behalf of the DEG, approximately 340 million DVDs shipped in the third quarter of 2004, a 59 percent increase over the same period last year. Setting another DVD record, nearly one billion discs shipped so far this year, bringing the total number of DVDs shipped since launch to more than 3.3 billion. ""The unprecedented growth of the DVD format is a true testament of the partnerships between the hardware, software and retail industries,"" said Bob Chapek, President, DEG, and President, Buena Vista Home Entertainment. ""In the coming years, those alliances will be put to the ultimate test in defining the next generation of players. As all of our industries have learned from the DVD format, these cooperative efforts are the only thing that will help the next generation to grow."" According to figures compiled by DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, based on data from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), retailers and manufacturers, the consumer electronics industry experienced its strongest third quarter ever, with nearly 6.6 million DVD players sold to U.S. consumers. Nearly 110 million DVD players have sold since launch (including set-top and portable DVD players, Home-Theater-in-a-Box systems, TV/DVD and DVD/VCR combination players), bringing the number of DVD households to over 63 million. Currently, 42 percent of all U.S. DVD households have two or more DVD players. ìAs the consumer electronics industry continues its transition to high definition, DVD remains the principal driver by bringing the benefits of high quality video and audio to the widest possible audience,"" said Mike Fidler, Vice President, DEG, and Senior Vice President, Home Products Division, Sony Electronics. ""In addition, the ever expanding range of DVD lifestyle applications is creating a variety of new business opportunities for us all.""