Report Sees Strong Gains in Blu-ray Player Sales

SCOTTSDALE: Worldwide shipments of Blu-ray players are expected to more than double between last year and this year, according to ABI Research, which forecasts more than 62.5 million shipments in 2011.

In North America, standalone Blu-ray players are expected to reach almost 18-percent penetration among TV-owning households, up from just over 7 percent in 2009. Industry analyst Mike Inouye notes: “The solid growth in Blu-ray player shipments highlights a trend within the wider consumer electronics market. Larger, fixed-location devices such as Blu-ray players and flat panel TVs are enjoying rapid adoption relative to many classes of small, portable devices. Specifically, portable gaming devices are leveling out, while we are seeing actual declines in shipments of portable audio players. Digital picture frames are showing only mild growth, and compact digital camera shipments are declining in North America and Japan, though they continue modest growth elsewhere.”

The factors behind the gains include price declines and innovations in TV sets, such as Internet connectivity and 3D. “Aside from the economic/job environment it could be that dedicated portable device markets are simply maturing, or it could be due to the greater competition they face from smartphones and other multi-function portable devices," adds Inouye.