Washington, D.C.
(April 7, 2007)
-- DVD rentals and sales have lagged this year and one
industry executive thinks he knows why:
The boom in High-Definition TV sales over the holidays.
John Marmaduke, CEO of Hastings Entertainment, tells Video Business that new high-def owners may be staying home to watch 24-hour HD networks such as HDNet, Discovery HD Theater and INHD.
They would rent high-def DVDs, but the HDTV DVD format war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD is scaring people away, he says.
“I think the industry is being punished for no unanimity with high-def,” said Marmaduke. “Anecdotally, I’m hearing a lot talking about all the high-def channels they’re discovering.”
Standard-definition DVDs have seen a rise in sales and rentals in March thanks to the release of popular titles such as Casino Royale. But business remains slow in some part of country, including the Midwest.
The boom in High-Definition TV sales over the holidays.
John Marmaduke, CEO of Hastings Entertainment, tells Video Business that new high-def owners may be staying home to watch 24-hour HD networks such as HDNet, Discovery HD Theater and INHD.
They would rent high-def DVDs, but the HDTV DVD format war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD is scaring people away, he says.
“I think the industry is being punished for no unanimity with high-def,” said Marmaduke. “Anecdotally, I’m hearing a lot talking about all the high-def channels they’re discovering.”
Standard-definition DVDs have seen a rise in sales and rentals in March thanks to the release of popular titles such as Casino Royale. But business remains slow in some part of country, including the Midwest.
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Ted Engen, president of Video Buyers Group, points his finger of blame at unseasonably warm weather, March Madness and even hockey's college tournament finals.
“I haven’t seen it this erratic in six to eight years, at least,” Engen tells Video Business. “It’s very spotty. It just shows that people are into other things.”
The publication reports that Best Buy and Circuit City both reported a decrease in DVD sales in the fourth quarter, which includes the months of December through February.
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Ted Engen, president of Video Buyers Group, points his finger of blame at unseasonably warm weather, March Madness and even hockey's college tournament finals.
“I haven’t seen it this erratic in six to eight years, at least,” Engen tells Video Business. “It’s very spotty. It just shows that people are into other things.”
The publication reports that Best Buy and Circuit City both reported a decrease in DVD sales in the fourth quarter, which includes the months of December through February.
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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