Wii helps retailers survive slump

23 March 2009 12:07am

The runaway success of Nintendo's Wii has helped entertainment retailers to withstand the bloodbath on the high street, according to new figures.

Their business swelled 3.8% by volume and a "healthy" 5.1% in value last year, even as Zavvi and Woolworths fell by the wayside, the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) said.

The popularity of games software - which made up more than a third (36.7%) of the market - drove the performance of ERA's members, who account for more than 90% of entertainment sales in the UK.

Games for Nintendo's Wii console and its DS handheld device together accounted for more than half of the entire games software market, the ERA said.

Nintendo has enjoyed huge success with the Wii, which is operated by a wand-like remote control, revealing earlier this year that it sold nearly three million Wii consoles in the UK during 2008, winning over women and older people to a market traditionally geared towards teenage boys.

The handheld DS console has also benefited from the push to reach new customers, with advertising campaigns featuring celebrities such as actress Nicole Kidman and the members of Girls Aloud.

While the top-selling game of the year was FIFA 09, the latest release in the hit football franchise, Nintendo nonetheless saw four of its titles make the top 10.

The fast-growing games sector contrasted with slowing video sales and a contracting music market.

With sales of video - mostly DVDs - making up 40.5% of the market and music 22.8%, games software could could soon win the biggest share of entertainment sales.

And while average prices paid for CD albums and DVDs dipped to new lows of £8.10 and £8.71 respectively, that for video games increased 8% to £22.99.

© The Press Association