
The industry trade group, comprising big studios like Walt Disney, Sony Corp and many other technology and media companies, said Blu-ray disc software was a bright spot, with sales up 74 percent in the first quarter to 34 million discs shipped to retail. That latest tally brings the total shipped since the high-definition format's launch in 2006 to 211.2 million discs.
No dollar figures for the Blu-ray category were released.
The group said Blu-ray Disc hardware sales also experienced strong growth, with set-tops up 125 percent from a year ago.
Total rental was down 14 percent as a result of brick-and-mortar store closures by chains like Blockbuster Inc and Movie Gallery Inc, the DEG said.
Digital distribution, including electronic sell-through and video-on-demand, grew a combined 27 percent to $617 million.
(Reporting by Sue Zeidler; Editing by Richard Chang)
((susan.zeidler@thomsonreuters.com; +1 213 955 6748; Reuters Messaging: susan.zeidler.reuters.com@reuters.nenet) Keywords: HOMEENTERTAINMENT SALES/
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