This content requires HDCP for playback problem! Apple TV2

I wanted to reinforce the point that it can sometimes be a sequencing issue. The TV needs to handshake with the Apple TV, so the TV has to be "ready." In some cases there can be a chicken and the egg problem. For example, the Apple TV will go to sleep after a period of nonuse, and the TV may then respond to the absence of input by going into its own sleep mode. Then if you wake up the Apple TV, and try to play a video, the TV may not be ready to respond, and you will get this error. A similar problem can arise if you activate the Apple TV before, or too soon after, turning on the TV. If you do get the error, back out of the video on the Apple TV, make sure that your TV is ready (showing the Apple TV menu), then try again to play the video. If that doesn't work, try powering your TV down and restarting it.

I have the same problem - this is ridiculous. This thing worked last week and now it doesn't. I'm not going to jack around with my cables every time i wanna watch something. Looks like i'll have to return it.

I am getting this to on my apple tv2 just downloaded the Dod who saved Christmas for my daughter got the pop corn ready and it came up with "the content requires HDCP for play back"
when I first got the thing a month ago it gave me grief and now this...this is the first apple device I really think I have wasted my money on and my wife keeps telling me! I got the thing so we would not have to go to blockbuster but that trip seems easy after the problems.
tried the update still no good.
Also find the timescale on started rented videos a real pain...especially with younger children and busy lives..

You've probably figured your problem out by now, but just in case...

I had the same issue and called Apple. They suggested using a new HDMI cable. I had a pretty cheap off-brand one and switched to a decent name-brand cable. Solved the problem right away.

Checking the cables is always a good first step for electronics problem. That being said, I've always used dirt-cheap off-brand HDMI cables, and I've never had a problem.

same issue. just bought it a few hours ago, first time to netflix hit me w/ the error. this is how i got it work:

1. turned off tv (kept it plugged in)
2. unplug hdmi and power cable from atv
3. plug cables back into atv
4. turned on tv

with the responses above, it appears my solution is counter-intuitive. regardless, it's working (for now)

This problem came back a few times, I notice if it takes rather long for something to load and I see the counter circle thing on my screen just moving for a few minutes (which has happened 2 times since figuring out the handshake issue) I just repeat the appropriate steps to insure proper handshake and it works right away. It is super frustrating, I have nice high quality HDMI cables, and an ATV2 box that should be seamless, but for now this is the solution I have found for me.

Hi Dave,

Don't know if this will be of any use to you or others, hopefully it will.

I get the same issue when using my iPad and using the airplay function to stream videos from the iPad to the tv via my apple tv2.

It seems to happen randomly, however, when I think about it, I'm fairly sure it happens when the apple tv box has probably went in to sleep mode.

The simple but frustrating cure for me is turning off the apple tv box at the power outlet and waiting for 30 seconds or so.

When I turn it back on everything works as it should.

Hope that's useful.

K

Incredibly frustrating. I only access Netflix through my Apple TV and mostly it works fine but occasionally a movie or tv episode will be unavailable and I receive the HDCP error message and then inexplicably after a day or so it becomes available again.

Sometimes I like this product and sometimes I want to crush it.

Not a cable issue. I have the same problem with the "official" Apple HDMI cable. It should be related to the handshake thing. Sometimes it happens in the middle of a itunes-buyed movie.

Same as for Dave.
I thought the ATV was Gods gift only to spend untold hours plugging and unplugging cables when after 2 successful movie downloads all I get now is the HDCP message for movies - not TV shows.

I can't believe Apple are allowed to sell a product that virtually requires the sacrifice of live chickens and the lighting of joss sticks before it will occasionally do what it is advertised as doing.

A device that requires 10 minutes of random plugging and unplugging of cables before it might work IS NOT a product that any sane person should want.
It's a software problem. Why isn't apple doing anything about it beyond taking more money selling cables?

Good luck with all the chicken sacrifices out there.

Jules

Not sure what you did causing your problems,...mine has been plug and play from the start....... Go to the Genius Bar at your Apple Retail Store and get your system working. It IS painless when the content and system is as recommended on the Apple Website...... and the network is constructed to use internationally accepted protocols

Had this issue when the power went off at my house. Since I'm a programmer, I naturally assume I know far more about hardware than I really do, so I ignored the directive to turn my TV off and did everything else. After a few beers, I figured "what the ****..." and sure enough, that was the trick.

In order, this is what I did:

1. Unplug the HDMI cables.
2. Unplug TV and Apple TV.
3. Plug in HDMI Cables.
4. Wait ~30 seconds (I don't know if this is necessary).
5. Turn on TV and let it sit for a few seconds.
6. Turn on the Apple TV.
7. Enjoy, after which you should call Apple and whine.

Also, I did switch the ATV's power outlet as I had read that might affect things (though I'm skeptical it did). But there's no way I'm fiddling with it now that it's working to find out!

This doc from Apple may help, it has troubleshooting tips:

Apple TV (2nd generation): About Apple TV and HDCP
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4428

Here is an excerpt:
==================
If you are experiencing either of the symptoms above, try playing the same content again for at least another 10 seconds. If the issue persists, try the following steps until the issue is resolved:

1. Connect your Apple TV (2nd generation) directly to your HDTV using an HDMI cable.

2. Set your Apple TV and HDTV to off or sleep mode
a. From the Apple TV interface, select: Settings -> Sleep Now.
b. Turn off your TV and wait for about 10 seconds.
c. Turn your TV back on.
d. Press the Select button on your Apple TV remote to wake your Apple TV.

3. Some HDTVs may need a firmware update. Consult your TV manufacturer's user manual or online support pages for additional information about how to update your TV's firmware.

4. If available, try using a different HDMI to HDMI cable, such as an Apple HDMI to HDMI cable, directly between your Apple TV (2nd generation) and 720p HDCP-compatible HDTV.

Thanks! We have only had our ATV2 for a few weeks and this occurred. Your post did the trick.