31/10/2002 - Screen Digest publishes report about huge impact of DVDs and predicts over 100 million families will have one by 2006

The European DVD market is growing steadily. According to a report published by the film and audiovisual industry monitor, Screen Digest, DVD sales are likely to quadruplicate during 2002-2006.
In 2001, 13 million DVD players were sold, an 8.6 per cent penetration of European family units. That number is likely to rise to 66 per cent in 2006, when it is estimated that some 106 million European families will have a DVD at home.
DVDs have had a huge impact on Europe’s home entertainment market and the forecast for 2006 revenues is Euros 18.6 million.
According to Screen Digest, 87 per cent of all home entertainment spending will be on DVD products (rental and sales).
Although theatrical DVD distribution is still in its “infancy”, Cineuropa.org spoke to Eliane Dubois, the editor of Cinéart – one of Belgium’s leading distributors – “in Belgium, third quarter film attendance in Belgium suddenly dropped by 20 per cent and we are sure that the advent of DVDs is partly responsible for this. Young people adore this format.” Clearly an issue we will return to...

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