With more than 6,000 European sales between January and June this year, installations of retail photo equipment units, including minilabs and instant print kiosks, grew by nearly 2.5% in the first half of this year, to exceed 81,000 units. This sector is characterised by an ongoing increase in the overall installed base of instant print kiosks and the gradual transition from wet to dry minilab technology, giving retailers the opportunity to offer a wider portfolio of products, such as duplex prints and photobooks. show more/less
Despite the growth, the number of installations was lower than had been anticipated by many of the equipment vendors, with some retailers retaining older wet minilabs or instant print kiosks for longer than had been expected. There has been more optimism for the second half of 2010 and into the first half of 2011, as smaller retailers may find it easier to obtain financial support to purchase equipment, and more retailers overall will begin to evaluate replacing older wet minilabs with dry minilabs.
Dry minilab installations increased by 30%, to nearly 1,800 units, with Spain, the UK and Italy accounting for over 65% of sales. Instant print kiosks increased to more than 67,000 installed units, a rise of 3.6%, with nearly 50% of sales being made to Germany. There were 167 sales of wet minilabs, of which over 80% were replacement units and the overall installed base fell by 6%.
In the UK, 87 dry minilabs were sold, taking the installed base to 400 units, while new sales of 600+ instant print kiosks increased the installed base to just under 8,750 units.
Kodak represented the largest brand of equipment installed, both in Western Europe and in the UK. In retailer terms, DM in Germany had the largest number of equipment installations in Western Europe, while in the UK, Boots had the largest installed base of equipment.
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Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
November 2010
3DTVs shipping faster than HDTV
The retail performance of 3D hardware for the home has been developing at a healthy pace, bolstered by 3DTV prices falling by close to 40% in some cases, and year one adoption of 3DTV is running at a far quicker rate in most territories than it did for high definition, according to a new industry report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less
Futuresource expects global sales of 3DTVs to exceed four million this year. Across Western Europe alone, 1.2 million 3DTVs will be sold, rising to more than three million in 2011. In the US, more than five million 3DTVs will be sold next year.
"3DTV will continue to provide 'premium brand' CE manufacturers with a way to differentiate themselves from the competition and add value for consumers," says Bill Foster, Senior Technology Consultant at Futuresource Consulting. "For systems that use active glasses technology, manufacturers are now able to embed 3D chipsets at a relatively low cost, allowing them to increase their margins while still keeping 3D affordable. Passive glasses technology, as used in cinemas, is still more expensive to produce for the home and will remain costly for some time, as the TV requires a polarised screen. In addition, passive systems are unable to show 3D in full 1080p, as the picture on the screen is polarised, with half the image delivered to the left eye and half to the right."
As the television market continues to be commoditised, with traditional factors like screen size, display thickness and the quality of image reaching their peak, 3D capability will increasingly be bundled with other features like connectivity, web services and energy efficiency to add a new dimension beyond the battle for price point.
"Toshiba's announcement about its autostereoscopic (glasses-free) 3DTVs, combined with a number of optimistic predictions across the industry, may be discouraging some consumers from investing in the current generation of 3DTV," says Foster. "However, Futuresource research shows that autostereoscopic technologies are at least four years away from a large screen solution for the home, and it will likely be a few years beyond this before sets reach mass-market pricing."
At a smaller screen size, auto-stereoscopic 3D devices are commercially viable as they are viewed close-up by a single person. The highest profile device to be announced so far is without doubt the Nintendo 3DS, due for launch in early 2011 and featuring a 3.53-inch display, but the developers of these small displays readily admit that scaling to larger sizes for a living room environment presents a significant technical challenge.
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Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
The rapid growth in apps games continues to drive the mobile gaming industry, with the total mobile games market on track to reach nearly US$10bn worldwide by 2014, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less
In 2010, the Apple App Store alone, excluding iPad, is forecast to generate around US$1.7bn in games revenues globally, accounting for almost 30% of the total mobile gaming market. In comparison, traditional mobile games - mainly downloaded from mobile network operator stores - account for 60%, with other apps stores, in particular the Android market, representing the remaining 10%.
