I purchased an HD movie and began the download, however it is taking an extremely long time to down load. As of this moment is it still not downloaded.
Mac Mini,
Mac OS X (10.5.5),
Apple TV is connected via Giga ethernet.
Thanks, but didn't appear to be my problem (I'd also connected a different display via component cables when I tried bypassing the router just because of where I had to move the ATV).
I saw the other complaints above, but no further info except yours - barring alien abductions I figured they must have cleared up.
Well, if anybody has the same problem looks like it's check your HDMI, reboot everything and then just be patient. Very strange it was an iTunes-specific slowdown, but I'm just glad it's working after four days.
I'm having the same exact problem-- my internet connection is 6+mbps, and I used to be able to watch movies almost instantly after I pressed rent (including HD movies). In the last few weeks I've had this weird problem where it seems like it's downloading pretty fast, but won't let me watch it even though there's 20%, even 50% downloaded. Currently waiting for an HD movie to download, and it's taken about a half hour to download 50%, but it still won't let me start it. That tells me the connection is obviously fast enough to stream almost from the start, but Apple TV won't let it.
My guess is the Apple TV is for some reason underestimating the speed of my connection. FYI I was having this problem before and after the recent update. This is kindof an annoying problem, especially since I'd previously been 100% impressed with how well the Apple TV worked. Help!
I'm having similar behavior. Previously, it would only take a minute or two to begin playing HD rentals, but the last two I've done have taken more like 30 minutes. Also, it used to start playing when about 1% was downloaded, not it seems to wait till more like 10%. Don't recall exactly when I applied the 2.3 software update, so I can't say for sure if there's a correlation.
I'm having the same issue in Madison, WI. I have a two AppleTVs: 40GB connected wirlessly and the 160GB connected via ethernet. Both have slow downloads of HD movies. I used be able to download HD movies and start watching them in about a minute or two but about two weeks ago it started to take hours. It took three hours to download the HD version of "Breakup" tonight. I've test my broadband connection on four different sites and I'm well over 10mbps. My network hasn't changed. Anyone know what is going with HD movies on the AppleTV? My Roku shows up next week. It will be interesting to see if NetFlix has the same issues once they start delivering HD movies.
I am having the same problem and have had it since at least the beginning of November when I first called into Apple support. I've searched this discussion forum and have found that it probably first emerged in early October (probably Oct. 5).
Netflix users recently experienced similar issues with both the new Roku player and the Xbox, and Netflix has since stated that it worked with its Content Distribution Network and others to resolve the issues. One big difference between Netflix and Apple - they actually communicated with customers and let them know they knew about the problem and were trying to fix it.
I've called support 3 times now and have received a new Apple TV - and still have issues. Each time I call in, the representatives state they have no knowledge of a problem (they probably don't, but Apple does), and try to assure me that even though I used to be able to watch an HD rental 2-4 minutes after purchase, it is normal now for me not to be able to watch it for 3-4 hours after purchase because it is so big! They basically don't believe that my internet connection could have ever been fast enough to view it only 2-4 minutes after purchase.
This happened last night when I called in. However, this time, with some work we were able temporarily to get the speed back and shock the support rep! He was seriously shocked when after we hard reset the Airport Extreme, my HD rental was instantly ready to play - after it had said it would be ready in 4 hours just before the hard reset.
Don't get your hopes up on that fixing the problem, however. A few hours later, my internet connection was mysteriously lost on my network (not a function of the ISP) and when I renewed my DHCP, my downloads are now back to slow slow slow!
This is a problem with Apple's content distribution network and how it interacts with ISPs and the Apple TV. I hope Apple discloses it soon and its engineers fix it sooner!!!
I have the same problem. I also have Netflix Roku player and it also started the slow downloads around the same time. Being a major geek and have been doing this sort of streaming stuff since 1997 I can safely say this is a network problem/content server issue. Apple needs to fess up and fix this!!!!
