Rentals not playing on Apple TV, only black screen

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Rentals not playing on Apple TV, only black screen

I have a brand new Apple TV that I've begun using. I've successfully connected to my PC (both for synchronization and streaming) and viewed YouTube videos, video podcasts, music, shared home videos from my iTunes library, etc. I like the interface.

However, I simply *can not* get video rentals working. When played, they show a blank (black) screen and no audio, with the time counter showing apparently accurate numbers at the bottom that increment as though it's actually playing something.

Here's what I've tried:

1) Trying different video modes, including 480p, 720p and 1080i.

2) Powering the Apple TV down and back up.

3) Upgrading to the latest version of the Apple TV software (2.1).

4) Running diagnostics, restarting and trying again.

5) In this order: doing a factory restore, upgrading to version 2.1, setting the video mode, setting my location, signing in to the iTunes store and renting the movie.

6) Connecting the Apple TV to iTunes on my computer (version 7.7.1) and moving a movie rented and fully downloaded on my MacBook Pro over to the Apple TV. It plays on the MacBook, but not on the Apple TV, with the same symptom.

I've tried these steps with the movies "21" and "Michael Clayton" (both in regular and high definition) all with the same results. Obviously, I'll be contacting support to get a refund, but what gives? I can't be the only one who has this problem. I've seen other posts about the same thing, with no clear resolution (except to "try stuff" like diagnostics, factory restore, signing off and on, etc). This is weak, folks!

Apple TV, software v2.1, Mac OS X (10.5.4), MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, iPod nano

Posted on Sep 2, 2008 4:36 AM

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Answer 1

Rudegar

Level 10

180,570 points

Sep 2, 2008 4:43 AM in response to phinaesgage

how is it connected?
if you use a hdmi to dvi converter and the tv dont support HDCP
it could be the reason
if you are and your tv also have component in you can try those

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Answer 2

phinaesgage Author

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Sep 2, 2008 5:06 AM in response to Rudegar

Yes, I'm using an HDMI to DVI cable connected to a Boxlight Cinema 17SF projector. The projector is a few years old, so very likely, it does not support HDCP (I had not heard of HDCP before, but read about it on Wikipedia, how unfortunate a standard).

The projector does not have component video inputs, but it does have a VGA input, which I believe I have used before in combination with a component video to VGA cable. I'll try this, but I'll have to buy a cable first as I don't have one available at this time.

Thanks for the tip.

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Answer 3

Sep 2, 2008 5:32 AM in response to phinaesgage

If you are going to use component to VGA, don't rent HD content since you will be limited to 480i for output.

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Answer 4

phinaesgage Author

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Sep 2, 2008 6:46 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Is that true as well for a component to DVI-I cable, if I plug into the DVI input of the projector rather than the VGA input? In other words, is it the component output of the Apple TV that's limited to 480i?

If so, I'm afraid that's not going to look good on this projector, as its support for interlaced modes isn't great. It would be much better if at least 480p were supported.

Thanks for the help.

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Answer 5

Sep 2, 2008 7:15 AM in response to phinaesgage

As far as I know 480p isn't supported but I can't be absolutely sure on that, I understand that the resolution is restricted to 480 since it would be capable of being copied at high resolutions otherwise, hence providing a workaround to the restrictions placed on protected content by HDCP over HDMI.

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Answer 6

phinaesgage Author

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Sep 2, 2008 8:15 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Alternatively, I wonder if anyone has had experiences with the HDFury or HDFury 2 and the Apple TV:

http://www.curtpalme.com/HDFury.shtm

http://www.curtpalme.com/HDFury2.shtm

Apparently, these will convert an HDMI signal to DVI or VGA and remove HDCP in the process, for people like me who have older HD equipment. I can't vouch for the legality, but this is as innocent an intention as it gets.

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Answer 7

brattner

Level 1

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Sep 6, 2008 6:20 PM in response to phinaesgage

Same thing just happened to me except with a peculiar twist. The HD movie downloaded but all I got when I clicked "play" was a white box...but it had the scrubber bar at the bottom and I could FF and it told me the scenes it was on...but no picture, just a white box.

Movies I had on my AppleTV played fine. (I have an HDMI cable connection, that's not the problem).

Anyone else have this issue? Or better yet, a solution?

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Answer 8

Russa

Level 4

1,343 points

Sep 6, 2008 8:15 PM in response to brattner

Same ting happened to me last night. I waited about an hour, then the rental movie came up to play. I think it might have something to do with the download.

Tonight I tried to rent a movie but I got to the "Accessing iTunes Store" and then nothing. The gear just kept spinning and spinning. Only after I rebooted the AppleTV did it get into the store and I was able to rent the movie.

This sounds like a bug in the AppleTV software to me.

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Answer 9

phinaesgage Author

Level 1

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Sep 7, 2008 11:11 PM in response to brattner

I think I'd seen another post about a white screen before:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7779350&#7779350

I'm not sure if it's the same problem I'm having in another form, but I suspect not. For me, I get the black screen so far only on rentals. In the post above some have reported the white screen with purchased movies as well.

For me, so far it doesn't happen with purchased TV shows. That's why it's confusing that it would have something to do with HDCP and HDMI, but I'm getting my component -> DVI cable shortly so soon enough I'll find out if that fixes it. After I check that out, I'll post more details.

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Answer 10

Sep 15, 2008 10:01 PM in response to phinaesgage

I have similar situation. When connected via component I get a black screen. If I switch to HDMI I can watch the rental. Additionally, movies that I own (either on the ATV HD or in iTunes) work fine with the component. And, if I switch to HDMI to watch a rental then switch back to component I get not picture at all until I restart the ATV.

I'm not sure what happened. The ATV used to work through component all the time - rentals and owned content.

Would love to know if anyone can provide me with some direction. I'm ready to send this ATVI in for service but don't know where I can go for that either.

Adam

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Answer 11

Sep 16, 2008 1:30 AM in response to brattner

I have the same problem. I was told to deauthorise and re authorise my account- but this didn't work. I have a New Panasonic Viera, surely this supports HDCP?

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Answer 12

Sep 16, 2008 2:05 AM in response to Les James

Hi,

I have finally sorted my problem out. Using the remote press Menu and - for 6 secs to reboot ATV select reboot without losing any data. When it has rebooted select restore from backup.

This worked for me -Good Luck

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Answer 13

mhernie

Level 1

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Sep 16, 2008 4:27 PM in response to Les James

When you did a reset of your Apple TV by holding down menu for 6 seconds, did you have to resync your data? Re-enter your iTunes account info? Any other hassles?

Thanks in advance.

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Answer 14

Sep 16, 2008 4:39 PM in response to mhernie

Just to make sure we all understand there are two issues being discussed here; black screen and white screen. The black screen indicates your tv is not receiving a signal, it could be a bad cable, channel selection error or an HDCP issue amongst but a few. The white screen issue is one of authorisation, it can generally be solved by restarting the tv or reauthorising the account.

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Answer 15

phinaesgage Author

Level 1

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Feb 19, 2009 3:37 PM in response to phinaesgage

I had to use the component video output in 720p mode. Rentals do not work on my older, non HDCP compliant projector using the DVI input.

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