AfterDawn: News

UK sees strong decline in DVD sales

The British Video Association has said today that despite a few recent good sellers such as Quantum of Solace, DVD revenue had fallen 14 percent with total sales volume falling 7.7 percent.

If the trend continues, the BVA says the UK will have its worst year for home video revenue since the 1980s.



Lavinia Carey, spokesperson for the BVA, adds that the high revenue drop can mainly be attributed to the recent bankruptcies of retailers Woolworths and Zavvi. “We’ve just seen 15 per cent of the retail market disappear,” says Carey, via Times Online.

Blu-ray was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary report, seeing a 231 percent increase in units sold. The BVA does add however that Blu-ray still only accounts for 3.1 million units sold, compared to 99.6 million for DVD (during the period).

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 2 Jul 2009 16:30

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• 7 comments

• wiimatrix

  No shock.Dvd still too expensive,retailers have gone and who has got much spare cash at the moment?.Concidering Blue Ray is bottom of my and many other's lists.

  3.7.2009 06:43 #1

• siber

  Cannot agree more. First of all: once you have a Blu-Ray device, you stop completely looking at regular DVD's. The availability of choices in BR is improving but much too slowly. In addition, the cost of BR discs is inexplicably high. Do these people really believe I'll spend 30 Dollars or Euros on an average movie? I used to buy the latest releases on sale for 15 Dollars at BestBuy 3 or 4 times on a very good month. Even though BR is somewhat more enjoyable to watch, 15 Dollars is all I ever will be willing to spend on a movie (especially one you've crippled with encryptions, loaded up with 'coming attractions' and 'special features' I have no use for....And believe me, I'm being very nice today...

  3.7.2009 11:51 #2

• cuber

  Hi,
  Don't know about UK but here in the States they usedto offer a "new release" price break for several days (up to a week) starting on the "1st" Tuesday release date this was at Walmart and some of the other stores. Price difference was from $13.99 to 16.99 vs the non-special price of 19.99 to 22.99 (USD) where the std release used to have special features. Recently here in the states they have been offering a stripped down version (no special features just the movie) for $19.95 and the one with special features for $22.99+ . I'm willing to pay the $13.99 or so, but $19.99 is too much (IMHO). These were for std def DVDs. Blu-ray is more expensive. I haven't gotten on the HD bandwagon since my TV only has component inputs for hi def and the players reduce the resolution over that interface with BD so I'm still limited to std def purchases they even do it with upscaling on std def.
  
  I don't know if this is a retailer decision or the disk manufacture's choice, but it has reduced my purchases of new DVDs significantly. The new release priced DVDs are few and far between.
  
  cuber

  3.7.2009 18:44 #3

• pphoenix

  "231 percent increase in units sold. The BVA does add however that Blu-ray still only accounts for 3.1 million units sold, compared to 99.6 million for DVD (during the period)."
  
  WOW WOW WOW 231%.
  
  i hate marketing speak what they seem to forget is that 1 + 231% = 3.31.
  
  At least they are blaming the demise of retail stores & not using it as an excuse to push tougher restrictions on the net with the word "pirate". tbh all the main supermarkets sell mostly all the dvd's that Woolworth's stocked anyway, maybe its because many people are losing their jobs, having their income frozen, getting completely screwed by the government who yet again raised tax on fuel, tobacco, alcohol, have yet to curb energy companies with extortionate overpricing how long have labour stated they would stop the energy companies?, pensions becoming worthless, many houses now in negative equity, the £ at a very low point, ect, ect, ect.
  
  I'm sure the first thing on peoples minds when they go shopping is to purchase DVD's.
  
  Now virtually everyone in the country has Film 4, & others for FREE, whats the point in purchasing movies exactly?

  4.7.2009 05:07 #4

• pphoenix

  P.S. the first thing on ppl's minds at the moment is to purchase films!
  
  http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/bu...ay+cuts/3248887
  
  July 04, 2009
  
  BT offers employees holidays for pay cuts
  
  BT employees have been offered the chance of long-term holidays if they agree to huge pay cuts, the company has said.
  
  
  
  http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/bu...icle6510479.ece
  
  June 16, 2009
  British Airways asks staff to work for free
  
  British Airways has asked its 40,000 staff to work without pay for up to a month as the ailing airline seeks to cut costs.
  
  The group, which made a record £401 million loss in 2008 amid surging fuel prices and a collapse in premium-fare passengers, is seeking to reduce costs dramatically and has already offered staff unpaid leave or a reduction in hours.

  4.7.2009 05:23 #5

• dgaus

  It should be no surprise that sales of DVD's are down. In addition to the economy, there really has been a lack of good movies coming out on DVD this year. For the first time in a very long time, there have been several weeks where there were no good new releases coming out.

  5.7.2009 18:38 #6

• avoidz

  Originally posted by dgaus: It should be no surprise that sales of DVD's are down. In addition to the economy, there really has been a lack of good movies coming out on DVD this year. For the first time in a very long time, there have been several weeks where there were no good new releases coming out.Agreed. My rentals have dropped drastically since the start of this year. Not much out there at the moment.

  13.7.2009 00:51 #7