iTunes movie purchases will not play on external display - HDCP auth error

Solution (well this worked for me)

Mac Pro with Eizo CG220 on DVI and 24" LED Cinema Display on Mini Display Port, wouldn't play HD content, HDCP blah blah. Played fine with only the 24" LED Display connected.

Shut down machine and removed 24" Display. Started machine on Eizo only. Launched iTunes and played HD content without issue. Shut down, reconnected 24" LED display (so both displays were connected). Restarted. Launched iTunes and played HD content without issue.

Apple TV wouldn't play HD content (Mac Mini acts as server for Apple TV {connected through HDMI switcher Box} which wouldn't play HD content either - Mac Mini is connected to 20" Apple Cinema Display. Grey screen no pic or sound on both devices).

Removed HDMI from HDMI switcher box, connected directly to HDMI port on TV. HD content played fine from Apple TV. Removed HDMI from TV, replaced HDMI to HDMI switcher box, content played fine through Apple TV. Interestingly having done this with the Apple TV, the Mac Mini now plays HD content properly - go figure that one??? Was iTunes seeing the connected Apple TV as an unauthorised HDCP display?

I spoke with Apple Tech Support 2nd Tier for over 40 minutes and they had no answer.

The issue appears to be something to do with the initial handshake between devices. Once they have communicated directly for the first time the problem appears to go away (at least for me).

Don't know if this will help anybody else, but it might give some insight into a possible solution.

Message was edited by: necronym

I recently moved to a new Mac Pro, and I too can no longer watch Purchased HD iTunes content. I have the Apple 24" Cinema display, and I get the same message about HDCP compliancy.

I have spoken to Apple Support several times, and talked to the guys in the Apple Store Regent Street, and I have come to the conclusion that no one knows how to explain, or deal with this issue. At first I was told that the display connector was the problem, until I pointed out that the 24" uses the same connection as the 30" still on sale. They then told me that the 30" is also unable to play Purchased HD content!

I don't know if anyone will find any comfort in the fact that the Apple Store employees came straight to these discussion boards to find a solution - it was then that I knew I was on my own.

The moral of the story is - stay away from Purchased HD content unless you have the new Apple glossy screens with the mini display port connection.

Regards

This is ridiculous. Apple seems to have some bugs in their HDCP software. My understanding was that HDCP had only to do with HDMI and TVs, not computer displays.

I have the same problem with my new Mac Pro and older silver 24" and 20" displays, which are both still in perfect condition, so I have no intention of replacing them anytime soon.

Oddly I also recently got an HDCP error on an HD movie rental on the AppleTV, though it would play on a second attempt, but with no sound until I turned off the Dolby Digital option, so I had to watch it in plain old stereo. Even there, I have fully HDCP compliant hard ware (HDMI switching receiver and TV).

Hopefully these issues will be fixed in updated to iTunes and AppleTV soon.

Not encouraging though that the problem still persists in the new iTunes 9 and Snow Leopard's QuickTime.

Disgruntled, to say the least.

-mpm

Nothing really to add except my voice to the growing outrage. Incredibly stupid that you can not play purchased content from the computer you bought it from on if it's connected to an Apple display. Apple, I love you, but your iTunes video store isn't getting another red cent from me until this whole "authorized display" thing goes away. Can't believe I'm going to say this, but ... Yay for Hulu.

Movie content requires copy protection. Just like you can't hook up your Blu-Ray player to any display out there, you won't be able to play video content purchased and protected through iTunes. This is also not Apple's fault but a required necessity from the content providers.

The Apple LED Cinema Display is a newer generation and offers HDCP, that's why you can play movies on that. Hooking up a TV via a DVI>HDMI adapter should work as well, I would guess almost all current HDTVs do have HDCP (would be pointless otherwise).

Two days ago, just a couple months after the warranty ran out on my Mac Pro, the factory-installed ATI Radeon 2600 video card blew out. Today I replaced it with the ATI Radeon HD 4870. With the old card, I could watch HD content just fine. Now, after I've spent some $379 on the new card, I can't watch my purchased HD content anymore.

I get the same HDCP error:
*This movie cannot be played because a display that is not authorized to play protected movies is connected.*
Try disconnecting any displays that are not HDCP authorized.

Is this something that is going to get fixed? I'm simply flabbergasted by this.

O-M-G!

