According to In-Stat, Blu-Ray Wins the Race – but It Won’t Be Smooth Sailing

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray format war ended in early 2008, with Blu-ray the winner, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). But, do not expect a quick ramp up of Blu-ray player sales to standard DVD player levels any time soon, as prices for Blu-ray players are still high, the high-tech market research firm says. Meanwhile, the DVD hardware market will decline in 2008, as DVD players have reached saturation in some markets and DVD recorders never caught consumers’ attention the way DVD players did.

“DVD recorders have been most popular in Europe and Japan, but Blu-ray recorders are taking over in Japan while interest wanes in Europe, possibly due to increasing shipments of hard drive-based DVRs,” says Michelle Abraham, In-Stat analyst.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• The market for Blu-ray players and recorders will reach 5 million in 2008 with solid growth continuing if prices decline.
• Worldwide DVD player and recorder sales reached 142 million units in 2007.
• North America, Europe, Japan, and China have seen declines in their DVD player markets.
• Developing countries in other parts of the world are the only bright spots in the DVD player market.

The research, “Worldwide DVD and Blu-ray Market” (#IN0804069ME), covers the worldwide issues facing these markets and what consumers in France, Germany, Korea, Japan, the UK, and the US have said when questioned about their purchase plans. Five-year forecasts for unit shipments, ASPs, and revenues are provided for DVD players, DVD recorders, Blu-ray players, and Blu-ray recorders. We also look at the bill of materials for DVD recorders and Blu-ray players and forecast the component pricing out five years.

For more information on this research or to purchase it online, please visit: http://www.instat.com/catalog/mmcatalogue.asp?id=162 or contact a sales representative: http://www.instat.com/sales.asp.

The price is $3,495 (US).

About In-Stat

Technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and market specialists, worldwide, rely on In-Stat’s experienced staff and in-depth research to support critical business, product and technology decisions. In-Stat’s insights are derived from both a deep technology understanding and comprehensive research, which examines each segment of the value chain for each market. Regular and ongoing end-user demand and primary research surveys underpin much of the analysis, enabling In-Stat to provide incisive market knowledge and guidance on future market opportunities via syndicated research products, custom consulting, and advisory services.

In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $9 billion Reed Elsevier global information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. As a member of Reed Business Information, In-Stat is a division of the largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S.