UK video market remains “buoyant” as Frozen tops chart

The UK video entertainment market remained buoyant in 2014, according to new research from the British Video Association. With total spending at just under £2.2 billion, digital video continued to boost the market with 30% growth year on year.

Buying videos to own and keep was found to be the preferred choice for consumers, representing two thirds of all video spend. Total retail sales were £1.43 billion in 2014 with DVDs and Blu-rays accounting for 89% of spend.

Video rentals and subscriptions accounted for one third of consumer spending. Total rentals and subscriptions were estimated to be £755 million in 2014 with pay TV on-demand and internet subscription services accounting for 81% of rentals.

Some 22 million people in the UK bought a video to own on DVD, Blu-ray or as a digital HD download during the year, more than those that visited the cinema (16 million).

Walt Disney Studio’s Frozen became the biggest title this decade with sales of 4 million copies on DVD and Blu-ray disc whilst The Hobbit – The Desolation Of Smaug and The Lego Movie, both from Warner Bros, and The Hunger Games – Catching Fire, from Lionsgate, each sold more than one million copies during 2014.

“Video is as popular as it has ever been despite competition for consumers’ time and money,” said Liz Bales, chief executive of the BVA.

“Research shows that video discs represent an emotional purchase and form of owning content that can be enjoyed again and again. Shoppers are choosing new ways to buy such as digital HD downloads and renting on demand, but these figures show that DVDs and Blu-rays are still the most popular way to watch and own video.”

Richard Cooper, head of video analysis at IHS added: “Digital consumption of video continues to grow at a prestigious rate in the UK. Not least of these channels is digital retail (EST). Thanks to industry initiatives such as early releasing (Digital HD) the platform has maintained an impressive growth rate, forecast at 25% in 2014.”