“There is no doubt that paid-for apps games are leading the gaming charge,” says Patrik Pfandler, Lead Mobile Analyst at Futuresource, “and our forecasts show apps-based gaming will account for more than 95% of total mobile gaming revenues by 2014 –that’s despite the glut of free apps games out there.
“The growth of in-apps payments is a key ingredient in the commercial success of apps gaming. In the short term we’ll see the rise of the ‘freemium’ business model, where the game is downloaded for free, but incorporates micro-transactions and virtual currencies, encouraging users to unlock additional features, new levels and premium content. In the longer run, we’re going to see ad-funded apps games start to gain more traction as well.
“The accelerating uptake of smartphones has been the primary driver in apps growth, with high quality touchscreens, powerful programmable processors, improved graphics and cameras, increased storage, accelerometer and GPS all becoming standard and all making their contribution to an improved mobile gaming experience.”
Futuresource expects smartphone ownership to grow by 50% in 2010, achieving 270 million units worldwide, with the uptake being driven by the increased availability of devices, continued strong sales of iPhones and - more recently - a growing demand for Android-powered mobile handsets. And although the Android market currently lacks the variety of quality apps and games titles that can be found in the Apple App Store, Google’s mobile platform is rapidly gaining a share of the apps market, as more games developers and publishers begin to migrate across.
The Futuresource Mobile Games Report was released in October 2010 and explores the current and future developments within the mobile gaming industry, putting apps-based gaming into the overall mobile gaming and applications context. Detailed mobile games forecasts are provided by platform and country, and countries covered in the report include USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. For more information or to purchase this report, please contact Patrik Pfandler on +44 (0) 1582 500 163 or via email at patrik.pfandler@futuresource-hq.com.
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Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
“Despite the initial low level of interest in connected TVs, we are now reaching a point of critical mass,” says David Watkins, Consumer Electronics Consultant, Futuresource Consulting. “Our analysis shows consumer usage growing as connected TV devices become increasingly versatile and the range of content, applications and major web brands available on CE platforms increases." show more/less
Consumer interest in connected CE devices – particularly connected TVs and Blu-ray players - has been slow to develop, predominantly due to a lack of industry and retail push, and a glut of competing solutions which are already providing swift and easy access to entertainment, information and communications. Pay-TV, PCs, smartphones and - most recently – the iPad are all enabling consumers to access information however, wherever and whenever they want it.
“Despite the initial low level of interest in connected TVs, we are now reaching a point of critical mass,” says David Watkins, Consumer Electronics Consultant, Futuresource Consulting. “Our analysis shows consumer usage growing as connected TV devices become increasingly versatile and the range of content, applications and major web brands available on CE platforms increases.
“There is a current surge of industry interest in TV application development, closely following the mobile phone model, and in some instances this will also allow a micropayments business model to be put in place.
In the mobile market, only Apple and Blackberry have, so far, created revenue models based on apps and services respectively, and other cellphone makers are dependent primarily on device sales. Despite this, in the emerging Connected CE space, hardware makers are looking for monetization models from content owners and online service providers, with a variety of approaches under review.”
Connected CE devices will stimulate further growth in digital content sell-through, boosted by enhanced networking solutions, more flexible access to purchased content and growth in streaming media.
“Online subscription and VoD services may experience some growth through connected CE devices, but there will be competition from incumbent Pay-TV distributors, and these providers are looking to exploit Connected CE, to broaden reach and extend their brands into new and lucrative markets,” says Watkins. “As the penetration and versatility of television sets continues to rise, we’re also going to see programmers, advertisers, publishers and e-commerce providers tapping into Interactive TV, enabling real-time interaction between broadcast and online media.
