Europe's online source of news, data & analysis for professionals involved in packaged media and new delivery technologies
'Blu-ray beats the recession,' UK analysts claim
“Despite the gloomiest of financial forecasts, sales of Blu-ray disc movies are defying the odds and bucking the credit crunch - with record figures reported in the run up to Christmas,” claims UK research firm Futuresource.
Blu-ray players as well are also following suit, with a strong upsurge in European sales that is expected to continue into the New Year. Overall sales are predicted to more than triple in 2009, reaching 2.5 million units Europe wide – a figure excluding Playstation 3 consoles.
UK consumers bought 462,500 Blu-ray discs in November, an increase of 165% from October. Figures released in December from the British Video Association, show that blockbuster Hollywood titles such The Dark Knight sold a staggering 513,000 units in one day with Blu-ray disc representing 21 per cent of all discs sold.
In France, Blu-ray's share of the optical disc market is expected to double next year to 6%. Across Europe as a whole, over 6.5 million units of software have been sold to date, with year on year growth up 320 per cent**, according to Futuresource.
Story filed 21.12.08
More Articles...
