Toshiba ‘Phases’ In New Promo

by Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 11/20/2007

Wayne, N.J. —Toshiba kicked off its previously announced joint promotion with CBS Home Entertainment on Tuesday, offering purchasers of Toshiba HD DVD players and the Season One HD DVD collection of “Star Trek: The Original Series” replica “Phaser” that acts as the player’s remote control.

The promotion, which is called “A Stunning Offer,” is available to purchasers of any Toshiba HD DVD player and the “Star Trek: The Original Series: First Season” HD DVD/DVD Combo boxed set. They can redeem the Phaser, which carries a $69.95 approximate retail value, by mail.

The three-in-one universal Phaser remote has been preprogrammed to work with any Toshiba HD DVD player and features special sound and light effects from the series.

To promote offer, Toshiba and CBS will be running online banner advertisements and print ads, highlighting images from the original “Star Trek” series.

“HD DVD is taking ‘The Original Series’ where no ‘Trek’ episode has gone before,” said Louis Masses, Toshiba digital A/V group business development director. “The leading-edge technologies in HD DVD players are taking ‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ to a truly new dimension for fans. Partnering with CBS, we are excited to be bringing this landmark TV series into the homes of fans and to be developing a promotion that appealed specifically to the ‘Trek’ fan.”

This 10-disc high-definition box set offers the complete first season of “Star Trek” remastered from the original camera negative. Each episode is presented a new 5.1 soundtrack.

Both the DVD and HD DVD presentations include rare on-set home movie footage, and inside perspective on series and discs, including an explanation of what it took update the old series for high-def.

The offer runs through Feb. 29, 2008, or while supplies last; quantities are limited.