Blu-ray Q1 sales nearly double in 2009
About 9 million units sold so far this year
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 4/15/2009
APRIL 15 | Blu-ray Disc keeps growing despite tough economic times, nearly doubling its year to date 2009 sales over the same frame in 2008, according to Adams Media Research.
About 9 million high-definition units sold in the U.S. from January through March, up from the 4.8 million that sold during first-quarter 2008, according to Adams.
Additionally, Adams reports that there are now 10.5 million Blu-ray households, encompassing owners of both Blu-ray set-tops and Blu-ray-enabled PlayStation 3s.
“We are delighted to see continuing, significant growth of the Blu-ray Disc format in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in recent memory,” said Andy Parsons, U.S. chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Assn. Promotions Committee and senior VP of product planning at Pioneer Home Entertainment. “I think the numbers are a clear indicator that consumers really do understand the value of packaged media, and that even when times are very tough, [consumers] continue to seek out and enjoy the best possible high-definition content.”
