Apple TV+ content has poor quality, freezes, buffers all the time

I have this problem too- but it's not just apple tv content, but everything played through the apple tv 4k device (in my case, 2 of them).

contrary to what some others have reported, the os 15 update seems to have made it worse, not better; type of content doesn't matter either- 4k is much worse, but freezing, stuttering, etc. happens just as often on hd content on hulu, sling, pluto and other apps as well as the apple tv content. we're not having the problem on the tv's os, or on roku set top box- 4k works fine there, and all the apps seem to work.

I started another thread on this because my problem seemed specific to the device, not the apple tv content, but i'm now wondering if this is all the same issue?

I have the same issue in Monterrey Mexico, definitely the origin of this problem is on the Content Distribution Network that Apple use for Apple TV+ As source service on internet streaming, I don’t know if it is their own Data Centers or is a third party Company that Apple rent or something like that, I have opened a case with Apple tech support, hope they fix this massive situation issue soon. I not sure but I hope this not be like how when it happened at the beginning of the pandemic, it suppose the governments ask to streaming companies lower the content quality in order to avoid internet networks saturation, I hope that is not the cause and instead other that they can solve soon.

I have been having the same issue over the last couple of days. Apple TV 4k. Except I get the issue with Netflix and Disney+ also not so much with Amazon Prime and also have the issue with Apple TV+. Lan cabled into a Amplifi Alien with pretty consistent connection to the Apple TV of 700Mbps. Reboot of router fixes for a little while. Apple TV is up to date. Even with Netflix and Disney + I get grey boxes as placeholders instead of the content picture. This does fix itself but does take awhile. I did put it down to streaming services getting hammered. But not so sure now. Will try on my Macmini to test and see what happens. Apple TV is connected to Sony Android TV. But I have disabled and stripped most of the Android rubbish so pretty much a dumb TV now. So I do not believe that is the issue. Something needs to be looked at however.

Yes you are right. Router reboot fix is temporary. For me this fix works from a couple hours to a day. But then I have to reboot router again to get a clean stream.

Same here. Netflix, YouTube, all fine. Only Apple hosted content. I think their CDNs aren’t doing so well!

@ChurchOfCarl I’m watching on the Apple TV app on a Roku TV, and for me it’s at Settings>General>Limit Playback to SD>On. Maybe your interface is different.

I don’t have that sort of router and I’m experiencing the same problems as everyone else here. Have reset everything, fiber internet and Ethernet connection to Apple TV. It is only content within the Apple TV app, including purchased movies and TV shows.

Had my follow-up call with Apple Support...

She wanted to confirm if it was only Apple content; but when I teed up a movie that I had purchased (Phantom Thread), that too was low-res and extremely sluggish performance.

Next call (unless she learns something new) is on Friday. I also mentioned this particular thread to her.

More when I learn it.

Chuck

I’m having issues with Apple+ and Disney+. Will go to Home Screen, but when I click on a program I get the little “flower” then Dolby Sound and Skip Intro and them it will have a negative picture of whatever I was previously watching on cable (but in lime green and pink). Other streaming services are fine (for now!)

It seems to have fixed my issue as well. That being said it will sometimes still start off with terrible quality but then quickly buffer up to 4K and again only with content through the Apple TV app purchased movies/tv shows included. Hope that is helpful.

I’m still having issues with Apple content after updating. All other content streams smoothly and at 4K resolution and atmos sound.

Extremely frustrating especially since they will not let you download content to your Apple TV so that you can then watch it without buffering. It seems I usually have a problem on Friday when all the new content comes out.

having the same issue on a month old apple tv 4k. it happens with any app though. started with hulu, but it also happens with appletv+, netflix, britbox, prime, etc. they play for 30 seconds to 30 minutes and then freeze. i can use the apple tv button to get out of the app. no other app work at that point. if i restart the box it usually works for a bit. sometimes that doesn’t work and i have to unplug the apple tv. on a wi-fi mesh network that i can test in the same room at 500mbs on any other device, which obviously isn’t slow enough to freeze the app. rebooted the router several times just to try, to no avail. thank you

Same issue here. New Apple TV 4K, up-to-date firmware. All apps stream 4K content flawlessly, except for Apple TV+. I'd say about 1/3 of a 1-hour episode is "fuzzy" looking, but no pauses for buffering or anything like that. It looks like a YouTube video going from 4K to 240p when experiencing network issues.

im trying on windows devices and apple devices (MacBooks) both on app and browser, absolute shambles. Content not playing at all, really glitchy and frustrating. Will probably not go past the trial period to paying. Shoddy work.

I am definitely having this issue on PS5 and PS4 Apple TV app, with Apple+ as well as purchased apple content.

The picture quality randomly becomes poor for no apparent reason, and the the stream often pauses. This doesn't happen to me on Amazon Prime or Netflix. Only Apple.

Something is very messed up with this application.