DVD recorder sales doubled in 2004, will grow 87% in 2005

DVD recorders are beginning to drive the market for non-PC DVD hardware, a trend that keeps the overall global DVD hardware market on the rise, according to In-Stat. The DVD recorder market (not including units connected to PCs) doubled in size in 2004 and will grow by 87% in 2005. In Japan, DVD player shipments declined, while DVD recorders grew by over 100%. Worldwide DVD recorder unit shipments will grow from 9.4 mln in 2004 to 67.7 mln in 2009. Digital TV tuners will be added to DVD recorders in increasing numbers in Japan, Europe, and North America. The FCC DTV tuner mandate will require a DTV tuner in each DVD recorder shipped in the US after July 1, 2007. Three manufacturers are shipping next-generation Blu-ray recorders in Japan, while the first HD-DVD players will be available in the second half of 2005 along with about 90 movie titles. In-Stat expects shipments of next-generation blue laser recorders and players will reach 4 mln in 2008, not including video game consoles.