DEG: Blu-ray Sales Up 10% in Second Quarter

According to a new report published by the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), a Los Angeles-based, industry funded nonprofit corporation that advocates and promotes the many consumer benefits associated with various entertainment products, Blu-ray disc sales rose 10% during the second quarter of 2014.

During the same period, total consumer spending also increased 2% over the same period in 2013. Total consumer spending for 2014 grew to $4.03 billion, up more than $80 million compared to the same quarter in 2013.

During the first six months of 2014, consumer spending on discs (DVD and Blu-ray) was down 8.2% ($3.26 billion from $3.56 billion). But according to market observers the drop in consumer spending is due to the lower prices of discs. Research conducted by Home Media Magazine also found that the total number of discs sold during the period was actually up more than 2%.

Digital HD (electronic sell-through) rose 37%, generating approximately $671.4 million. According to the DEG report, total digital spending also increased 16.7%.

The physical rental business was down approximately 14% ($1.7 billion from over $2 billion during the same period last year).