BLOCKBUSTER, FUTURE SHOP PREPARE EVENTS FOR LORD OF THE RINGS RELEASE
By Adnews Staff
Blockbuster Canada is planning a "midnight event" and contest at all of its Canadian locations (excluding stores in Peterborough and Sudbury, ON) to promote the Aug. 6 release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" on video and DVD. The first 100 people at the midnight sales events will qualify to win a Panasonic home theatre system or one of ten Panasonic DVD players. Qualifiers will receive a ballot with a PIN number that must be submitted at <http://www.blockbuster.ca>. The contest closes Aug. 7. Winners will be selected the following day. A "Find the One Ring" online contest is running prior to the Aug. 6 release. Customers who visit the Blockbuster site can click on a floating ring to win a coupon for a free serving of popcorn.
On Aug. 5 three Future Shop stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario will hold an outdoor screening of the the movie. Other on-site activities will include a costume contest, Microsoft X-Box game demonstrations, photographs with guest characters from the movie and refreshments. The activities will begin at 8:00 p.m. In-store sales of the movie will begin at midnight. The participating locations are at Bridgeport in Richmond, BC, North East Calgary and the Heartland Town Centre in Mississauga. An online contest is running at <http://www.futureshop.ca> until Aug. 13. Twenty Lord of the Rings gold rings can be won. Customers enter by submitting their receipt numbers via an online form. A no purchase necessary method of entering the contest involves answering trivia questions about the movie.