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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I0LJe1cmdiQhe4U6ssLyhMgNgXa0MMWQ/+fVg3oIezEy3YfSwGGjoy7j6SkM1a8d
 zcVI7gA12hAcz4f2OSCl6g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892917-04-000252.txt : 20040916
<SEC-HEADER>0000892917-04-000252.hdr.sgml : 20040916
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040916203716
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892917-04-000252
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040823
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040916
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040916

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENTRAK CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000800458
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MOTION PICTURE & VIDEO TAPE DISTRIBUTION [7822]
		IRS NUMBER:				930780536
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE AIRPORT CTR
		STREET 2:		7700 N E AMBASSADOR PL
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97220
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032847581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7700 NE AMBASSADOR PL
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97220

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL VIDEO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19881004

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOENES MARK L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246350

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15159
		FILM NUMBER:		041034791

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7700 N.E. AMBASSADOR PL.
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97220
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032847581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7700 N.E. AMBASSADOR PL
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rcform4thoenes_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000800458</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RENTRAK CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RENT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246350</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOENES MARK L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7700 N.E. AMBASSADOR PL.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97220</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Becomes exercisable in four equal installments beginning on date shown.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark L. Thoenes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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