In the early days, november and december 2003, that wasn't an option. But you don't hear me complaining about it. Bought my box, but as others stated, it's a risk you take. A calculated one, but a risk. But I had a great time using it, watching Voom, once I got a replacement box. It was a startup, and anyone who bought the box, should consider that when they made the decision to buy. Even in the early days, you opted for the service, so you opted for taking the risk. I am really surprised why some people seem puzzled by this. It's not, Voom never showed goodwill by providing alternatives. One, there was a choice for leasing after the early months. Second, even if you bought the receiver in the early days,Voom offered a 'exchange' program to move to lease and receive a credit.