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Futuresource predicts 100 million Blu-ray Discs sales in 2009

by Darren Murph posted Feb 24th 2009 at 12:32PM


Futuresource Consulting has produced some rather controversial predictions before, so it's not at all surprising to find that it was this firm that forecast a whopping 100 million Blu-ray Disc would be sold in 2009. As we wait for BD sales to exceed DVDs in 2012, we're told that consumers are on pace to purchase in excess of 100 million Blu-ray Discs across the US, Western Europe and Japan this year. Mai Hoang, Senior Market Analyst, even concluded that in America, BD has moved from "early adopter phase through to early majority," noting that in the US last year, BD video retail sales increased some 320 percent to 24 million units. Couple that with rampant growth in the UK, and that 100m figure seems just a wee bit more believable. Of course, it's not like these guys really have any accountability in any of this, but at least these conjectures will lead to some pretty fiery discussions, right? [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via Joystiq]

What recession? CEA sees the Super Bowl selling 2.6 million HDTVs

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 30th 2009 at 4:16PM


Despite the economy, it looks like a lot of people love their in-laws, with things looking good enough for a Consumer Electronics Association survey to indicate 2.6 million HDTVs will be sold as a result of the Super Bowl (are you ready?), up from the two million predicted last year. For the year the group sees sales rising to 29.8 million (out of 34.5 million total digital TVs), topping 2008's tally by a good three million, mostly because prices have continued to drop. Probably due to that price factor, plasma TVs are expected to make up only 10 percent of the year's sales. Still not buying an HDTV for the Super Bowl? Don't worry, there's always March Madness, the Oscars, World Cup, World Table Tennis Championships, the day after next Tuesday...

Blu-ray reportedly doing more than alright in Europe

by Darren Murph posted Dec 22nd 2008 at 7:29PM

Before you get all shocked and awed, may we remind you that Blu-ray has been performing well across the pond pretty much all year. We know, this beacon of shining, happy news from Futuresource is quite the contrast from what we've been hearing lately about the industry overall, but it's far from surprising. The numbers show that British consumers purchased around 462,500 Blu-ray Discs in November, which is an increase of 165% from October. 'Course, a little film called The Dark Knight probably helped out, but we digress. The figures are looking mighty good for the future as well, with Blu-ray's share in the optical disc market expected to double to 6% in France next year. Who knows -- maybe Europeans are so sick and tired of waiting for a decent HD channel lineup that they're using BD to get their high-resolution fix.

DisplaySearch revises LCD TV forecasts for 2009, takes 'em lower

by Darren Murph posted Dec 19th 2008 at 4:30PM


No surprises here, but the analysts at DisplaySearch have evidently been working overtime in order to revise the 2009 forecast for LCD TV shipments. We're not particularly sure where the originals sat, but if these new numbers prove true, we'll see LCD TV revenue fall year-over-year for the first time in the history of LCD TV shipments. The updated report notes that key factors in the downturn are "reductions in forecast TV prices and revised forecasts for year-over-year shipment growth for LCD and PDP TVs in 2009, down by 7 and 6 points from previous, respectively." As of now, LCD TV revenues are slated to drop 16% year-over-year, with total TV revenues falling 18%. Get a few big-screen OLED TVs out for under two large, and we bet all that changes -- don't mind that we're asking for the impossible or anything.

Blu-ray forecasts slightly lower due to wild economy

by Darren Murph posted Nov 19th 2008 at 2:14PM


It's hard to know what to believe these days. Just weeks ago, we heard that the worldwide economic situation would actually increase at-home entertainment sales; now, we're hearing that overall home entertainment spending will likely decline 3% to 4%. Regardless of what actually happens, Blu-ray backers are still scaling back their expectations for the format, with Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop each estimating that total BD software sales in 2008 will reach $750 million. That's compared to earlier forecasts of around $1 billion, though it was noted that Paramount Home Entertainment president Kelley Avery nailed the revamped estimate a few months back. As it stands, year-to-date Blu-ray sales have surpassed $500 million, which means BD still needs a big holiday season to hit the fresh figures -- do see you it happening?

March Madness to drum up demand for nearly one million HDTVs

by Darren Murph posted Mar 19th 2008 at 8:29PM

Sure, this year's Super Bowl was said to be responsible for some two million HDTV purchases, but driving another million just a month later isn't anything to sneeze at. According to a new release from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament "will help inspire the purchase of nearly 1 million HDTVs (934,000), which represents slightly more than $1 billion in retail sales." Beyond that, the data also found that over half of existing HDTV-owning sports fans would end up turning their attention to the internet in order to fetch highlights and statistics. Of course, it also discovered that the amount of fans viewing whole games online is on the rise, and considering that The Man will likely have you right where he wants you tomorrow (read: nowhere near a TV), we don't find that surprising at all.

LCD TV shipments forecasted to double by 2012

by Darren Murph posted Mar 16th 2008 at 11:43AM

2012 is really turning out to be a banner year in the world of HDTV -- after all, we'll have 900 HD channels via satellite, 33 million homes engaging in HD streaming and everyone and their cousin will own a LCD TV. Okay, so maybe that's a stretch, but according to new data from iSuppli, global shipments of LCD TVs will "nearly double" from 2008 to 2012, "driven mainly by falling prices and consumer demand for flat-screens and the HD format." If you're scouting numbers, the report suggests that we'll see worldwide shipments rise to nearly 194 million in just four years, and unsurprisingly, the thin designs and big resolutions are at the forefront of reasons why. Oh, and if prices keep sinking ever closer to zero, we wouldn't be surprised one iota to see this milestone passed a few months earlier than predicted.

[Via WidescreenReview, image courtesy of Sciam]

CEA expects Super Bowl to drive over two million HDTV sales

by Darren Murph posted Jan 26th 2008 at 9:02PM


Well, what do you know? No sooner than we whip up a questionnaire to find out if you're going to splurge on a new HDTV for the forthcoming tilt between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, along comes a study suggesting that quite a few of your neighbors will be. According to new results from the third annual Sports and Technology survey conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and Sports Video Group (SVG), the Big Game is expected to drive the purchase of 2.4 million high-definition sets, which should generate some $2.2 billion this year alone. Interestingly, this year's study also found that emerging outlets such as mobile handsets and the internet would be sought to provide statistics and secondary information while the Super Bowl is in progress. And hey, if you're questioning your sanity over buying a new TV for one game, just think, March Madness is only weeks away.

[Image courtesy of AP / Rick Hossman]

IFA 2006: Flat panel prices dropping in 2007

by Richard Lawler posted Sep 5th 2006 at 1:55PM

No surprise there, but the question is how much? LG was quoted a few days ago as saying they expect LCD prices to plunge as by 30% or more next year, mimicking their behavior in 2006, while today Hitachi says they expect plasmas to drop around 20%. Both have big plans for next year, with LG rolling out their first 47-inch 1080p LCD this year, along with 1080p 65- and 70-inch PDPs, followed by smaller versions of both the LCDs and plasmas next year. Hitachi has a few tricks up their sleeve as well, with their own 50-inch 1080p plasma slated for next year and a high-powered advertising campaign. Still, with so many competitors, both know that increasing production and cutting prices will be the key to keeping/increasing their marketshare. Now the hard part for consumers is knowing when to jump in, that prices have and will continue to drop is nothing new, but even when what is now a brand-new TV is 20% off, you'll have to choose between old technology, a shiny new LED-based set, SED or even something else.


Read - LG Elec sees LCD TV prices down 30% plus in 2007
Read - Hitachi sees smaller fall in plasma TV prices




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