FTP files to an Apple TV

Sorry for the dumb questions...

Can I download a Quicktime from a USB drive directly to the Apple TV that it can play?

We are working with an old school producer who wants nothing to do with computers, its either Tape or Blu-Ray. HD tape is proving to be expensive and since Apple doesn't play well with Blu-Ray yet the workflow is too convoluted. We thought the Apple TV might be a nice solution.

I was under the impression that iTunes would run on the Apple TV and would not require a computer. I can understand not being able to ftp to it without a computer but having to connect it to a computer to load and/or view HD content is a bummer.

So did they create Apple TV to sell iTunes?

I'm not sure what a MobileMe account is or how to use it?

But if I had one of those does the Apple TV have to be connected to a computer or could it simply be connected to a router that is connected to the internet to download the dailies directly?

Does iTunes run on an an Apple TV?

I guess I'm kind of missing the point of the Apple TV if it requires a computer. I mean, my computer streams any number of HD formats to an HD monitor so why do I need an Apple TV?

If its on a network and has an IP address, wouldn't it make sense that you could download ATV formatted media files to that address and it would play them?