DVR Displaces Video

For the first time, more US households now own DVD players (81.2% of all households) than VCRs (79.2%), according to the 3rd Quarter Home Technology Report from Nielsen Media Research.

For the first time, more US households now own DVD players (81.2% of all households) than VCRs (79.2%), according to the 3rd Quarter Home Technology Report from Nielsen Media Research.

As of third quarter 2006, DVD penetration is up 6% from the previous year and continues to grow, while VCR penetration is declining. The study first started tracking DVD ownership in 1999, when penetration was only 6.7% and 88.6% of households had a VCR. Paul Lindstrom, Senior VP of Custom Research, says the milestone is 'the culmination of a long battle for share of consumers'.

Nielsen says DVD households now rent DVDs about twice per month on average, while VCR homes rent videos about once a month, a figure that has levelled off in the past six months.

The home Tech study also found that 73.4% of US homes currently have a computer in the household, 26.7% own or rent an MP3 player and 16.4% of US homes own a PDA. Among Internet users, 78.2% have made purchases online and 46.8% of those aged 12+ have used the Internet to download and play music.

The Home Technology Report is based on 1,253 phone interviews conducted four times per year. NMR is online at www.NielsenMedia.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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