Q: This content requires HDCP for playback problem! Apple TV2

This worked for me on the first try.  After powering both units down (step 2b), I also switched off the power strip they are plugged into for about 15 seconds.

1. Connect your Apple TV (2nd generation) directly to your HDTV using an HDMI cable.

2. Set your Apple TV and HDTV to off or sleep mode

a. From the Apple TV interface, select: Settings -> Sleep Now.

b. Turn off your TV and wait for about 10 seconds.

c. Turn your TV back on.

d. Press the Select button on your Apple TV remote to wake your Apple TV.

gazpacho wrote:

 

I think you mean "DHCP".

No, he means HDCP, which has nothing to do with Routers.

I'm still having the same issue.

Go to play content on my ATV3, and I'll occasionally get "This content requires HDCP...", etc.

Now, the difference for me is restarting the ATV actually works and I'm able to play (any) content. But then, a day or so later, the problem (error message) reoccurs and I have to restart the ATV all over again. So not a huge issue, but it's definitely mighty annoying. Particularly since one has to wait quite a while after clicking Play before the error message actually appears and you know the content isn't going to play... then quite a while for the whole reset process. By the time it's all over, you've lost the interest in playing the content in the first place  ;-)

I'm already using gold-plated cables, and have tried switching HDMI ports on the TV.

I found myself with a rare stretch of time when I could actually sit down and troubleshoot, and it seems unplugging and replugging the HDMI cable also works in my case... but I'm not going to get up everytime to unplug a cable or teach SWMBO what to do. We'll stick with restarting, for now.

The fact that it's so random when it occurs, and the fact that once I restart everything works fine for a while, is the most frustrating part. Seems like once it's working, it should work from then on. Unless my LG TV is somehow timing out it's HDMI ports every 48 hours or whatever and resetting the handshake (thus reintroducing the error). Would that make sense?? I looked for any settings in the TV that might point to this and didn't see any.

From what I've read, HDCP doesn't work worth a lick anyway (hackers can easily defeat it)... so us honest consumers are really the only ones who are suffering here. I suppose, in truth, that is the most frustrating part.

Apologies in advance if this has been mentioned earlier... 

Here's an article that suggests the use of a "cheap splitter" to get around HDCP issues:

http://www.howtogeek.com/208917/htg-explains-how-hdcp-breaks-your-hdtv-and-how-t o-fix-it/

and it gives links to 2 specific models.

Has anyone tried such a device for this problem?

I did find some videos on YouTube mentioning the same solution, keriah.

The problem is, running your signal through another component (the splitter) degrades your image quality. Maybe not to the degree that you'd even notice, but it'd be aggravating to know there's any degradation due to a component you really shouldn't need.

It might be worth a try, though.

I bricked mine 3 times trying to reset it. You can get a fresh start by restoring it to factory default settings.

Here's how to do it:

Restore your Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) - Apple Support

I was losing my mind with the same issue. Turned out to be the cheap HDMI cable I bought. Spend a few extra bucks and get a higher end HDMI cable.

Yep, this did it for me. Thanks for not being a complete struggle bus like everyone else in this thread. +1

It's June 2016 and this problem just cropped up for me... UGH

Here was the fix, previously posted and IT WORKED: Thanks to Norcalgrl

Norcalgrl                            Wrote.....

                         Re: This content requires HDCP for playback problem! Apple TV2                       

                                                Dec 8, 2010 11:42 AM                                                    (in response to David Irvine)                   

Hello everyone,

I just had this issue as well. I unplugged my Apple TV, tried different cords, etc. nothing worked. However, I tried to stream something up to the tv and that seemed to clear out the message and everything was back to normal.

Good luck!

Elizabeth

He means  HDCP. I have the same error message out of the blue I've unplugged everything, reset, unplugged all devices again, and I still have this compliant device, Amazon days the H5380BDisHDCPcompliant, but apple doesnt work suddenly.

Have you tried a different cable?

I have a Vizio TV - exact thing happened to me.  Worked first time I used it, then got the same message.  Tried a number of things, when I switched to new HDMI port on the TV it started working.  Thanks.