[news] - stangl.de

page 6 [news Solar] | ISSUE 36 | SEPTEMBER 2009
Source: Futuresource, UK, 9/2009
Blu-ray Disc Continues
to Go from Strength
to Strength
According to a report issued by Futuresource, UK, the global Blu-ray
Disc production is set to reach 473 million discs by the year end
(+ 57 % over 2008 production volumes).
Blu-ray-Video output is forecasted to expand by 71 % this year to
a total of 318 million discs. This is largely fuelled by the roll-out of
new release and catalogue titles by the major studios.
In Europe, close to one of ten homes will be Blu-ray enabled by
the end of this year. This offers a large future growth potential for
hardware and discs.
With falling prices, increased retail promotion and growing
awareness all helping to drive Blu-ray Disc demand across the
continent, the report predicts that this figure will continue to rise.
It is expected that over 20 % of European homes will be BD enabled
by the end of 2011. In line with this growth, sales of BD movie titles
are expected to top 31 million by the end of 2009 – a more than
three-fold increase on the 9 million sales recorded in 2008.
The report also highlights that despite 47 % of homes throughout
Europe having high-definition resolution screens, only 6 % are
currently receiving HD quality broadcasts.
Commenting on the report, Niels Leibbrandt, Chairman of the BDA EU
Promotion Committee said: “We’re starting to see a seismic shift in
uptake of BD as people become more aware of the benefits of the
format. The gap between those homes with high-definition screens
and those currently receiving high-definition broadcast quality
represents a fantastic opportunity for BD. If people want the image
and sound quality of HD now with no ongoing monthly investment,
then a BD player is the best way to immediately bridge this gap.”
Futuresource also highlights that the Christmas sales period will
continue to be important with close to 50 % of this year’s annual
shipment of BD players expected in the final quarter of the year.