GENERAL MILLS, NESTLE JOIN 'HUNCHBACK' PUSH

DAN ALAIMO

BURBANK, Calif. -- Walt Disney Home Video here has enlisted cross-promotional support from General Mills, Nestle, Hasbro and McDonald's for the March 4 sell-through release of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Cumulative savings to consumers from these tie-ins amount to $20 on the title, which carries a suggested retail price of $26.99. Additionally, the studio is offering a $2 instantly redeemable coupon good on four titles in Disney's "Fantastic Adventure Series" line: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "Swiss Family Robinson," "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped."

General Mills is offering a $5 refund with the purchase of "Hunchback" or any one of the "Fantastic Adventure Series" tapes and two eligible General Mills cereals and one eligible Betty Crocker dessert/baking mix. A wide array of cereal brands includes 7-ounce or larger sizes of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Country Corn Flakes and Wheaties. The Betty Crocker products include Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix, Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies and Sweet Rewards Muffin Mix, among many others.

Nestle is offering a free "Hunchback"-themed three-piece figurine ink stamper set. To get it, customers must buy "Hunchback" or one of the "Fantastic Adventure Series" and any four eligible Nestle products. The vast selection of brands includes Nestle Toll House Morsels, Ortega Salsa, Contadina Pizza Sauce, Nestle Butterfinger Bar, Taster's Choice Coffee and Libby's Juicy Juice Juices.

All "Hunchback" packages will contain Hasbro coupons for up to $18 in savings on products bearing the Nerf, Tonka and Playskool brands. McDonald's will tie-in with a children's Happy Meal promotion that will involve heavy television advertising and point-of-sale materials in the company's 13,000 restaurants in the United States and Canada.