consumer electronics Blu-ray and HD products On the Blu front
Blu-ray’s combination of high definition video and lossless multi-channel audio make it the ideal format for the home theatre enthusiast, and sales of Blu-ray home theatre systems are growing fast, although they may be challenged by the popularity of viewing video content online and web-based movie services.
Blu-ray has yet to become a mainstream format, but a combination of falling hardware and software prices, greater content choice, increased sales of HD ready TVs, and innovations like 3D, have helped the Blu-ray market to grow. Total sales for Blu-ray products (excluding home theatre) reached 840,000 pieces for the 12 months ending December 2010, a year-on-year rise of 47.5%. Value was up 19.4% to £128.5 million and average price was down to £153, a fall of 19.1%. Blu-ray players still dominate this sector, accounting for 96% of Blu-ray sales by volume. The average price of a Blu-ray player is £138, a fall of 23.0%. Blu-ray recorder prices have fallen by more than a quarter (26.6%) to £532. Blu-ray’s combination of high definition video and lossless multi-channel audio make it the ideal format for the home theatre enthusiast, and sales of Blu-ray home theatre systems were up 130% to 130,000 pieces, with value rising by 87.6% to £51.2 million. Average price was down 18.4% to £391. The latest figures are encouraging for the home electronics market, but the gap between Blu-ray sales and DVD sales is still huge. DVD accounts for 77.6% of the total video disc market (Blu-ray and DVD) by volume and 62% by value. However, Blu-ray now accounts for almost quarter of the market by volume and a third in value terms. DVD sales for the same period were 2.84 million pieces, down 22.8%, with value tumbling by 23.9% to £209.7 million. The average price of a DVD player was £74, down 1.5%. With one supermarket chain selling a DVD player for less than £20, it’s easy to see why value is trickling away from the sector. The greater affordability of Blu-ray, coupled with the ability of many models to upscale DVD titles, has made it an ideal product for upselling to consumers looking for a DVD player. Blu-ray also offers a wide range of products, from entry-level players to more advanced machines with features
£ Market trends
✔ DVD is still the dominant home video disc format, but Blu-ray now accounts for almost one quarter of the market by volume and a third by value.
✔ Average Blu-ray player price is now £138, compared with £74 for a DVD player.
✔ Greater affordability, more content and innovations like 3D helping to boost Blu-ray sales.
✔ More and more players are offering web access and home networking functionality.
✔ Online video viewing and service is a potential long-term threat to Blu-ray, but for now, Blu- ray offers the most convenient way of viewing high definition movies at home.
IndependentElectricalRetailer 22 BusinessBook2011
in association with GfK
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