U.S. digital media entertainment spending up 8.4% in 2019

Digital Media Entertainment Spending Rises 8.4% to Top $25 Billion in 2019

DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group today released its Year-End 2019 Digital Media Entertainment Report compiled by DEG members, tracking sources and retail input.*

Digital Media Entertainment spending jumped 8.4 percent in 2019 to a record $25.2 billion as consumers continued viewing and collecting their favorite films across formats.

Fourth quarter results were equally strong, rising 9 percent to $6.8 billion. Among the highlights for the fourth quarter and full year in 2019:

• Overall electronic sell-through (EST) spending rose 5 percent for the year. Theatrical EST sales were up more than 7 percent for the year, offsetting a full year flattening in sales ofTV product.

• VOD revenue through internet services grew 10 percent in the fourth quarter and 9 percentfor the year, reflecting consumers’ continued engagement with VOD, increasingly through internet services.

• Subscription streaming rose 26 percent in the fourth quarter and 24 percent for theyear.

• In total, spending on digital formats rose 19 percent for the quarter and 18 percent for the year.

• Among the best-performing film titles released for the home in 2019 were: Avengers: Endgame (Disney), Aquaman (Warner Bros.), Bohemian Rhapsody (Fox), Captain Marvel (Disney) andA Star Is Born (Warner Bros.). Top performing TV titles included Yellowstone (S1, S2, Paramount), Game of Thrones (Complete S 1-7, S6, S7, S8, Warner Bros.), The Big Bang Theory (S12, Warner Bros.), Outlander (S4, Sony) and The Walking Dead (S9, Lionsgate).

• Box-office revenue for films distributed during 2019, by comparison, fell 9 percent for the full year and 3 percent in the fourth quarter.

* Please note, these numbers are preliminary. Please contact DEG for an updated version in early February.