Research and Markets: DVD Sales to Lead Electronic Entertainment Growth in Europe

Research and Markets: DVD Sales to Lead Electronic Entertainment Growth in Europe

DUBLIN, Ireland, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c14477) has announced the addition of Electronic Entertainment Major Markets In Europe to their offering.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040820/RESEARCH )

The "big change" coming to the market for Consumer-Oriented Digital Electronic Entertainment markets throughout the world is the up take of non- traditional TV delivery services and the tremendous growth of the DVD-based "packaged goods" business. DVD players are becoming ubiquitous and DVD discs are selling like hotcakes.

New digital delivery services are not likely to supplant the DVD business, but, rather, bring digital entertainment to people by adding either convenience, or accessibility that compliment what the "packaged goods" can provide. Eventually, much of today's digital video entertainment will be available on cell phones, but, in the meantime, it's instructive to look at how a basic parameter (TV households) is becoming more accepting of alternative delivery systems. We believe that there are about 120 million TV households in the top five major European markets, and about 51% get their TV services from Cable, Satellite, Digital Terrestrial or Broadband TV services.

Sales and rentals of DVD "packaged goods" will be the key growth driver for electronic entertainment in the five largest European countries, with locally-produced content representing the fastest growing DVD segment.

Hollywood studios are also reporting strong growth for sales of movie DVDs in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Consumers in these five major European markets are migrating away from traditional analog broadcasting to digital pay-TV services, but free-to-air digital terrestrial services will show the strongest growth rates.

The number of households receiving digital terrestrial services in these markets will jump from 4.9 million in 2004 to 23.7 million in 2009, the high- tech market research firm says. "New digital delivery services such as digital terrestrial and IP-TV are not likely to supplant the DVD business, but rather bring digital entertainment to people by adding either convenience, mobility, or improved accessibility."

The Following Statistics apply to Europe:

- Growth of Cable TV will be flat to slightly negative; Satellite TV services will pick up about 6 percentage points.

- Digital Terrestrial will grow from about 4.1% of TV households during 2004, up to nearly 20% by 2009.

- The value of DVD sales and rental markets in the five major European markets was about $9.3 Billion (US) during 2004, and will grow to nearly $17 Billion (US) in 2009.

The report, "Electronic Entertainment Major Markets In Europe" provides analysis and forecasts of the number of TV households in each country receiving free-to-air analog TV, Cable TV, Satellite TV, Digital Terrestrial TV or Broadband (IP) TV. It also provides forecasts for the value of DVD sales and rentals in each country. The report also provides a profile of each country, and a discussion of key electronic entertainment trends in each country.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c14477

Laura Wood Senior Manager Research and Markets press@researchandmarkets.com Fax: +353 1 4100 980

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040820/RESEARCH Source: Research and Markets

CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Manager, Research and Markets, press@researchandmarkets.com, Fax: +353-1-4100-980

Web site: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c14477

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