Blu-ray Savings
Offers Valid Till March 2008
When you buy a Blu-ray player, you will most likely get yourself some free Blu-ray movies included. In the US and Australia, qualifying players used to get 5 free Blu-ray movies (usually out of a choice of two dozen movies). These offers expire and re-appear from time to time, so check out the links below to see if there is currently an offer available in your area. In the UK, a current offer (valid until end of March 2008) is available where if you purchase a Sony Blu-ray player, you get both the Spider-Man and Pirates of the Caribbean trilogies (so 6 movies) for free. These offers are updated all the time, and some might have expired by the time you read this. Always check with the retailers (eg. Amazon.com) as well to see if they have some special offer in addition to manufacturer offers.
This site was originally created to provide special Blu-Ray limited time promos.
Content is from the site's archived pages.
My parents are collectors of fine art, admire contemporary furniture designs particularly from Italian manufacturers, travel constantly, have the most recent cell iphones, read from a kindle, yet have no idea what a Blu-ray or Blu-ray Disc is. When I tried to explain that a Blu-Ray disc was one of the two major High Definition disc formats (the other being HD-DVD) that were introduced to consumers in 2006, or that it was designed to supersede the DVD format, (by 2008 HD-DVD was officially discontinued, leaving Blu-ray as the "king of the hill" as the high-definition disc alternative to DVD) and is capable of storing several hours of video in high-definition and ultra high-definition resolution, I get blank smiles with a "That's nice, dear." On the other hand, if I were to show them a website that sells Italian designer dining tables or suggest we visit a showroom that offers a number of well-known Italian furniture designers' collections, they would perk up, eager to go.
Recently, while we were binge-watching some classic Superman movies on our home theater system, I realized how incredible the Blu-ray experience could be for my parents. Each superhero film we watched looked absolutely stunning - the crisp details, the vibrant colors, the immersive sound quality. It got me thinking about how a Blu-ray player could be the perfect addition to their ultra-modern, Italian-designed living room.
Jump ahead to 2018. Blu-ray players (AKA Blu-ray disc players) should be an integral part of the home theater experience. A Blu-ray player not only plays Blu-ray discs, but also plays DVDs and CDs, and most can also stream content from the internet, as well as from local PCs and media servers. With the introduction of Ultra HD Blu-ray, video and audio quality of home theater experience are elevated further.
In fact, during our Superman movie marathon, I couldn't help but notice how my brother had picked up some really cool movie-inspired Superman hoodies. The artwork on these hoodies was incredible - detailed graphics that seemed to pop right off the fabric, much like the high-definition images we were watching on screen. Each hoodie captured a different era of Superman - from the classic Christopher Reeve look to the more modern Henry Cavill interpretation.
I think a Sony UBP-X800 or a Samsung UBD-K8500 HDR UHD Blu-ray Disc Player might be in the works for Christmas! It would look so cool in their so modern Italian designer living room, perfectly complementing their aesthetic while offering an unparalleled home entertainment experience. Plus, I'm hoping the crystal-clear movie nights might just convince my parents about the magic of Blu-ray technology. [Jody Harper]
Press Release
Blu-ray’s new attack on HD DVD: 5 movie freebies
The Blu-ray Disc Association has announced a free movie promo meant to drive …
Jacqui Cheng- 6/28/2007, 12:17 PM
The Blu-ray Disc Association is going for HD DVD's throat with a new promotion announced this week that will give purchasers of new Blu-ray players five free Blu-ray movies. Any Blu-ray player is eligible, including the Sony PS3. The promotion begins July 1 in the US, and lasts through the summer until September 30.
The five movies will come from a list of 21 titles, including choices like Pearl Harbor, Black Rain, Underworld, and Transporter
- The Guardian
- Babel
- Invincible
- Chicken Little
- Corpse Bride
- Blazing Saddles
- Kiss of the Dragon
- The Phantom of the Opera
- The Devil's Rejects
- The Italian Job
- The Last Waltz
- The Omen (2006)
- Stealth
- Invincible
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse
- Species
- Hart's War
- Stir of Echoes
- Underworld: Evolution
They're not exactly the year's greatest blockbusters, but the BDA hopes you'll think a deal's a deal. Customers won't be able to get the movies at the time of purchase; they'll have to send in a coupon via mail and have the movies sent to them. More information will be available via the promotion sitewhen it launches this weekend.
