Blu Ray makes headway with consumers

Website: Rapid TV News

At last there’s positive news that Blu-ray is making some progress. While retailers and the distribution industry can measure very specifically the number of players and titles sold in any one month, it seems the chip-set industry is also making headway.

Indeed, analysts at InStat* say the transition from DVD to Blu-ray players and recorders is creating a substantial opportunity for Blu-ray semiconductor (chip-set) fabricators. Blu-ray player semiconductor content overtook DVD player semi-conductor content for the first time in 2009, and is projected to account for nearly three quarters of the combined Blu-ray/DVD player semiconductor revenues by 2013.

“Semi-conductors for DVD equipment continue to lead in unit volume,” says Michelle Abraham, In-Stat analyst. “However, the higher priced semiconductors in Blu-ray equipment propelled Blu-Ray semiconductor revenue ahead of DVD for the first time in 2009.”

Recent research from In-Stat found the following:

* The worldwide DVD player semi market will decline nearly 40% between 2009 and 2013 to $355 million.
* The average semiconductor cost per unit of Blu-ray equipment in 2009 is nearly 8 times that of DVD equipment. However, the average Blu-ray semiconductor cost will drop nearly 70% by 2013.

The leading providers of MPEG ICs for DVD and Blu-ray equipment include Broadcom, MediaTek, NEC, Sigma Designs, Sunplus and Zoran, says InStat.

*“Worldwide Blu-ray and DVD Player Semiconductors” InStat