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Rent A Downloadable Movie
Syn Ack writes: "The New York Times is reporting (free account, blah blah blah) that five (5) major Hollywood studios (MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures) are going to begin offering downloadable time restricted movies. The video will remain watchable for 30 days but will become unplayable 24 hours after it has been viewed at all. Sounds like if you start the movie at all, the clock starts ticking so no peaking until you're ready to watch it ALL. Downloads are expected to be in the 500MB range. However downloads will only be available well after the DVD release of the same movie so as to not cut into DVD sales. Expect to see something late this year or early next. Perhaps the Music People can get some tips from the movie people?" What a bargain.
$4 is only expensive compared to video stores if you live right next to the video store, eliminating the operating costs to associated with the 2 round-trips involved with making a rental, AND your time is worth nothing to you.
You seem to be forgetting that most cars have an actual cost of about $0.50/mile by the time you factor in gas, maintainance (oil, tires, brakes, regularly scheduled tuneups, etc) and depreciation. Many cars actually end up with operating costs closer to $1.00/mile. Given that video stores around these parts rent movies for $3 and $3.50, it's not a very good deal.
Additionally, DirecTV adds value by providing instant accessibility, 24/7, and the fact that there's no way to accidentally run up late fees.
IPPV and the death of rental-rate pricing that accompanied DVD have are destroying video rental stores. Rental stores were handy when the movie cost $100 to order on VHS unless you waited a year for the studio to remove rental pricing. They become a lot less useful now that you can buy first-release DVDs for $25 for the movies you want, and can just pay $4 to watch something for the times that you get randomly inspired to watch a film you don't own.