Blu-ray player sales soar 72 percent

The Blu-ray format has excelled since the demise of its format rival HD DVD.

The US sales of standalone Blu-ray players have increased 72 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year, according to the market research firm NPD Group.

The growth in unit sales took the number of players sold in the first three months of the year to 400,000. Although there was a dramatic increase in the total volume of sales, revenue increased by a more modest 14 percent.

“The rising penetration of high definition televisions and lower prices for Blu-ray players, are broadening the format’s market opportunity,” said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD. “Even as options expand for accessing movies digitally, Blu-ray is carrying forward the widespread appeal of DVDs into the HD marketplace.”

NPD also found that Blu-ray awareness in the US had surpassed 90 percent in the past six months.

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