DVDs Sell Well in First Week Out; Titles Reflect Skew Toward Males

Consumers bought nearly 19,000 digital videodiscs during the first week they were available in stores, according to figures released Wednesday by VideoScan.

Industry observers said the number was surprisingly large since the software is available in only limited markets. DVD hardware--which can play both videodiscs and audio CDs--from Toshiba, Pioneer and Panasonic started rolling out a month ago at electronics stores with an entry-level retail price of $499.

So far Warner Bros. Home Video is the only company offering software and only in seven markets, including L.A., New York and San Francisco. The average retail price of a disc is about $20.

The much-delayed technology is touted for its high quality and convenience, but it has met with resistance from studios, including video sales champ Disney, over concerns about piracy.

The top 10 DVD titles for the week reflect the heavily male skew of early adopters of new electronics technologies. VideoScan, a data-tracking firm that gathers information directly from retail stores, said the titles, in order of sales, are “Twister,” “Eraser,” “GoldenEye,” “Blade Runner” (director’s cut), “The Fugitive,” “Space Jam,” “Glimmer Man,” “Batman,” “A Time to Kill” and “The Mask.”

Sony’s Columbia TriStar is set to be the next major studio to follow Warner Bros. into the market when it releases a handful of titles on DVD at the end of April.