Growth in digital subscriptions, rentals and purchases will hold total consumer revenue from traditional home entertainment sources steady, according to new analysis released at the PEVE Entertainment Business conference, held in London by IHS Inc.

"As physical rentals and purchases ddclie, the home entertainment revenue stream will rely more and more on the growth potential of the digital space," said Dan Cryan, senior director of digital media at IHS Technology.

According to IHS Technology research, digital purchases are set to grow by 75% between 2013 and 2017. In terms of worldwide consumer revenue, IHS forecasts that digital movie purchases will reach the two billion dollar mark by 2018.

"We are seeing major services looking to tap into the global market for growth," Cryan said. "Google Play movies are now available in Central Asia and Korea and iTunes is extending its reach into Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, South Africa and Mozambique."

The best practice for selling digital movies now involves multiple content types. "The digital content store page is changing," Cryan said. "Now you can pre-order sound tracks and previous movies. But if stores can extend the kinds of content types offered and include content, such as Apps, they are likes to see increased sales."

Story filed 17.10.14