Apple TV 3 - Very Slow

Of late ATV3 has generally run quite slow. This is specific to the ATV3 as network the same and all else runs fine. Including an ATV 4K on same network, which is unaffected.

In example, on consecutive nights on attempting to watch a purchased TV program indication that it will take one hour and thirty minutes to play on ATV3. In then switching over to ATV 4K the same program begins playing immediately. Network download speeds were sufficient; check one night indicated 49.40 Mbps.

I have discussed this issue with Apple a number of times. One initial suggestion was to bring ATV3 in for service at my expense. But as I have two identical indicating same issue, not likely the hardware. The best they could eventually suggest is that the ATV 4K is better at decoding and thus faster. No doubt. But unlikely at a factor of over an hour difference.

This slow performance is across the spectrum and affects everything watched on ATV3, including streaming from third parties such as Amazon.

Perhaps coincidence, but generally after I have contacted Apple in this regard the problem largely ends; programs that previously indicated over an hour to load then load near instantly. This state tends to last for several weeks, maybe a month or so, then all begins to slow again.

Would also note that prior to the advent of ATV 4K, ATV3 did not suffer such issues.