Recent GfK data released by the German home video industry body BVV show first half year results reaching an all-time high. Video turnover for Jan-June 2013 hit €798 million, surpassing by some margin previous highest first half results - €751 million in 2005. Germans' appetite for DVDs is also still considerable. Disc sales hit €437 million during the half-year period, up 3% from 1H 2012's €425 million.

The country's strength is its buoyant sell-through market, which shot up 12.6% in 1H to €650 million from last year's €577 million. The rental market also grew, generating growth of 9% to €147 million (€135 million for the same period in 2012).

Sales of Blu-ray discs grew by a massive 41% to €188 million compared to the same period in 2012 (€134 million). Blu-ray's combined retail/rental disc revenues totaled €212 million. These translate into a 26.6% share of total video turnover and 29.4% of physical media revenues since physical products still account for a massive 90.4% of total video revenues.

Turnover in online digital (Electronic Sell-Through, VOD, SVOD) sales expanded by almost 50% to €77 million, representing 9.6% of total video home entertainment spending. Electronic sell-through earnings topped €25 million - a 38.5% jump, VOD increased by 51% to €35 million and SVOD by 41% to €16 million. The Internet mail-order segment grew by 10% to €16 million.

Story filed 21.08.13