Over 90% of US households says that DVD owners should be able to copy a DVD to their computer in the same way that they save music from a CD, according to a new survey commissioned by the National Consumers League.

With 69% of respondents reportedly watching DVDs on their computers, and with more than a third saying they have had to repurchase lost or damaged DVDs in the past, consumers are resoundingly interested in the ability to back-up their DVD content reveals the survey of 1,000 consumers, aged 18-64, who own a personal computer, conducted 11-16 March by The Opinion Research Corporation for the NCL.

Consumers currently have limited options for saving the contents of most commercial DVDs to their computers, whether for back up purposes or simply so that they can easily access their DVD library without carrying around the actual discs. Some “expanded” editions of DVDs, which are usually sold at an additional cost, come with the ability to save an additional copy to a computer.

More than a third (35%) of consumers surveyed reported owning more than 50 DVDs, with the average household owning 78 DVDs, but consumers are no longer exclusively using a conventional television-and-DVD-player configuration:

- Some 69% of respondents (and 74% of those with children) reported that they (or members of their family) use a computer to watch DVDs.

- Nearly a third of respondents (31%) use a portable or in-car DVD player regularly. For respondents with children in the household, portable DVD players are even more common, with 40% reporting regular use.

- More than a third (38%) of respondents reported that they have had to repurchase at least one DVD because it was lost or damaged. For respondents with children in the household, this number increased to 45%.

While the majority of consumers (82 percent) have never saved a copy of a purchased DVD to their computers’ hard drives, and a small number (4%) has tried and failed, respondents demonstrated overwhelming interest in being able to do so:

- Nearly all (90%, 93% with kids in the house) say DVD owners should be able to copy a DVD to their computer in the same way that they save music from a CD.

- Half of those surveyed (51%) were bothered that they cannot save most DVDs to their hard drives without cracking the encryption or purchasing an expanded version of the DVD; these numbers were higher among those respondents with children in the household (56%) or between the ages of 25 and 34 (67%). In this age group, 92% think they should have this right.

- Nearly half (46%) of those who said they should be able to save a copy of a DVD onto their hard drive have had to repurchase DVDs due to loss or damage.

While the great majority of consumers (89%) are satisfied with the value they are getting out of the DVDs they purchase, many reported that the economy has changed their DVD buying habits:

- More than half of respondents (55%) said that they are currently purchasing fewer DVDs than they did a year ago.

- Four in ten (41%) said they expect to purchase fewer DVDs one year from now.

- However, 41% said the ability to save a copy of their DVDs to their computer or laptop would make their DVD collections more valuable, and 40% said it might cause them to buy more DVDs.

Story filed 15.04.09