Blue Laser Worth $28B In 2010

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 7/13/2006

Santa Clara, Calif. — The market for products based on new blue-laser technologies should exceed $28 billion in worldwide factory sales volume in 2010, according to a new report from market researcher the Santa Clara Consulting Group (SCCG).

The North American blue-laser wholesale sales volume in 2010 will be $9.5 billion, SCCG said.

Leading sales categories will be blue-laser players (Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD), game consoles and PC drives. The new study, which is titled “Blu-ray and HD DVD Disc Technologies: Pursuit of a New Standard,” classifies products by six sub-segments.

“The game-console segment, supported by sales of the PlayStation 3, will have the most important influence on the blue-laser disc technology market, with more than half of the $2 billion in revenue for 2006,” SCCG said. “Content, including movies and games, will represent half of this market’s revenues in 2010.”

“Currently the market seems to be preoccupied with the format battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD technologies. What is overlooked is the fact that a market is developing and the opportunity is huge,” stated David Bunzel, SCCG managing director.

Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players are forecast to generate nearly $4 billion in global sales in 2010 on a sell-in basis; while movie titles for the formats will earn $3 billion, the group said. Also in 2010, blue-laser-based gaming consoles will generate $6 billion in sales; games will generate $10 billion in sales; blue laser PC drives will generate $4 billion in sales; and blue laser technology blank media will generate $400 million in sales, according to the SCCG study.

“High-definition content will be a central focus for companies in the consumer electronic, gaming, entertainment and PC industries for the next five years. Blue-laser disc technology is a critical component to the development of these markets,” said Bunzel.

The SCCG can be contacted at 65 Washington St., Suite 170, Santa Clara, CA95050 to purchase a full report.