Spending on filmedentertainment in key territories will rise at a 5.3% compound annual ratereaching $104.5bn in 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' new GlobalEntertainment and Media Outlook.

That figure compares to$80.5 bn in 2005, in the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada. PWC defines the filmed entertainment market asbox-office plus renting or purchasing home video products, online filmsubscription services and streaming services where films are downloaded (thefigures do not include pay-per-view or video-on-demand predictions.)

The analysts said that Europe, the Middle East and Africa will be the fastest-growing region, up to $30.3bn in2010 from $22.8bn in 2005. PWC estimates that the US will growto $44.2bn in 2010 from $34.4bn in 2005; Asia Pacific will increase to $20.9bnin 2010 from $16.5bn in 2005; Latin America will growto $2.3bn in 2010 from $1.8bn in 2005; and Canada will expandto $6.5bn in 2010 from $5.1bn in 2005.

PWC said the industry growthwill be driven by digital cinemas in the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa andAsia Pacific and by growing numbers of modern theatres and more screens inselect countries in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and LatinAmerica.

The firm said that high-definitionDVDs would stimulate home video sell-through in the US and Asia Pacific, new DVD funding programmes will impact all regions, and emerging online DVD rental services will help grow the rental market in every region exceptLatin America.

The study said that filmstreaming services should increase incremental revenue in the United States and Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Of course, the projectionsmay not hold true depending on actual films released in the next five years - "Key factorsaffecting the market in any given year are the quality of releases andreleases' appeal to consumers - developments we cannot predict," the reportsaid.