DVD RENTALS PASS VHS MILESTONE.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer For the first time ever, more DVDs than VHS (Video Home System) A half-inch, analog videocassette recorder (VCR) format introduced by JVC in 1976 to compete with Sony's Betamax, introduced a year earlier. tapes were rented by consumers during a single week, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. sales figures sales figures npl → cifras fpl de ventas released Thursday by the Video Dealers Software Association. The VSDA VSDA Video Software Dealers Association reported that 28.2 million DVDs were rented during the week ending June 15 compared with 27.3 million VHS cassettes rented. ``This is a milestone in the history of home video,'' said VSDA President Bo Andersen in a statement. ``Since the advent of video rental 25 years ago, videocassettes have been the dominant format for video rental. Now, just six years since its launch, DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. has supplanted that pioneering technology in the rental market as it previously did in the sales market.'' Although overall DVD revenue began surpassing VHS revenue in March, this marks the first time that the number of DVD units rented have come out ahead. Despite the DVD surge, the VSDA said there is still a substantial VHS market that had 2 billion rental turns last year, a strong figure but still down from the 2.5 billion turns in 2001 and 2.6 billion turns in 2000. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that approximately 50 million U.S. homes have a VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. but not a DVD player A stand-alone device that plays DVDs. It contains a DVD drive and the electronics to decode the digital video. The device may play only manufactured DVDs, or it may be able to play DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs. DVD players are cabled to a TV or home theater system for display. , according to VSDA Director of Research Brad Hackley. ``That's a very large market,'' Hackley said. The jump in DVD rentals has been dramatic. In 2002, there were 915 million turns reported, more than double the 445 turns a year earlier. Even more dramatic: in 2000, just 168 million DVD rental turns were reported. ``We have been seeing DVD grow, and it has become an increasing part of our rental revenue,'' Blockbuster block·bust·er n. 1. Something, such as a film or book, that sustains widespread popularity and achieves enormous sales. 2. A high-explosive bomb used for demolition purposes. 3. Inc. spokesman Randy Hargrove said of the largest video store chain in the U.S. ``DVD rentals were 53 percent of our rental revenue during the first quarter of the year but only 31 percent in the same quarter last year,'' Hargrove said. ``You have increased DVD player penetration in households but not everyone is going to want to buy every title so we're seeing more people renting DVDs.'' DVDs are set to hit 50 million U.S. households and will likely account for 70 percent of the industry's retail revenue this year. According to research presented this week by the DVD Entertainment Group, an industry trade association, 29 percent of households now have at least two DVD players, the second popping up in bedrooms. Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com |
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