“A significant amount of flow associated with Connected CE services and apps will come from advertising, sponsorships, e-commerce, and interactive services. Many of the revenue streams will build upon existing opportunities, such as premium rate phone lines.” For the CE hardware manufacturers, connected CE creates a path to added value via Web services and Interactive TV applications. In the highly commoditised flat panel market, where traditional factors like screen size, thinness and image quality are running out of headroom, value-add inclusions like connectivity, energy saving and 3D capability are adding a new dimension to the offering and adding a new competitive element beyond the battle for price point.
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All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource.
Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
Sales of Blu-ray players, excluding PS3, are expected to total nearly 24m units this year across the three key growth regions (USA, Europe and Japan), according to a new Blu-ray and DVD Hardware Performance report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less
"Last year's crucial Q4 period accounted for nearly half of all BD players that were sold globally in 2009, and the upward trend is continuing, with our projections showing in excess of 80% unit growth across this year," says Jack Wetherill, Research Consultant at Futuresource. "This view is based on inputs from a wide range of companies operating in the global Blu-ray hardware business, including vendors, retailers and component suppliers, and forms part of our ongoing research in this area."
All eyes will again be on Q4, with Futuresource predicting sales in excess of 11 million units in that quarter alone, a healthy year-on-year growth that will continue to drive BD into the mass market.
"Sales of HD-capable and 3D-capable TVs, coupled with dramatic reductions in BD player prices are continuing to fuel interest," Wetherill continues. "Add to that the burgeoning 3D Blu-ray market segment, and we'll see the format continue to gather momentum in all major markets across the globe."
At least 10% of all Blu-ray devices shipped this year are expected to offer 3D playback, rising to more than 25% in 2011. By 2014, nearly 40% of homes across the three key regions - Western Europe, the USA and Japan - will own a 3D Blu-ray player, recorder or home theatre.
With a lucrative roadmap stretching out for at least the next five years, when factoring in the rise of 3D and its associated technologies, there is clearly a long-term opportunity for the industry to further sustain consumer interest in Blu-ray.
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Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
At the end of last year, over 600 million homes across the globe were connected to cable, satellite or IPTV subscription TV networks, with nearly 200 million set top boxes shipped last year alone, of which over 60% were pay-TV boxes, according to Futuresource Consulting. Although worldwide set top box shipments and the subscriber base will continue to grow during the period under review, revenue growth will decelerate due to market saturation, price competition and the continued impact of the economic climate on consumer spending. show more/less
As margins shrink, businesses operating at all points along the capture and delivery pipeline will need to focus on greater efficiencies and improved workflow. Now more than ever, investments made within the broadcast industry will need to show a rapid - if not immediate - return on investment.
Capturing the action
In the first half of 2010, non-tape camcorders accounted for 48% of the EMEA pro camcorder market, driven primarily by the efficiencies afforded by non-tape workflows.
"For many, the painstaking task of digitizing footage from tape is a distant memory," says Adam Cox, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource. "However, instead of digitizing, time-consuming transcoding can be required before post production, thus diluting one of the key benefits of non-tape. That said, the situation is improving, though the NLE vendors have been slow to catch up."
For non-tape to reach its full potential, camcorder manufacturers must work closely with NLE vendors to ensure that new acquisition codecs are adequately supported through post production.
Despite the importance of non-tape capture, tape-based products remain extremely popular, not simply because the format is familiar to users, but due to its ability to shoot in HD (HDV) as well as SD.
"Format flexibility is a key purchase trigger, as many broadcast professionals and videographers work on a freelance basis, moving from project to project, with varying demands placed upon them and their kit," says Cox. "Purchasing an HD and SD capable camcorder gives the end user the flexibility they need in this period of transition."
Investment in encoding
"Broadcasters and pay-TV operators are keen to reduce costs through increasingly sophisticated compression techniques, but highly compressed content remains a secondary concern, with the fidelity of the video produced being of primary importance," says Cox. "Any investment in new technology must therefore translate into 'on air' quality."
H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) is a major driver for future encoder demand, but the factors behind uptake vary between distribution and contribution applications. In particular, there remains a huge global installed base of legacy MPEG-2 set top boxes for both HD and SD, meaning that many pay-TV operators will require significant investment to migrate to H.264.
