PSP World

Multi-functionality key to PSP success

The PSP's multi-functionality has "played a key role in the sales and existing user satisfaction of the device," according to a new report by The NPD Group. The report examines consumer ownership, usage and attitudes toward PSP functions and content such as games, movies, TV and music.

NPD says:

While games and downloaded music files are the most popular types of content used by the average PSP user, nearly two-thirds own movie or TV content on Universal Media Discs (UMD) with more than two-fifths saying the ability to watch movies or television content on their PSPs were very important factors in their decision to purchase the device.

Movies and music appear to be entrenched in terms of penetration, average number owned and importance to the PSP user, making the right content key to capturing and retaining these consumers. For example, television shows and classic movies seem to have more potential than what current ownership reveals, as purchase intent for each is about triple that of ownership penetration.

The report explores the purchase intent and purchase motivators for UMDs in great detail, finding that while one-third of PSP users who don't own UMDs said they are likely to purchase a UMD in the near future, they don't necessarily care about the format in which the content is provided. As retailers and movie studios alike continue to scale back on the number of UMD movies and TV shows they carry or release, the outlook for the UMD format is bleak.