As all CD Freaks have known for some time, optical media rules. So, it is no surprise to us that the world has come to realise that the VHS tape has got to go and now is the time to pass the torch to a superior concept. In New Zealand, the venerable VHS player is expected to soon vanish from the market,Ted Gibbons, the editor of New Zealand technology publication Tone Magazine said: "In five years they will be history, I wouldn't buy one."

Here is an opportunity for us to visit with our friends in New Zealand and read what they are observing in that neck of the woods in recent months.

Jason Bell, the general manager of merchandise at Pacific Retail Group, said the lowering cost of DVDs made them more accessible to consumers. The company, which manages retail chain Noel Leeming, charged $ 1499 for a standard DVD when they came on the market five years ago. Today they cost $ 89 against   $ 130 for a basic video player. PRG, the largest home VHS and DVD retailer in the country, reported that its DVD sales had risen from 40 per cent of the market in 2002 to 47 per cent last year, with the remainder going to VHS sales. The company expects DVD sales to account for 70 per cent of turnover this year. A DVD player, which is able to record information, costs around $ 799 at present, compared with $ 4999 when they were introduced two years ago.

Video Ezy, which rents DVDs from its 145 franchise stores, reports a significant increase in the number of DVD rentals. During January last year, DVD rentals accounted for "only" 30 per cent of its turnover. Last month, DVD rentals amounted to 60 per cent traffic.

"There's been a massive increase, for sure," said Chris Osborne, the operations manager of Video Ezy International. "It's moved much faster than people anticipated."

Source: New Zealand Herald