Total, complete, utter crap. MacBook Pro 15". Worthless mini-DVI connector that has no sound-out. Pathetic. I bought NCIS season 7 pass. Downloaded the HD version of the first two episodes. Am using the RGB adapter as, again, worthless mini-DVI connector has no sound, and, voila - ridiculous HDCP auth error comes up. I can spend time working on this, trying to get around this, etc... But, the point is I spent $$MONEY$$ to legally watch NCIS in HD and the morons that be are blocking me from watching this on MY OWN FRICKIN' HD LCD TV! Is there anyone with a brain at the RIAA? Apple, will you PLEASE respond to this discussion. This is simply disastrous. Here's the result of this ridiculousness:

* I'm contacting iTunes store for my $$ back.
* If Apple will not do this I'll call my credit card and cancel the charges.
* I'll look for NCIS in HD via some other channel. Probably won't be paying for it. You stupid f__cks at RIAA. Screw your heads on for cryin' out lout.
* Apple - shame on you. You should have disclaimers about this.
* And, I've dealt with Macs for years, but have used Linux on Thinkpads. I finally jumped to the Mac, but this is it. I'm ripping out iTunes. I'm terrified that anything I put in to this black box of a beast will be usurped and I'll lose my right to watch or listen to my own **** music on my own **** hardware!

This is seriously screwed up.

Please Apple tell us all there is some simple fix?

Not impressed!

herveyallen wrote:
? Apple, will you PLEASE respond to this discussion.

No, they won't - this is a user-to-user forum for discussing technical queries mainly.

You best bet to get in touch with Apple is to use their feedback pages:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/

regards,
Colin R.

Same problem here (Mac Pro & 30 Inch Apple monitor) - extremely annoyed and running out of swear words. Comment filed with iTunes support (minus swear words).

iTunes won't get another cent from me until this is fixed!

Just got off the phone with AppleCare support. They have no idea this problem exists... Bought a new Mac Mini for HTPC use, and have an old monitor with VGA and Component inputs. Feeling a little used right now...

I did buy Season 4 of BSG in HD from the iTMS. It includes the low res which looks fine on my Apple 20" Cinema. This however is no reason to exclude the HD content. Apple is wrong. The video industry is wrong. I am really happy I have the other three seasons on DVD. I almost bought Season 1 from iTMS.

Also note, the HD plays fine on my DC G5/10.4.11 to a DVI connected Dell 24" (last I checked anyway).

Apple can keep their stupid videos... and so can the MPAA. I really do hope Disney and all those other studios rot, wither and die. Here's hoping for a better tomorrow. Maybe Apple should take a stand? Nope, Apple *****! Yes this is as constructive as I can get... punish the legal purchasers of your software. The beats WILL NOT STOP, until moral improves!!!! and to Bono from U2 - STFU.

arfore wrote:
None of the content that you have purchased from iTunes has become "unwatchable" due to the implementation of HDCP and DPCP.

Except that's not the point. The point is that people paid for something and were basically told, "Ha! You've been ripped off. You paid extra for the V8-turbo version instead of the V6 version and too bad because in the USA you can't purchase gasoline for it so I hope you don't mind that you paid money for a very large and heavy paperweight." I paid EXTRA for HD content and now those bytes are as good as /dev/zero to me. The movie is taking up space on my hard drive. Except that even if I wanted to get rid of it, I would not be able to because iTunes will continue to download the content between now and forever. So there's added insult to injury. I don't want to pay HD prices for an SD experience. That's simply robbery.

P.S. Please don't mind the crazy-looking screen name that I have. I had no choice. The server kept spitting the form back to me without so much as a single pixel telling me what the problem was, so I got mad and typed in gibberish and it made the software happy. Gibberish makes some kinds of software happy.

I bought a mbp today and as I bought it I asked the sales person, "will I be able to watch hd content from the Itunes store on my 30 in APPLE cinema display....SURE NO PROBLEM MAN! DEFINITELY> THATS WHAT ITS THERE FOR.....well, it does not work. .I will try to go back to the base itunes 9 and see if that works.
This really ridiculous...it must be a bug. Why would apple prevent you from watching hd content purchased at the itunes store, on a display purchased from apple, with their top 15 inch macbook pro?
IT MAKES NO SENSE!

I am very upset for buying HD content from Apple. Remind me why I can't watch a movie I just payed $20 to watch on a $1400 player (macbook pro) with a $300 HD display (monitor). This is an outrage. I will not purchase movies from itunes.

I demand a refund and an apology. (and for them to stop jerking my chain)