Reaching out to the consumer
"Established pay-TV majors are focusing on the bigger picture, providing a bundle of benefits to attract various subscriber segments," says Carl Hibbert, Head of Broadcast Research at Futuresource.
"Depth of content, added value in the guise of HD, DVR, Free VoD and multi-room, and multi-platform distribution, including online & mobile are some of the strategies being rolled out. Cable and IPTV operators are focusing on broadband pipes, Triple or Quad Play, On-Demand and HD content. We're also seeing increasing Telco investment in sports and movie VoD rights."
The recent emergence of IP connected devices has opened the doors for traditional PC-based content to be delivered directly to the TV screen, creating another avenue of competition for pay-TV services and taking a portion of consumers' viewing time. In order to remain competitive against this threat, operators are reviewing IP connectivity within set top boxes and seeking to deploy hybrid broadcast/broadband solutions to support the roll-out of additional content and services.
"Pay-TV providers see IP as a way to enhance and complement their existing subscriber proposition, as well as reaching into markets with ad-funded and paid-for content on both PCs and Connected CE devices," says Hibbert, "and broadcasters are evaluating IP delivery as a way to tap into the growth of online advertising with catch-up TV and additional programming, as well as selective development of Pay-TV opportunities." By the end of 2010, the European installed base of connected TVs will swell to 16m devices, representing nearly 10% of the total number of flat panel TVs in use. The next step for manufacturers will be to add more compelling video services, including paid for movie streaming that will create revenue sharing opportunities with content owners, aggregators and application developers.
Authorised use of information
All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource.
Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
The Western European photobook market is on track for continued healthy growth this year, with its value projected to grow 25%, reaching in excess of 500 million Euros, according to a new Photobook Market Report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less
“This segment has put in a strong performance, with a pricing boost which can be attributed to consumers migrating to larger sized books and more pages per book,” says Joanna Wright, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. “Online continues to drive the bulk of European purchases, accounting for 90% of orders last year. Looking to the high street, volumes grew steadily through 2009, but at a slower pace than the rest of the market, largely due to dwindling store numbers and a lack of marketing activity from the retailers.”
“This year we’re seeing an improvement at retail, as a number of chains have become more active in the photobook space particularly in the UK, with Boots, Jessops, Asda and Tesco all rolling out additional in-store solutions. At Photokina later this month, onsite photobook solutions are expected to be a prominent theme, with new Dry minilab solutions due to launch from the likes of Sony and Noritsu, and strong equipment sales expected in Q1 2011.”
In terms of photobook production the market remains fragmented, with a mix of traditional photo brands, commercial print houses and specialist book companies all vying for market share. The leading six photobook producers - CeWe Color, Albumprinter, Hofmann, Schmidkonz, Photobox and Infowerk – accounted for more than 50% of the market in 2009, with CeWe Color leading the charge in the Western European market. The remainder of the market was made up of around 60 different companies.
“We carry out in-depth primary research on an ongoing basis, obtaining inputs from a wide range of companies operating in the photobook business,” says Wright, “and this is showing us consumer awareness and acceptance of photobooks is on the up, with new customers often acquired through books instead of prints. As a result, many brands are trying to capitalise on this by focusing on a few key areas to help drive demand in 2010, including product range development, additional finishing options, software and user interface improvements, and increased production efficiencies.”
Authorised use of information
All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource.
Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.
July 2010 Strong growth for Interchangeable Lens Compact Cameras
Following the release of a Futuresource industry report earlier this month on the Western European market opportunity for Interchangeable Lens Compact Cameras, James Wells, consultant with Futuresource discusses some of the key issues surrounding this market.
"Since the end of 2008 when Panasonic launched the world’s first Interchangeable Lens Compact, Olympus, Samsung and Sony have introduced their own models into this segment," says Wells. "However, the market was still relatively small last year, with just 80,000 units shipped across Western Europe, compared with 3.2m DSLRs."
