Sales volume of video software is estimated to reach $15.8 billion in the U.S. in 1996. That’s 6.5 percent more than in 1995,, when revenues slipped between 2.5 to 4.7 percent. Sell-through video was the healthiest segment of the industry in 1995, growing by 16 percent, says a report by the media research firm Paul Kagan & Associates of Carmel, California.

Video rental revenue is expected to increase 4.5 percent this year, with sell-through jumping 9.5 percent.

On the feature film side, movies targeted to kids languished this summer: Flipper ($20 million), Kazaam ($18.5 million), The Adventures of Pinocchio ($12 million), Alaska ($15 million) and Matilda ($35 million). All are considered to have underperformed. Although The Hunchback of Notre Dame is expected to make $100 million domestically, it’s still considered a major disappointment, with the lowest take for a Disney animated extravaganza since The Little Mermaid in 1989.

Of family films this summer, only Harriet the Spy made it to ‘hit’ status, and a modest one at that ($27.5 million). Add Dragonheart ($51.3 million) and the big kids/family pictures totalled $279.3 million for the summer from eight movies.

In the summer of 1995, there were more family/kid movies released, with Pocahontas ($141.6 million), Casper ($90.5 million), Babe ($63.63 million), Power Rangers ($37.2 million), Indian in the Cupboard ($35.4 million), Free Willy 2 ($29.1 million), A Little Princess ($10 million), The Babysitter’s Club ($9.6 million), Amazing Panda Adventure ($7.5 million), Gordy ($3.9 million) and Fluke ($3.8 million). These 11 grossed $432.23 million domestically.