The industry for DVD rental and sales in general is on the downtrend. As the DVD suddenly took the entertainment and home viewing sector by storm in the 1990s and the early 2000s, it is also a staging a sudden decline these days, amid numerous financial threats that hound all industries. If the mainstream DVD sales and rentals are hot by the trying times, it is not surprising that the adult DVD sector is also taking a toll.

Industry body AVN Media Network has revealed that the adult DVD sales and rentals in the United States alone fell to $3.6 billion in 2006 to $4.3 billion 2005. Comparatively, sales and revenue generated by online porn sites and content was on the positive, rising by about $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion from 2005 to 2006. It is just logical to infer that the rising popularity of online adult content sources is significantly bearing on the popularity and business viability of conventional adult DVD operations.

In the past, adult DVD really made an instant hit. Many people patronized the products and had a loyal following of the companies, producers, and yes, even porn stars. During this age, casts in adult DVDs are considered stars in their own rights, as they do are not ashamed of their job description anymore. Nevertheless, patrons and loyal viewers of adult DVD materials are very much following careers of those stars. Gone are the days when porn stars had to wear sunglasses and hats when they go outdoors so that people wound not recognize them. Now, they, too, can enjoy celebrity status.

One major demonstration of the downtrend of the adult DVD industry is the business case of adult content provider Vivid Entertainment. The company is based in San Fernando Valley, the porn capital of the US. Vivid Entertainment said in 2002, sales from its adult DVD titles contributed 80% of its overall annual profits. In 2007, that income share significantly fell to just 30%. This year, the company said it is in alarm mode, as profit contribution of adult DVD materials is expected to further decline.

Another setback to the adult DVD industry is the closure of numerous video retail and sales outlets. Tower Records in 2007 finally shut down its chains due to poor performance. Rivals and peers Virgin Megastore and Movie Gallery are set to follow suit. In the very near future, several observers note that stores selling adult DVDs and even mainstream videos would truly be extinct.

As for the pricing, adult DVD materials are still considered much pricier. On the average, a good quality adult DVD is currently being sold to about $20 to $25 per title. Adult DVDs sold at Amazon.com, eBay and other video selling online sites cost about $40 to $47, sometimes, excluding shipment and delivery fees. On the contrary, an average Walt Disney DVD, for example, the latest Pirates of the Caribbean offering, is being sold at a very attractive $14. If you were to buy a DVD for entertainment, you should notice that buying an adult DVD is equivalent to buying about two to three mainstream videos.

Moreover, a number of the loyal viewers and fanatics of adult DVD materials are starting to get bored with the same old stuff offered by adult content producers. It is like the technical and creative teams behind porn flicks are running out of effective and good ideas that would help re-awaken the industry's potential. Sex sells. As long as people love sex, for sure, adult content would not fade. No matter what, adult DVD materials would always have a place in people's drawers.