New Futuresource Report:
Analysing the Future of Classroom Display Technology
The classroom has been quietly benefiting from the digital revolution for many years, with interactive technology changing the face of teaching in a space that had previously seen little or no change for many decades. Over the last 10 years Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) have become the dominant classroom display solution, and in 2009 became a $1 billion industry, with just two vendors enjoying 70% share.
June 2010
Futuresource Entertainment Summit plays host to 200+ attendees: The Conference Highlights
The industry’s focus on the integration of entertainment content and home and personal electronics equipment has never been more intense, as the pace of innovation shifts up several gears. Against this backdrop, on 10 – 11 June, Futuresource Consulting hosted the Futuresource Entertainment Summit, where prominent industry executives came together in front of an audience of 200 to explore the hardware and content landscapes.
Consumer camcorder market posts Q1 growth in EMEA In Q1 this year the consumer camcorder market in the leading 17 EMEA countries witnessed 6% year-on-year unit growth, according to sell-in shipment data collected by Futuresource Consulting.
In terms of shipment volumes, the UK continued to lead the way in EMEA, though year-on-year unit growth has largely been fuelled by territories such as France and Germany
Visualiser market worth $200m in USA and Western Europe
The visualiser continues to excel as a teaching tool in classrooms and training rooms across the world. This device for projecting small objects onto a screen is forecast to reach a value of almost $200m across USA and Western Europe in 2010, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting.
May 2010
Focus on 3D Gaming: titles prevalent by 2011 There are no major obstacles to 3D games development and production, the process is relatively straightforward and is all done in post production. Development costs of a 3D game are only 10% to 15% higher than a 2D game and most developers and publishers are already fully geared up for 3D, according to Futuresource.
New White Paper: Projector & IWB usage in UK schools Conducted and prepared by Futuresource and sponsored by Philips Lighting, this end-user market survey provides the results of a projector usage study in UK schools. The purposes of the study were to explore the energy saving opportunities in the classroom for projectors with lamp systems that can adjust image brightness based upon end-user requirements, and to define a representative education lifetime test cycle for lamp systems using ImageCare® technology.
April 2010 The Strategic Impact of 3D: new Futuresource report now available
Following on from last year's 3D study, Futuresource Consulting is delighted to announce a new updated report, 'The Strategic Impact of 3D', which examines the recent developments surrounding 3D in the home and evaluates the future opportunities for the broadcast industry, consumer and professional electronics sectors, gaming, advertising, optical disc replicators and the retail trade.
February 2010 New breed of BD player will drive 3D forward The BDA’s announcement in December last year on the finalisation of the ‘Blu-ray 3D’ specification has been cemented by Sony’s release of a standalone 3D-Ready Blu-ray player, firmly fixing the industry’s crosshairs on a 3D future. Within four years, 50% of US homes will own a 3D-Ready display, and the uptake of 3D–Ready Blu-ray players won’t be far behind, with one out of every three US homes owning one. This is according to Futuresource Consulting, with new research scheduled to be unveiled at their forthcoming webinar, ‘3D: How Big, How Soon?’, taking place on Thursday 25 February.
1 million Interactive Whiteboards will be sold in 2010 according to new Futuresource report
“All regions experienced major growth last year, spread across multiple countries rather than localised hotspots,” says Colin Messenger, Senior Consultant, Futuresource. “Back in 2005 only three countries sold more than 10,000 IWBs; last year we saw 12 countries hit this level. Driven by continued technological developments, our projections show that one in six classrooms will have an Interactive Whiteboard by 2012. There is a justifiably strong mood of optimism amongst manufacturers.”
The Futuresource Entertainment Summit, 10-11 June 2010: Save the Date
Futuresource Consulting is delighted to announce the Futuresource Entertainment Summit, a major event spanning two days, delivering key industry insights and bringing together international opinion leaders from the world of consumer electronics, entertainment content, retail, broadcast, online and mobile.
