Europeans get more but cheaper DVDs.(MARKETS)

Preliminary year-end 2006 results from the big five European territories--France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK--show a more positive second half performance than generally anticipated. However, while volume sales increased in most markets, consumer spending on DVD was static or continued to fall.

* Results from the UK show DVD volume sales increasing by around 7.5 per cent for the second year in succession, from 211m units to 227m. Screen Digest research indicates that average prices fell by around 11 per cent in 2006, resulting in a decline of 4.6 per cent in consumer