"Apple TV is not authorized to play this."

Probably the most intelligent write up I have seen on this issue yet. Thank you for taking the time to put thoughts to (virtual) paper. I have, as you suggest, spent an extensive amount of time trying to identify the differences between what can and does work, and what cannot and will not work. Unfortunately, those have not as yet been fruitful.

Sadly since the network card swap I describe above did nothing to alleviate the issue, and given the other steps I have undertaken, I seem to be left with the issue being in other hardware - which is especially frustrating (and hard to beleive) given that at one point (from purchase date to initial hardware failure in September) this was all working splendidly.

I plan to spend another couple of hours on the phone with apple support this weekend - but at this stage, I honestly feel it's a lost cause. I hope that any software updates that come as a result of 'expected' feature additions may shed some further light on, or alleviate the problem.

In closing, thank you. Your intelligent response goes a lot further than some other posts I've seen on here. I doubt if this was 'a handfull of users' and really a user error issue that Apple would have an FAQ around this very issue with the careful wording 'the following steps MAY resolve your issue'.

As for me, longer term, I plan to replace the desktop in question with a NAS (probably the ReadyNAS NV+) and hope to eliminate the issue that way.

This really helped thanks

Worked for me. I just encountered the problem tonight. ATV could play any "ripped" CD, but no iTunes purchases. I also noticed this MIGHT have coincided with an upgrade to the latest iTunes. I can't say for certain, but I may have upgraded to the latest iTunes since the last time I used my ATV.

Glad it worked for some peeps.

Count me in as one of the bewildered. I have had the ATV since release, and it has worked without a hitch. Then, unexpectedly, it refused to play anything purchased from iTunes. i received the message in the subject line.
I have tried all of the steps outlined in the Knowledge Base article on this issue to no avail.
***?
Let's continue this discussion only if you have this particular problem. Otherwise, save the extended entries for your blog.
I'm posting so those monitoring the boards see this is a problem that won't go away and is frustrating more and more users.

I had this same issue and de-authorizing and re-authorizing my computer didn't work for me. However, copying the files to my desktop, deleting them from my iTunes library, and then re-importing them into iTunes corrected the issue.

I had the same issues starting a few days ago - I could not play any purchased video files from iTunes on Apple TV and got the message on not being authorized. After seeing this forum, I first registered my Apple TV via the support website. That didn't fix it.

Then I did a factory restore on my Apple TV, set it up again in iTunes, registered it again via iTunes after the message "Authorizing Apple TV..." was complete, and started syncing. This was successful and I could again play all purchased content on the Apple TV.

I had the same issues starting a few days ago - I could not play any purchased video files from >iTunes on Apple TV and got the message on not being authorized. After seeing this forum, I first >registered my Apple TV via the support website. That didn't fix it.

Then I did a factory restore on my Apple TV, set it up again in iTunes, registered it again via iTunes >after the message "Authorizing Apple TV..." was complete, and started syncing. This was >successful and I could again play all purchased content on the Apple TV.

Forgot to mention I also deauthorized and reauthorized my main iTunes server before doing the factory restore on the Apple TV.

So, I have had this problem for a while now.

I initially contacted Apple support 13 December. Over 1 month later, I am still with a device that doesn't do what it says on the tin, and Apple don't seem to give a stuff either.

I've been pushed from Customer services rep to rep, and spent too much time on the phone to supposed Tier 2 support reps, only to explain to them over and again that I have been through all the articles and all the recommendations numerous times and the problem still exists.

The Apple TV is connected to the internet as I can download movie trailers and watch You Tube clips
I can play the purchased downloaded content in iTunes
I can play the purchased downloaded content on my iPod
I have performed a factory reset of the Apple TV
I have removed the purchased content from iTunes and re-imported it
I have de-authorized and re-authorized the PC upon which I am running iTunes
I have changed the PC upon which I have iTunes running
I have deleted my iTunes xml library files and then re-imported my iTunes library
I have changed my Apple ID
I have Re-synced Apple TV with my authorized iTunes

Enough is enough. Over a month of Apple giving me a really poor service. I won't be pushing for a replacement, I'll be pushing for a refund. Not because I think the Apple TV isn't a potentially great product you understand, but becuase Apple support is so poor, I don't wish to go through another month of emails, phone calls and chasing up solutions when the next product goes wrong.

Disappointed doesn't quite seem to fully explain it...

The definition of irony:

The Apple Support guys gave up on me at the weekend and recommended I take the whole kit & kaboodle to the Apple Store. The made an appointment for me for Monday evening. I packed up the desktop, apple tv & airpor extreme. Due to personal commitments, I had to reschedule for tonight.

I went in there tonight with a Factory restored Apple TV, reinstalled iTunes 7.5 in front of them with a new user / new library, and proceeded to demonstrate this issue with the 'Free song of the day', as well as by importing some of my own content.

The Geniuses were completely stumped. I was able to demo that non DRM content sync'd and streamed fine - but that DRM content failed miserably.

This is where the fact I went tonight rather than last night became important: on a whim we let iTunes automatically upgrade to 7.6.

Guess what happened next? The 'not authorized' message disappeared. The content started to sync. It streamed.

I shut down iTunes I replaced my 100GB itunes library into the correct location, restarted itunes with 7.6 running - and now everything WORKS!

After 3 months, my Apple TV is sync'ing and streaming my purchased content.... and despite Apple Support's insistence this was a network issue, tonight, in an Apple store, wth all my same equipment, we conclusively proved it was an iTunes issue. The only thing that changed from house to store was: 1. DHCP server (my Airport Extreme into their wan rather than into my ADSL modem) and 2. iTunes 7.6 - which cunningly enough became available today?

Fortuitous timing. I'll be writing a nasty gram to apple support for all the hoops I've jumped through, and requesting an extension of my support on my apple tv - but I am very, very happy to put this one to bed!

I can confirm this... I had the same problem with my purchased iTunes Store content and as soon as I updated my iTunes to version 7.6. I was able to play that content.

Hooray! I've been dogged by this problem for months (have posted several times here), and can confirm that iTunes 7.6 resolves the issue. Finally!!! --Erik

Same for me. No need for factory restores of Apple TV either - just downloaded latest iTunes and hey!presto, all works.

Had a minor problem when I wento purchase new apps for my Ipod touch. Got a 5002 error, which was something to do with credit cards and changes in Itunes stores. Anyway, went into my profile and guess what? Everything is fixed...

Now if only I hadn't heard that a new ATV will be out shortly.. **** us early adopters..

Needn't worry about being an early adopter - the 'new' Apple TV is a free software update, due out in the coming weeks... download the free podcast of the keynote from iTunes (and watch it on your Apple TV) for details...

Purchased free vids from the itunes store won't play on my appletv either. No biggie I just have resolved to not purchase content. VIVA La PIracy!
Glad that this thread had a happy ending. I am also happy t see that some others have run afoul with some of the downloads from the itunes site. Thank god I am not the dunce I thought I was.