Q: Apple TV/Home sharing ...... Why does it need an active Internet connection?

I'm also seeing this issue.

As I don't have a reliable internet connection I take my laptop to a good wifi network, download the films i buy off iTunes to my Macbook Pro then go back home, connect everything to a wifi network (with no internet) and my AppleTV won't play the films.

This is a joke. Apple knows that I've downloaded a movie I have paid for. Why can't I stream it to my AppleTV without an internet connection?

read this....one guy had a solution to your question

http://www.mac-forums.com/internet-networking-and-wireless/248622-streaming-itun es-content-appletv-internet-connection.h…

It will still need the Internet connection to authorize the purchased content, this is due to the agreement with the providers. It doesn't need to be a reliable internet connection as once it pings the server it will simply stream over your local network.

I have the same issue with my Apple Tv 4 which was setup for home sharing and has latest OS. My internet connection just went down so I figured I'd watch an iTunes purchashed movie stored on my Mac. How silly of me to think that I'd be able to watch something I purchased and is on my Mac using my own wifi network    It's absolutely ridiculous to need an internet connection to watch a movie on my Apple Tv, that I purchased and downloaded, that is streaming from my Mac. At least it plays the audio from the movie. And causes the Computers app on the Apple Tv to not respond. Thanks Apple     Really hope it's a bug that will be fixed. If not then things really need to change. No company has the right to keep me from watching anything that I've paid for because of no internet connection.  *** My internet connection just started working as I was about to post my comment and guess what. Streaming from my Mac is working again. Get your act together Apple! If you really care about customers fix this!!! ***

The Internet connection is needed to authorize the purchase, this is due to the agreement with the provider and not something that Apple can change

By purchasing, downloading and then authorizing home sharing on all my devices I should then not need internet access to stream from my Mac. Apple is a large company and can definitely do something about it. People need to stop thinking that there is nothing that can be done. Consumers have voices and Apple needs to listen to us. It's my right to be able to watch what I've purchased.

It's due to the DRM protection on digital media Rather than an ATV issue. When you play tv, movies, music the DRM encoded in the file connects to the iTunes server to verify that person playing the title was the same person that purchased the title.  To prevent the unauthorized redistribution of the content they sold...

That is not true. Even DRM free videos would not play so it is an Apple Tv issue. Even so, by registering my Apple Tv for home sharing I'm telling Apple and the Apple Tv that it's me watching the purchased videos so that should be plenty. No internet connection should be required of us.

You have authorized it for the Mac, you are now streaming it to the Apple TV and authorization is required there. Apple being a large company is irrelevant, it is the providers who have this in place and if the terms are violated then they will pull the content.

And I authorized my Apple Tv by turning on home sharing and logging in using my account. So it's now authorized. Shouldn't need internet after that to stream from my Mac. Also, if you had taken the time to read my previous comment you would notice that I said that even drm free videos weren't working. So who are those needing to be authenticated by? And yes, Apple being very large and having large sums of money is very relevant. Extremely relevant. So please go troll someone else now.

No, turning on home sharing does not authorize your purchases for streaming. I read your comment and the other videos not working is a completely separate issue, I can streaming other videos without internet just fine as can others. Again, Apple being large and having money is irrelevant because the providers hold the cards and they are the ones who need to change it. They can easily pull content if Apple tries to make a change to the agreement.

The software on the AppleTV should be smart enough to know the content on the MAC that it is going to stream is authorized.  I regularly play movies in Airplanes on my MAC and iPad and never have such issues where internet is required to re-authorize the content.  The movies play fine without internet.  The same should hold true for the AppleTV.   This is quite aggravating and no amount of excuses seem logical to me.

Why is this thread showing as being 'Solved'? It's far from solved. Does anyone know how to change that?

Sorry but the DRM argument is rubbish. As others have said our DRM is checked when we download from the iTunes Store. Home sharing checks (via internet) when it's linked to your AppleTV during setup. I'm totally fine with this and understand the need for the AppleTV to 'call home' to check it's allowed to play content.

But that should be it. At that point there should be no other need for AppleTV to link to the iTunes Store. All the checks that are required should have been done.

The forum isn't monitored so please everyone fill in a report at: http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Hopefully Apple will realise that not everyone has a stable internet connection and fix this stupid bug.

It's marked "solved" because the OP the understood the situation and marked his/her question as solved (back in 2011)...

Again, it is authorized for the Mac/iPad when it is downloaded. When you are streaming to the Apple TV thay requires another authorization.