First Decline in DVD Player Revenues Projected

One Percent Decline to $19.8 Billion Expected in 2005 Despite Unit Sale Growth

Boston, MA - Global DVD player revenues will fall for the first time ever this year, according to research from the Strategy Analytics Connected Home service. Retail revenues in 2005 will fall by 1 percent to $19.8 billion, after peaking at $20.1 billion in 2004. Higher value DVD recorders are beginning to replace players, but this trend will not prevent a continued fall in overall revenues.

"The global transition from play-only DVD players to DVD Recorders is well under way," says Peter King, Director of the Strategy Analytics Connected Home service. "High prices and product complexity have held back demand for DVD Recorders, but these factors are now diminishing."

Worldwide sales of DVD recorders rose to 8.9 million units in 2004, generating $4.8 billion in retail revenues. DVD recorder sales will continue to grow rapidly, overtaking play-only devices in 2008 and reaching annual sales of 90.9 million units in 2010. The US market is trailing both Europe and Japan in adoption of DVD recorders, in part reflecting faster US adoption of set-top box DVRs

DVD recorders that are integrated with a hard disk drive dominate the Japanese market, and this trend is expected to spread to other regions. This feature enables time shifting as well as television program archiving in one device.

For further information on this report, "DVD Players and Recorders: Global Market Forecast," see www.strategyanalytics.com/press/PR00182.htm

About Strategy Analytics
Strategy Analytics, Inc. - a global research and consulting firm - provides timely insights and strategic business solutions to companies operating at the convergence of information, communications and entertainment technologies. With worldwide headquarters in Boston, MA. and principal offices in England, France and Germany, Strategy Analytics focuses on market opportunities and challenges in the areas of Automotive Electronics & Multimedia, Digital Consumer, Wireless Strategies and Enabling Technologies.