The consumer DVD recorder market experienced smaller than expected growth in 2006, but IMS Research estimates the volume of DVD recorders shipped worldwide in 2011 will reach 59 million units, generating approximately US$20.2 billion in manufacturers revenues.

Digital video recorders currently have the advantage of being deployed by pay-TV operators at relatively low cost in the North America, Western Europe, and some parts of the Asia Pacific region. However, recording onto an optical disc is expected to gain momentum due to several factors that will enhance current usage models and value propositions for burning elaborate, menu-driven DVDs from a consumer DVD recorder. Traditionally, elaborate DVD creation has been confined to PC-based applications.

Analyst Mark Meza states, “The convergence of digital tuners, large HDDs, HDMI and IEEE 1394 ports into a single device will appeal to consumers interested in upgrading their home entertainment system with a high-end DVD recorder.” Key factors that are expected to drive mass adoption of consumer DVD recorders include better editing control, easy-to-use authoring and menu creation features, ubiquitous playability of discs on any DVD playback device, up-conversion of legacy DVD to 1080p, DVR-like user interfaces, and the continuing price erosion of major DVD recorder components.

The increasing amount of HD content is expected to drive adoption of blue laser DVD recorders, especially in countries with established HD digital terrestrial TV platforms such as the United States. Meza adds, “Recording a full-length HD movie and its accompanying high-resolution audio component onto a disc is no longer confined to blue laser media, due to the emergence of multi-layered, high-storage capacity red laser media that is expected to give both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD recordable media some competition in cost-sensitive applications”

More information about consumer DVD recorders and the adoption of blue laser recording is contained in IMS Research’s latest report titled, “Consumer DVD Recorders: The Transition from Red to Blue Laser,” published in March 2007.