The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) announced an online promotion plan over the following months, offering consumers five free BD movies with each BD player or PlayStation 3 console. BDA's marketing campaign follows Toshiba's announcement to offer five free HD DVD movies to consumers who purchase any Toshiba HD DVD player. Both BDA and HD DVD Promotion Groups are competing strongly in the market with similar offerings, in the ongoing "format war" related to the high-definition video.

BDA's offering is estimated to be worth US$100-150, based on current market prices of Blu-Ray movie titles. Among the titles on offer are top hits from all Blu-ray supporters including Sony, Disney, Fox/MGM, Lionsgate and Warner. On the menu are such favorites as 'Pearl Harbor,' 'Corpse Bride,' 'Black Rain,' 'Transporter 2' and 'Devil's Rejects.'

Full details of the promotion will be available from the website www.bluraysavings.com, which is schedulled to go live this weekend.

Toshiba currently sells its HD DVD players for US$299, while BD players or the Blu-Ray-enabled PS3 consoles sell at about US$500. The BDA offering could be considered as an effort to make up this price difference. However, BDA is also facing competition from Microsoft's external HD DVD-ROM drive for the Xbox 360, which has been selling well.