In its continuing battle with Sony’s Blu-ray high-definition disc format, HD DVD founder Toshiba has launched two new limited time promotions to generate some excitement (and market share numbers) for the HD DVD format. First, the company is extending its “five free HD DVDs” promotion through July 31, letting consumers receive five free HD DVD titles (from a short list of 15) for free with the purchase of a Toshiba HD DVD player. Second—and new to the game—Toshiba is offering a $100 in-store rebates on selected Toshiba HD DVD players, bringing the final cost of some players below the magical $300 threshold.
The rebates are tied to the U.S. Fathers’ Day holiday, and work like this: from May 20 through June 9, purchasers of Toshiba’s HD-A2 HD DVD player will receive a $100 in-store instant rebate. Since the HD-A2 carries a suggested retail price of $399.99, the rebate brings the cost of an HD DVD player under $300 for the first time. Then, from June 10 to June 16, purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player will be eligible for a $100 in-store rebate, and purchases who also put down the cash for any Toshiba 42-inch or larger HDTV will get a $200 instant rebate.
The rebates can be combined with the five free HD DVDs promotion, so if you can find five titles you can stomach in the 15 Toshiba offers (Apollo 13,Casablanca,Seabiscuit,Constantine,The Chronicles of Riddick,Dukes of Hazzard,Four Brothers,Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,The Rundown,Blazing Saddles,U2: Rattle and Hum,U-571,The Perfect Storm, and We Were Soldiers) then go nuts. Toshiba would also like to tempt customers with the Complete Matrix Trilogy and The Ultimate Matrix Collection, due out exclusively on HD DVD May 22.
