facts, figures, & findings - Industry Trend or Event

Emedia Professional, Sept, 1999 by Sherl Tharp

DVD: so you say you want a REVOLUTION

Figures compiled by the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) reveal that in the second quarter of 1999, DVD-Video players out-shipped the previous quarter by 300 percent, a total of over 1.1 million. According to CEMA, DVD titles have sold nearly the same amount in the first six months of 1999 as in all of 1998. Available to consumers for a little over two years, DVD-Video players in homes have increased 400 percent since mid-year 1998. Sales of discs are also expected to rise, with an average of more than 200 new releases each month. The current number of titles now available for rental and sales is approximately 3,000 and is expected to rise to 5,000 by the end of 1999. (323/845-0160; http://www.dvdvideogroup.com)

digital music PLAYERS: MORE to come

According to Cahners In-Stat Group, the market for personal digital music players employing audio compression technologies will undergo massive growth by the year 2003. Cahners predicts expanded features for these products (such as FM tuners, increased storage capacity, and security mechanisms) within the next twelve months. Cahners forecasts several more audio trends to emerge over the next few years. First, the continuing battle over "secure" digital recordings and "open access" technologies will cease with SDMI eventually replacing the standard MP3 with its own format. Portable music devices will support multiple compression technologies including MP3, a2b, and Liquid Audio until the SDMI standard is completed. Cahners also predicts that within a year's time, transferring digital audio content will no longer require a computer, but will eventually be replaced by retail kiosks, set-top boxes, and even cellular phones. (617/630-3900; http://www.cahnersinstat.com)