Q: apple tv does not access iTunes - 4/17/2014

@mathteacher973

AppleTV 1 hardware is 6-7 years old and there was no iTunes store functionality on the device when released.

When Apple added HD to iTunes it was 720p only initially and AppleTV 1 was just powerful enough to handle 720p at 24 fps, though many found it could just about do 25 fps but 30 FPS was not possible.

iTunes used to automatically download SD and HD, but it never downloaded two HD versions automatically.  It no longer downloads SD automatically for an HD purchase.   You can get the SD version from iTunes store quicklinks by changing the checkbox below purchases you are browsing.

There is an option in iTunes preferences to choose 720p or 1080p - if you change this you can then download the other version.

Re: Ethernet connected ATV.

Interesting result.

I had that same access level for most of today with a wi-fi connection i.e. "showing all the store menu options and not flickering, but clicking on one reporting the iTunes store as unavailable" but lost it when I rebooted the ATV to test how stable that was. Can't get it back again now.

Previously iTunes and appleTV were working fine either on wireless or wired ethernet connection to my home network. Now appleTV sees my library, as if says connecting to my-library but can't connect to it. My iTunes media library is stored on an external HDD which is shared across the network.

I can play music from iTunes to my TV via appleTV but not videos or films (none of these music/video are iTunes store sourced), so I know itunes is talking to the appleTV. I get a timed out dialogue.

I have never purchased anything from iTunes store except free apps and stuff. A request to check for any purchases says OK.

If I ask iTunes to play a video or film it will play on the pc, but as soon as I say use airplay it goes into circle loading mode then times out and reports an error connecting, etc.

In apple TV I can play such feeds as SkyNewsLive on my TV so I know appleTV is on the net via my router.

To summarise appleTV is connected to my home network, it recognises my library but can't connect to it and it will play direct internet content but only some content from iTunes library and not others.

What is going on and more importantly how do I fix it..

I would just like to add that I have tried each and every support suggestion and am fed up of reinstalling iTunes and resetting my ATV3.

I dont think an update has been pushed out that's caused this.. as apple TVs with different software versions exhibit the same issue

At a guess, something may have changed at the hosting side (itunes store) or the services they use to connect to everything. If the change was intentional we should see an anouncement about it soon however my first assumption is the issue thats resulted wasnt intentional at all.

We cant expect announcements to be published during Easter, so we may see an answer in another 2 days from now.

Elkoth, I bet your next post is about me seeing your post before you edited it !

ah hehe you saw my post before I edited it... hehe

So I want to try and disconnect the wifi to see if playback of downloaded content will work, but it seems that is impossible without disconnecting my router entirely. Some say to plug an Ethernet cable into the back and that will work. Tried it, and no go. Seriously! I guess I've never really had to do this before, but is there really no way to disconnect wifi!?

Just pulled the power and reconnected. Problems with my ATV1 now gone. Can now see all available films to rent and view previews. Yet to try renting one, but my ATV seems back to normal...

Same problem on ATV1.  Accessing the Internet works.  The Trailers option flickers off when selected but if I am quick enough I can access it.  The trailers will stutter, pause and lag.  No access to the iTunes Store at ALL for movies, tv shows, or podcast.  Youtube works without a problem.  I unpluged the AppleTv numerous times, and restared it with no fix. All is not well. The 16th I had full acces to the iTunes Store.  Since the 17th the AppleTv the iTunes Store access completly disappeared except for movie trailers.  My ATV 1 has worked flawlessly and has never given me a problem until now.

If anyone else has resolved this issue or knows the cause please reply. 

Clearly Apple either by mistake or on purpose has changed something about 1st Generation ATVs. 

I have completely reset and restored all settings.  The device has no trouble with WIFI or internet access as it will download software updates.  But lost a movie I had rented and not watched and It no longer sees the iTunes Store. My local computers see it but it is not correctly streaming from them although I think it will sync.  Somthing ahs changde vis Apples servers.  This could be related to a refresh in ATV hardware and software Apple is rumored to be releasing in the near future.

Apple should fix this or at least announce ther no longer support 1st Gen ATVs.  That would **** me off though, btu at least we would know.

C'mon Apple do the right thing and turn the 1st Gen ATVs back on.

jaamey76, your Apple TV needs to see something on the other end of that ethernet cable, you'll need a spare network switch or router etc to do this, just don't connect these to the internet or anything else

this will effectively disconnect your apple tv from the internet

d@sh you seem to be lucky, rebooted my 1st Gen ATV, and still the same. Anyone else had any luck?

Let me add You Tube only works, but stutters and lags, this is clearly a serverside issue.

Hey Robert, I did try this but it does not switch over to Ethernet. Just doesn't seem to recognize it. Instead I just adjusted the IP address to a few zeros and that did the trick. I can now watch my loaded content until Apple comes up with a solution.

Youtube dos not go through Apple servers as far as I know. The stuttering and lagging is the result of your Apple TV consuming all of it's resources trying to call home to Mama. This is the same issue people see with trying to play local content, though disconnecting from the internet solves it. Not an option for playing youtube vids unfortunately.