DVD juggernaut can't offset double-digit rental drop.(Special First-Quarter 2004 Report)

An uptick in DVD purchases could not offset a sharp 16.5 percent drop in the rental market and the continued freefall in cassette sales.

Consumer spending on home entertainment fell 4.3 percent, to $5.6 billion, in the first quarter of 2004.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, with releases that attract more buyers than renters, was the market leader for the quarter with $892.5 million in combined rental and sales revenue. The supplier generated an estimated $599.2 million at the sales counter alone. A well-paced release schedule of solid performers, along with t