Anyone else notice the huge price hike for purchasing shows from TV app?

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Anyone else notice the huge price hike for purchasing shows from TV app?

Just got the macOS update to Catalina 10.15 and even though I expected iTunes to be reskinned as the TV App and Music App, I was shocked by the price hike on TV shows. I always purchase SD versions because I have SD vision and they download quicker. So, for the most part, I've been paying $1.99 per episode. I've also thoroughly enjoyed being able to purchase a few episodes of a show to decide if it is worth my time, and then when I find it is enjoyable, I'll complete the season for the price difference.

Under the TV app, shows are $2.99+ and there is no less expensive $1.99 SD version. Also, I found a couple shows that were very interesting and bought a few episodes, then decided to buy the season. When the bill came in, I noticed I'd essentially paid the full season cost plus the price for individual episodes.

Am I just missing something? Is there a way to purchase the less expensive SD versions or a way to complete the seasons after a few episodes have been purchased. At these prices, and the double charge to complete a season, I'm going to have to get a lot more picky about purchases.

Posted on Oct 9, 2019 8:35 PM

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Answer 1

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Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,532 points

Oct 10, 2019 11:26 AM in response to Michael Prescott

Under the TV app, shows are $2.99+ and there is no less expensive $1.99 SD version.

I don’t know about Catalina, but the SD TV shows for a lesser pice than HD are still available, as of today.

See: Mr. Robot, S01E01 SD ($1.99/e) vs. Mr. Robot, S01E01 HD ($2.99/e).

But some shows are higher priced:

See: Chernobyl S01E01 SD ($2.99/e) vs. Chernobyl S01E01 HD ($3.99/e).

Also, I found a couple shows that were very interesting and bought a few episodes, then decided to buy the season. When the bill came in, I noticed I'd essentially paid the full season cost plus the price for individual episodes.

The offer can depend on the content provider (studio); some may not participate. Contact the iTunes Store staff, if you think that the terms weren’t applied as they should be: iTunes Store - Contact Us - Official Apple Support

There are some exceptions, see the support document:

About Complete My Album, Complete My Season, and Complete My Bundle - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Oct 10, 2019 12:50 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks. I guess it's just an app thing then and maybe a way to phase out the more affordable content. I checked and compared. In the app on my Mac, there is no SD listing. On our Windows HTPC, iTunes still shows the SD versions. Similar situation for the Complete My Season(s). The app isn't providing options for either, but iTunes is. So, I don't think it's a content provider issue as much as an Apple decision.

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Anyone else notice the huge price hike for purchasing shows from TV app?

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