Spreading Use of DVDs, PDP TVs Stokes Demand for Home Theaters

摘要

The growing popularity of DVD players and plasma display panel (PDP) TVs has fueled interest among the general public in home theater systems. Home theater setups give viewers at home playing DVD software or receiving broadcast satellite digital broadcasts the same viewing and listening experience as they would expect at a cinema. By providing realistic cinematic sound and images, home theater systems are rapidly gaining popularity and should eventually become mainstream home entertainment products. The spread of DVD players and the increase in the number of DVD titles available helped make home theater systems more popular. DVD players appeared in 1997. The market for these players then expanded rapidly both in Japan and abroad. Demand in Japan in 2002 reached 2.7 million units, almost double demand in 2001, according to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). The worldwide market in 2002 exceeded 38 million units, according to estimates.