Audio Video News

While the music business is experiencing harrowing declines in CD sales (12% down in the first quarter of 2002, compared with last year), DVD movie sales are growing at a fantastic pace. According to figures released by the DVD Entertainment Group (DEG), more than 120 million DVD movies and music videos shipped in the first three months of 2002, which represents an impressive 74% increase over the same quarter last year.

The DEG also reports that there are now more than 15,000 movie and music video titles currently available, and that since the format's inception 1997, software shipments have reached more than 790 million units. The group estimates that about 100 new titles are shipped to distributors each week.

In addition to the robust software sales, the DEG says that in the first quarter 2002, 3.6 million DVD players shipped to retail, a 29% gain over the same period last year. Total units shipped since the format's launch have exceeded 35 million, and the DEG estimates that 20 million DVD players will ship to retail this year.

DEG's Bob Chapek explains, "We continue to see families and younger audiences embrace DVD as their home entertainment medium of choice. The popularity of video game systems compatible with DVD has also allowed for DVD playback capability inside of kids' rooms, leading to even more software growth potential."