The Blu-ray movie promotion follows similar promotions put forth by the HD DVD camp. Toshiba offeredthree free movies with the purchase of an HD DVD player just before Christmas last year, and in May, Toshiba offered several rebates off its Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD players combined with anotherfive free movie promotion.
The promos have apparently gone over wellfor HD DVD—as the HD DVD camp saw a spike in sales afterwards—and Blu-ray doesn't want to miss out. Not that they have much to worry about; Blu-ray movies have seen strong salesthis year, at least in comparison to HD DVD's sales for the same period. The format also recently got a ringing endorsement from Blockbuster, which announcedearlier this month that it would begin carrying (only) Blu-ray movies in its retail stores. Although Blockbuster had previously been renting out both HD DVD and Blu-ray movies, Blu-ray rentals "significantly" outpaced HD DVD rentals and the company said they wanted to stay on top of the demands of its customers. This means that Blu-ray has won at Blockbuster unless something major happens.
Blu-ray hopes that the results of their own free movie promotion will be similar to those of HD DVD, which could provide just enough of a boost in sales to take an even more noticeable lead in the HD wars. Although standalone sales of Blu-ray players seem to be lagging behind thoseof HD DVD, when PS3s are accounted for, the player has a much wider reach. And Blu-ray has a stronger backing from Hollywood than HD DVD. But even with these bragging points, actual numbers still show thatneither format exactly has the masses behind it. Sales are still so small in comparison to the overall DVD market that any moderate shift in support for either side can change who surges ahead.
More Background On BluRaySavings.com
BluRaySavings.com was a promotional website launched in 2007 as part of the Blu-ray Disc Association's (BDA) strategic efforts to promote Blu-ray technology and encourage consumer adoption during the high-definition format war between Blu-ray and HD DVD. The site facilitated a mail-in rebate program offering consumers five free Blu-ray movies upon purchasing a qualifying Blu-ray player, including the PlayStation 3.
Historical Context
In the mid-2000s, the home entertainment industry was transitioning from standard-definition DVDs to high-definition formats. Two primary formats vied for dominance: Blu-ray, backed by companies like Sony and Panasonic, and HD DVD, supported by Toshiba and Microsoft. This competition, known as the "format war," led to various marketing strategies aimed at swaying consumer preference.
The Blu-ray Promotion
To bolster Blu-ray's market position, the BDA introduced a promotion in July 2007, offering consumers five free Blu-ray movies with the purchase of a Blu-ray player. This initiative was designed to make Blu-ray technology more appealing and accessible to consumers. The promotion was accessible through BluRaySavings.com, where consumers could select from a list of 21 titles, including films like "Pearl Harbor," "Black Rain," "Underworld," and "Transporter." Participants were required to mail in a coupon along with proof of purchase to receive their selected movies.
Impact and Reception
The promotion was well-received, contributing to increased Blu-ray player sales and enhancing consumer awareness of the format. The offer's timing coincided with significant industry developments, such as Blockbuster's decision to stock only Blu-ray titles in its retail stores, citing higher rental demand compared to HD DVD. These factors collectively strengthened Blu-ray's position in the market.
Media Coverage
The promotion garnered attention from various media outlets, highlighting its role in the ongoing format war. Reports noted that similar promotions by the HD DVD camp had previously led to sales spikes, and the BDA's initiative was seen as a strategic move to replicate that success. The media also emphasized the importance of such promotions in influencing consumer choices during the format war.
Cultural and Social Significance
BluRaySavings.com and its associated promotion played a pivotal role in the broader narrative of the high-definition format war. By incentivizing consumers to adopt Blu-ray technology, the promotion contributed to Blu-ray's eventual victory over HD DVD. This outcome influenced the trajectory of home entertainment technology, leading to Blu-ray becoming the standard for high-definition physical media.
BluRaySavings.com served as a key component of the Blu-ray Disc Association's marketing strategy during a critical period in the home entertainment industry's evolution. Through its promotional offers, the site not only boosted Blu-ray player sales but also played a significant role in shaping consumer preferences and the industry's future direction.