Feargal Sharkey announced as speaking at the Futuresource Entertainment Summit
Feargal Sharkey has confirmed he will be speaking at the Futuresource Entertainment Summit, taking place on 10-11 June 2010 at London’s Marble Arch. The ex-Undertones lead singer and successful solo artist hung up his pop star boots and successfully transferred to the business side of the industry, holding such posts as A&R manager, record label MD and similar roles.
January 2010
Mobile App stores will generate 15 billion dollars in 2013
Mobile application stores are revitalising the mobile content market, with 3.6 billion apps downloaded from app stores in 2009, expected to rise to 6.6 billion this year, and growing to 16.2 billion in 2013, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting.
Futuresource CES Show Report: Free Publication
CES2010 was overflowing with innovation from both full-range and niche vendors. Much of this show report consists of first-hand experiences of the team of seven Futuresource analysts who were on the ground throughout the show.
China schools are on track for 2m+ projectors by 2013 A new China Schools Technology report from Futuresource Consulting reveals explosive growth for the interactive whiteboard (IWB) market in the region, with an installed base of more than 200,000 forecast for the end of 2010, equating to 40%+ sales growth. “By 2013 we’re going to see the number of IWBs in Chinese schools increase to nearly 650,000”, says Colin Messenger, Senior Consultant, Futuresource.
Movie-on-Demand revenues to reach 430m Euros in Western Europe and 2.4bn dollars in USA by 2013 Video on Demand (VoD) delivered straight to the television is generating high levels of consumer interest, but little revenue, with free content accounting for more than 95% of the material being watched. However, a new Pay-TV market report from Futuresource Consulting shows consumers will pay extra for movies on demand delivered by their broadcaster or Pay TV operator. By 2013, transactional revenues from movies on demand alone will reach 2.4bn dollars in the USA and 430m Euros in the leading five Western European countries.
One billion people will own a smartphone by 2013 Despite the increasing overlap between mobile phone functionality and other handheld devices, consumers are still purchasing standalone cameras, sat navs, personal media players and handheld gaming devices, according to a new convergence report from Futuresource Consulting.
Industry Update: The Photobook Market The photo industry continues to evolve and experience significant change, with falling demand for 6x4” hardcopy prints (worth €4.5 billion in 2006, against €2.8 billion in 2009), and the photobook and photo-merchandise market shaking up the traditional photo market. It is clear that consumers are becoming more creative and are looking for different ways to share their images, encouraged by the many options now available to them.
December 2009
Mainstream adoption of 3D in the home moves one step closer
In line with the BDA’s announcement this month on the finalisation and release of their ‘Blu-ray 3D’ specification, a recent strategic 3D report from Futuresource Consulting shows an upsurge in the adoption of High Definition and Blu-ray hardware in 2010, strengthened by a clearly defined 3D roadmap.
20% of TVs shipped in Europe next year will have Internet capability
The first TV and Blu-ray devices capable of accessing content directly from the Internet emerged in Europe during 2009 and will start to gain ground fast, with more than 20% of flat panel TVs shipped in the region next year able to connect to the Internet, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting.
Implications
of the Comcast/NBC Universal Deal
The announcement earlier this month that Comcast has acquired a 51% stake in NBC Universal will result in a massive new media conglomerate. The potential implications for the market are currently being hotly debated, with a wide variety of very differing views being expressed.
November 2009
New consumer research: 9 out of 10 are photo sharing
With growing consumer interest in personal video sharing and photo sharing both digitally and in print form, Futuresource Consulting has carried out a UK consumer survey to gain greater insight into the media that are being used, the decision-making process and the level of reliance on the available platforms.
Business Display Categories: Q3 Global Roundup
Q3 heralded a return to business growth for the displays category with projectors, large format flat panels and Interactive whiteboards all witnessing strong sales growth on a global level. Following relatively weak first half performances (except for the IWB segment), vendors and channel partners alike are now reporting an increase in activity and heightened end-user demand from a number of sectors.
