Pioneer and Time Warner Join HD Promo Parade

Joining the HD holiday promo craze, Time Warner launched an HDTV offer in conjunction with Pioneer Electronics that includes a cash rebate, six months of service and set-top box rental to cable customers who buy a Pioneer HDTV and subscribe to Time Warner's HD service. The retail campaign - Time Warner's first - evolved from a pilot program the two companies did last year in Los Angeles that resulted in a 175-percent increase in digital HD subs within three months. The offer will run in 1,300 stores nationwide, at chains including Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sears and Circuit City, through Feb. 8, 2004.

The campaign comes on the heels of a similar deal between Samsung and DirecTV. Cox Communications is also running a promo with Best Buy, where a $50 gift card is issued for customers who sign up for Cox's HD service.