movies on demand for purchase only

[ravensfan2]

Does anyone know why many movies offered on video on demand are for purchase only, and not for rent?  Is this just another shameless attempt by Verizon to gouge customers?  Wanted to rent the movie "42" last night but it is for purchase only.  I find it outrageous!

[sangs1]

I don't know for sure, but I think that applies to the Flexview version of the movie. There might be an actual PPV channel that is showing "42" on which you can watch for only a rental fee. Again, I'm not 100 percent certain that is the case, but I've noticed that with other titles before. 

[walt178]

It's the same on other providers: you can "42" but but not rent it.  Sometimes the content provider places restrictions on how their content can be distributed.  In this case they probably want to maximize the sales potential before allowing it to be rented.  

[film111]

The reason those are listed as "Purchase Only" is the same reason that you can't rent movies on disc for at least a month after it is realeased.  This also applies to Redbox, Netflix, Vudu, CinemaNow, Amazon, etc.  Some studios will not allow rentals until at least 28 days have passed.  (And is also why rental dvds and Blu-Rays don't have any extras or director's cuts.)  They are trying to force you to purchase instead of renting.  On Blu-Ray, you at least get your moneys worth...the extras, better picture and sound, and digital copies if you need it.  Puchasing OnDemand or via streaming, you get nothing but the movie (with good but weaker picture/sound...and, with FIOS, even have 25% - 40% of the picture missing!)..and you don't REALLY own it.  If a provider does something or makes a change (as Vudu recently has), you might lose the movies you paid for...or at least lose access to them.