Internet radio to ignite networked audio market
The rise of connected devices and Internet radio are laying the foundations for multi-room networked audio, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting. The digital music market in the USA now accounts for 35% of the country's music revenues, with a subscription market worth nearly US$3bn (85% derived from satellite radio).
October 2009
Mobile Handsets: USA & UK see polarisation, China & India capture 30%
Emerging markets now account for over two thirds of all mobile phone handset shipments with China and India leading the charge, according to a new global tracking service from Futuresource Consulting. “The global handset market will decline by around 3% in 2009, with consumers and businesses alike keeping hold of their handsets for longer,” says David Sidebottom, Digital Media Consultant at Futuresource Consulting.
Photobook market to grow 36% in Western Europe this year
The European photobook market is on track for continued healthy growth, with demand projected to reach nearly 14.5m units this year, up from 10.7m in 2008, according to a new Photobook Market Report from Futuresource Consulting.
September 2009
The Portable Consumer Electronics Market in Europe
Netbooks, pocket video cameras, digital SLRs, smartphones, mobile Internet devices and handheld games consoles are fuelling growth in the European portable electronics market this year, which in the face of economic challenges and convergence, grew 18% in 2008 to reach 155 million units and is forecast to grow a further 7% in 2009 to reach close to 170 million units.
Hot or Not? Predictions for the UK CE market in Q4 2009
As we move ever closer to the critical Q4 trading period, Futuresource Consulting takes a look at some of the hot product segments, providing an insight into where the CE market is going and what movements we should expect to see on the UK high street in the run up to Christmas.
B2B Flat Panel Market: 30% y-o-y growth seen in Q2 this year
In contrast to many other product categories in the Pro AV/IT space, the B2B flat panel market has experienced steady growth this year, with the market racking up sales in excess of 400,000 units in Q2 2009, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting.
August 2009
Visualisers: The Market Snapshot, UK & Europe
Futuresource Consulting has finalised its UK and European report on the Visualiser. This electronic imaging tool for projecting small objects, images and text onto a screen is coming to the fore as a key teaching tool in classrooms and training rooms across the world.
July 2009
3D Digital Out-Of-Home may bridge the R&D gap
As the development of 3D technologies intensifies, opportunities within B2B applications become more attractive, with digital out of home (DOOH) systems offering an ideal proving ground for ‘no glasses’ 3D systems. For the potential to be realised there are serious obstacles to overcome, according to a new market report from Futuresource Consulting.
Home broadband to exceed 500 million connections by 2010
Global household penetration of fixed broadband continues apace, with total subscribers on track to break the 500 million barrier next year, according to recent research from Futuresource Consulting.
Interactive Voting Systems market worth $400m by 2010
Interactive Voting Systems - or audience participation systems - continue to flourish across the globe, with more than eight million handsets forecast to be sold worldwide next year, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting.
May 2009 Driving Digital Content: It's happening in less than a week!!
Less than one week to go until Driving Digital Content and we'll soon be taking final bookings, so don't miss out on what promises to be the definitive digital content conference of 2009.
Results of consumer study to be unveiled at Driving Digital Content
All delegates attending Driving Digital Content in London on 4-5 June will be the first to hear the results of "Living With Digital: Consumer Insights into Entertainment Consumption", new consumer research into European and US attitudes to digital entertainment consumption, including feedback from consumers as young as 12 years old. Delegates will also receive a free copy of the findings.
10%+ of US and Japanese households will be ‘3D enabled’ by 2012
Now more than ever 3D is coming to the fore, with backing from all major sectors of the entertainment and consumer electronics industries. 3D movie production is intensifying, cinemas all over the world are investing in 3D technologies and feedback from audiences has been highly positive, with encouraging ticket sales. Yet the ultimate goal is to bring 3D to the home, according to Futuresource Consulting’s newly-released ‘Strategic Impact of 3D’ report.
US Photobook market to exceed $500m this year
The US photobook market is on track for healthy growth this year, with demand projected to reach nearly 17m units this year, up from close to 12.5m in 2008, according to a new US Photobook Market Report from Futuresource Consulting.
