Toshiba DVD Sales Forecast For 1999 In The Millions

Steve Nickerson, Toshibaís Vice President of Marketing, is predicting the consumer electronics industry will sell more than 3 million DVD-Video players in 1999! This figure surpasses Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Associationís original forecasts from last September 1998 by more than 1 million units.Nickerson argues that since DVD-Video player shipments to dealers were up 300 percent over the same 15-week period last year, that at that pace, player sales should account for 3.3 million units in 1999. Should the growth rate dip to 250 percent Nickerson says the industry will sell 2.9 million DVD-Video players in 1999. DVD-Video player sales to retailers in 1998 averaged 200 percent growth over 1997 and Nickerson sees no reason that the final figure for 1999 wonít be less than 3 million units.Nickerson cites the following as key contributing factors to achieving the 3 million mark:- the May and June promotions offering five free disc titles with the purchase of Panasonic, Philips, Sony and Toshiba DVD-Video players.- new DVD-Video models with enhanced CD-audio playback capabilities.- the imminent arrival of the first DVD-Video players street priced under $200 from second and third-tier brands (not Toshiba, however).- and widespread support of the DVD format from video rental stores and the anticipated release of blockbuster movie titles on DVD this year such as ""Titanic.""Nickerson says that the tight inventory problems afflicting the industry last year are virtually non-existent with manufacturers stepping up DVD-Video player production.