‘Lion King,’ ‘Fast Five’ Propel Blu-ray to Record-breaking Week

18 Oct, 2011 By: John Latchem

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Blu-ray Disc enjoyed its best week ever compared with DVD the week ended Oct. 8, kicking off the fourth quarter by contributing more than 40% of total disc revenue.

Based on figures supplied by studios and other sources, Home Media Research estimates Blu-ray revenue of $73.9 million for the week, the highest week for Blu-ray since Christmas 2010 and the largest week for Blu-ray outside Black Friday or the Christmas shopping season. In terms of units sold, 28% of all discs sold for the week were Blu-ray, also a record.

Top titles driving the week were Disney’s The Lion King: Diamond Edition, which according to estimates sold more than 1.5 million copies, all of which are Blu-ray/DVD combo packs, adding significantly to the Blu-ray revenue number. Universal’s Fast Five contributed estimated sales of more than 1 million Blu-ray units as well.

The week ended Oct. 8 was up 57.7% in Blu-ray revenue from the same week the previous year, which included the Blu-ray release of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition. Blu-ray sales helped offset a 9.4% decline in DVD-only revenue and brought estimated total disc revenue to $183.8 million, up 9.31% over the same week the previous year.

The 40% revenue number for Blu-ray for the week surpasses the 35% Blu-ray market share for the week ended Sept. 17, 2011 — when “Star Wars” debuted on Blu-ray. The record may be surpassed again by the week ending Oct. 22, with the debut of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Disney is offering only Blu-ray combo packs of the fourth “Pirates” film until mid-November, which, combined with second-week sales of Green Lantern, should add significant totals to the Blu-ray market share.

Blu-ray has increased its market share 35% in 2011 compared with 2010. Blu-ray revenue market share has grown to 21.1% so far in 2011, from 15.7% at the same point last year.

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