Any concern that DVDs and DVD players are a dying business is highly exaggerated, according to a report by DVDPlay, Inc., a DVD rental kiosk operator and developer, based in Campbell, CA. It announced that it has reached a new milestone with 13 million DVD movie rentals, an indicator that DVD rentals continue to be one of the fastest growing segments of the home entertainment market.

With cost, currency and convenience stimulating strong customer demand, DVDPlay attributes its accelerated ten fold growth in 2007 to easy access through major grocery chains and convenience stores, as well as campus bookstores and office complexes. DVDPlay boasts more than 1,400 kiosks nationwide, and will deploy an estimated 1,800 more by the end of 2008.

This is good for retailers of DVDs and players, as well as rental companies. It follows speculation that downloads and pay per view would begin to erode this market.

"The DVD is very much alive and will continue to be a dominant home entertainment medium for the foreseeable future," said Chuck Berger, chairman of the board and CEO of DVDPlay. "Video on demand is still an emerging market, given the significant technology obstacles and other barriers that have yet to be overcome."

According to The Digital Entertainment Group, 33 million DVD players were sold to U.S. consumers in 2007, taking the total number of DVD players in U.S. homes to 230 million, including portable units and televisions with built in DVD players. An estimated $16 billion was spent purchasing DVDs in 2007.

"Today's DVD delivers three times the resolution of what you can download," Berger added. "The vast majority of consumers prefer DVDs and have invested in players and other equipment for a quality home theater experience."