Apple TV HD Rental Streaming Problem

I have the same problem. It can be in the morning or in the afternoon. I get messages of having to wait 5 hours!!! Right now I'm stuck in the middle of a movie. Veery annoying!

How did you test your network? My problem wiith the ATV2 was severer — really didn't work at all to speak of. But once the signal issue was resolved, then it began to work flawessly (and still does). Signal strength can't really be tested by using the ATV2 menu — and lots of things can make for a problem with it. Also, look for interference from cordless phones and other sources (change your Airport wireless channel). Before giving up, buy an Airport Express and try it — you can retun it if it does not solve the problem. In my network, the final link from the Express to the ATV2 was made solid by use of an ethernet cable connection.

That is, the Express should be set up to extend your existing network — and connected to the ATV2 with an ethernet cable if possible.

Hi and thanks! I have the Express but I haven't connected the ATV with an Ethernet cable. Will try.

I just picked up my ATV last night and so far, so good. I do have a question about how I can tell if Netflix is actually streaming HD. On PS3 you can verify the speed. Any such option available on ATV? I would love to be able to look at some stats. Thanks in advance and forgive me if this question has been asked in the past.

Theres no setting for that but ATV will maintain the highest quality.

These problems of slow downloads have been going on for YEARS and Apple does not seem to care. They just say that Apple TV is a "hobby" and laugh. I was given a first-generation Apple TV as a gift in 2007 and I have always had movie streaming/download problems. Apple iTunes Store support were always very nice and tried to help, but the problem was outside their control; it was apparently caused by incompetent planning and design and/or ignorant/cynical cost cutting.

The manifestation of the problem I see is:

(1) Movies download at about 1% every 1 - 2 minutes, but with significant variability. For most full-length movies, this means that at least 50% of the movie must be downloaded before starting to view it, if interrupted viewing is to be avoided.

(2) Apple TV tells me the movie is ready to view after only about 6% has been downloaded. From (1) above, it is clear that this is hopelessly wrong. If I start viewing at that point, the movie stops within 30 minutes as its download cannot keep up with the viewing rate. Being given this patently untrue message just adds insult to injury, and makes clear how hopelessly messed-up the design of the overall Apple movie-viewing system is.

I have given up on Apple; they should be releasing wonderful new products to augment TVs, beautifully designed by Jon Ivey, and with true ease of use and dependability built in, but all they have given us is two failed versions of Apple TV.

My advice is to start downloading AT LEAST two hours before you expect to start viewing. Apple has had years to fix slow download problems and has chosen not to, so don't expect anything to change.

All I can say is that rentals start immediately and never stop here. Most issues do seem to come down to the network.

I am sure it works for many people, including the engineers at Apple who tested it. They just lacked the imagination and thoroughness to think of all the REAL-WORLD environments and situations where it would be used, and ensure that it would "just work" for all of them, or, when there is something wrong, display a helpful diagnostic and explanatory message.

All I know is:

(a) my Apple TV gets five bars for the wireless network,

(b) downloads to my iMac, which is connected to the same wireless network, go much faster,

(c) regardless of the speed of download, the Apple TV algorithm used to generate the message saying that the movie is ready to start playing when about 6% has been downloaded is hopelessly wrong,

(d) many other people are experiencing similar or related problems.

The issue is a combination of the design of the Apple TV and the iTunes store and its server; it is an overall SYSTEM problem.

I totally agree with you. I'm just using the Netflix instead of paying apple 4.99 for movies I can't watch at the time I want. Well they are loosing a lot of money and I hope is gonna be fix in the future.

One has to look at the network first, most issues are remedied by this and the majority seem to be fine

We were having the same problem with iTunes movies. We would rent them, they would load and then, about halfway through the movie, it would stop and the spinning wheel would start. Then, the screen would say "loading" and then we would be given a ridiculous amount of time, like 17 hours, for the movie to load. Other times, the screen would say, "authorizing" and nothing would happen.

We have a wi-fi network using a 1st generation Time Capsule. Our iPhone, iPad, iMac, and MacBook were getting fast data rates, but the Apple TV wasn't. Very frustrating.

I called AppleTV and they walked me through all sorts of issues. We checked neighbouring wifi networks to see if they were interfering (nope), we ruled out our cordless phones and then she asked about wireless speakers. Yes! Unplugged them and Apple TV seems to be working just fine. The data rate for the Apple TV has shot up to match our other devices and there is no hold up. Needless to say, our fingers are crossed, but it seems to be working for now.

You can't rely on the ATV2 signal strength indicator. In my case, it was five bars and all other devices worked fine (Mac, iPod, iPad, iPhone). But once I got the signal strength improved with a second Express, the ATV2 works perfectly. IMHO, it shouldn't be so sensitive, but it is. And it is my understanding that Apple will be out with improved antenna capabilities on the Extreme and the ATV2.

Yes, I am having the same problem. Same movie, 4 days since I started to download it. Each day it starts its download aver again. Each time is 5+ hours. The attempt to watch it tonight ended up having iTunes telling me I have only 23 hours to finish watching it and I ahve not watched any of it yet. I have posted the problem in the community others have nicely told me I should download the standard version of movies and not HD

IMHO the ATV2 has "issues" — though mine is now working perfectly. The ATV2 requires a very pure signal to work well — something that may be distorted by a variety of different sources. For me, the clue was the work-around I developed before I got the thing to function as it should I would simply download an iTunes movie to the iPad and then use Airplay to project it to the TV through the ATV2 — works perfectly. That's because there's likely no signal issue from across the room. Sooooooooo, if you can get the signal part of the formula worked out, the ATV2 works (though it should not take that much to have an Apple product perform). BTW, if it is the Apple server, mine should still be experiencing problems, and it isn't.