With the seemingly endless number of options in the marketplace for high definition TVs, hook up cables, and audio/video epuipment, it's high time someone stepped up to the plate and teach the masses how to get the best home theater experience. Monster Cable and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment have teamed up to do just that by announcing the "Higher Definition" education and promotion initiative during the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new Monster campaign is focused on helping clear up consumer confusion about today’s fast-evolving high-definition home entertainment technologies, as well as helping today’s new generation of younger retail salespeople effectively communicate the many benefits of HD to their customers and help them make wiser purchasing decisions. The campaign features a specially created educational Disney DVD, a new Home Theater Made Simple book as well as a new in-store training program and high-impact P.O.P. materials.  

Why the major education initiative? Noel Lee, Head Monster and founder of Monster Cable, gives a great example that illustrates the need for better knowledge in the retail and consumer marketplace. “According to the Consumer Electronics Association, an astonishing 56 percent of consumers who own HDTVs never watch in high definition,” says Lee, “and 30 percent are not even aware they’re not watching in HD." Given the massive amount of money spent on quality equipment for home audio and video viewing pleasure, the fact that nearly 56 percent of consumers never see anything beyond SD is a little scary. 

The major part of the campaign is "The Higher Definition Home Theater Experience,” a special educational disc for Monster customers available as either a standard DVD or Blu-ray Disc that will be included free with select Monster Cable and Monster Power products. The program, hosted by the charming and talented Cali Lewis from GeekBrief.TV, features a variety of tips and advice ranging from home theater hookup and calibration to purchasing advice.

To sweeten the deal, customers will also be elegible to receive a free Disney Blu-Ray movie, which turns out to be a pretty good value for Monster shoppers. A full list of the elegible discs can be found here [link].

More to come on this exciting new initiative, the special DVD, and the new book "Home Theater Made Simple."