The number of DVDs replicated in North America will surpass the one-billion mark later this year, marking the fastest time in which a recording media format went from introduction to one-billion units per year, according to data released today by the International Recording Media Association (IRMA), a trade group representing the world's media manufacturers and suppliers. DVD's appeal has been almost instantaneous. Just two months after its introduction in 1997, more than 1-million units had been produced. By the end of that first year, more than 12-million units were replicated. By 2001, the number of DVDs produced neared the half-billion (460,000,000) mark. This year, IRMA projects DVD production to increase 120 percent over last year, pushing it over the one-billion-units-per-year milestone faster than any other format.

"This unprecedented growth in DVD replication is attributed to a number of factors," commented IRMA President Charles Van Horn. "The growth in households capable of viewing DVD programming is the most significant factor. Add to that the strong support of major retailers in promoting DVDs, the continued decline in the price of DVD players and DVD-Videos, and the success of DVD-based game consoles, and it's easy to see why the replication industry is at this significant point."

IRMA will publish detailed statistical analyses and projections for the entire recording media industry in its soon-to-be-published 2002 Worldwide Optical Media Market Intelligence Report. The Optical Report covers every pre-recorded and recordable media format, from DVD-Video to DVD-R and RW, CD-Audio to CD+RW, Super-Audio CD, High Capacity M-O, MiniDisc, Optical Tape, and more.

The extensive Optical Report is based on exclusive information gathered from IRMA's vast membership covering more than 80 percent of the media maker market. Detailed statistics and analyses are provided for each format, giving you a historical, current and five-year projected outlook for such important benchmarks as units replicated and manufactured; production and demand revenues; replication capacity and utilization; and installed base of drives and players. In addition the Optical Report identifies and analyzes technical developments, trends, threats and major issues impacting each optical formats. The Optical Report covers five regions: North America; Europe and Eastern Europe; Japan; China; and Rest of World.