Even in light of a small decrease in overall consumer spending on DVD, the approximately $24 billion home video market continued to be the largest segment of consumer movie spending by far, accounting for 49% of all consumer movie spending in 2007.

In the video game market, game software sales increased 34% in 2007, to a total of $8.6 billion. These and other noteworthy findings gathered from a variety of sources are included in the 2008 Annual Report on the Home Entertainment Industry, released today by the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA).

"Consumers remain enamored with DVD and video games even as they incorporate new forms of entertainment media into their consumption patterns," noted Bo Andersen, President and CEO of EMA. "New generations of hardware and software, and alternative delivery channels, will ensure that home video and video games remain phenomenally popular entertainment options for the American public for years to come."

The report also estimates that in 2012, sales of Blu-ray Discs will exceed those of standard DVDs and will generate sales of $9.5 billion.

Nearly 9 million high-definition discs were sold in 2007, for which consumers spent more than $260 million, the report claims. Home video generated $15.9 billion in sales and $8.2 billion in rentals in 2007.

The rcomplete eport may be purchased from EMA at www.EntertainmentMerchantsAssociation.org. EMA is the not-for-profit international trade association dedicated to advancing the interests of the home entertainment industry.