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This content requires HDCP for playback problem! Apple TV2

Owned Apple TV for two weeks. Two weeks ago, everything was fine for films already in my iTunes library.

This week, when selecting play on a movie, I get the message 'This content requires HDCP for playback problem' inconsistently. Some vids work, some don't. Then they do then they don't! I have tried on a Samsung TV and a Sony Bravia? Same for both!

How do I resolve this. I have tried different HDMI ports, turned Apple TV 2 off and on. Tried different cables (Although my HDMI cable is the one I purchased from Apple).

Any suggestions? Is it something Apple need to fix? This is kinda embarrassing when I tell friends how good Apple TV is, get them round to watch a movie and inconsistently get this.

Many Thanks for any help

Dave.

Apple TV2, Windows Vista

Posted on Nov 21, 2010 2:52 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Dec 8, 2010 11:42 AM

Mine worked fine one minute then gave me errors the next. I did these things 1. Unplug the hdmi cables. First tv then apple tv 2. Unplug the TV power and the AppleTV power, let them sit 30-60 seconds, 3. Plug in hdmi cables while power is off 4. plug the tv power in first, then the ATV power. This worked for me! (I was told it's an HDCP Handshake error, and the handshake is forced to be done again by unplugging power, but make sure you unplug both devices and plug them in the order above).
152 replies

Nov 3, 2013 3:06 PM in response to Springo140

After a few hours of changing cables, turning equipment on and off multiple times, restarting all my units etc., I decided to call Apple technical support. She asked if I tried putting the apple TV unit to sleep in the settings and general in Apple menu. I had not. So I put it to sleep, unplugged my TV power and hdmi cable for 10 seconds and voila - everything is working! Not sure if this is a fix for any of you, but if it helps even 1 of you I say it's worth a post. Good luck!

Nov 24, 2013 2:53 AM in response to David Irvine

I got the same issue today with ATV I have tried everythings from restarting the ATV to Change the cable,,etc but nothing change. what should I do guys ?


I thought it needs an update then i went to the sitting and update it. even after that nothing happened. I have signed out and in it didn't work too. I have tried every thing possible but nothing solve the problem.


now i went back to watch anything through airplay but the same message keep coming again and again.

Dec 20, 2013 3:50 AM in response to David Irvine

It happened to me with a brand new TV. I put the apple TV to sleep, powered down the TV, unpluged the power on the apple TV, powered everything back up and it worked.


My guess is apple TV is reacting to a condition in the HDMI chain and giving a good error message. Not sure what powering down fixed in the chain but it did for me at least.

Dec 30, 2013 3:22 AM in response to David Irvine

I have the same problem with my HDTV, I just bought it on DEC 26th, and my HDTV is around 5 years old, I saw the shop was using just a normal, non fancy, small HDTV, they have no problem with it...I tried to ask APPLE care and even took the porblem to GENIUS bar, they can't fix my problem at all, I tired everything, tips from internet, I am so ****** off about it!!

Cos this kind of things shouldn't be so un compatitable to any TV set within 6 years I think, cos like come on, not everybody is going to purchase a brand new smart tv just because APPLE got a new ATV, as long as it is a HDTV, they should work!

**** to HDCP who ever invented this! PLEASE FACE THE PROBLEM!!!!!APPLE INC.!!!

Jan 12, 2014 1:57 PM in response to David Irvine

I have 7 TV's in my house and 7 input devices (8x8 video matrix). Apple TV is not the only device I have issues with, I have some problems with another cheap device which I cannot replace (cable TV). The problem is that Apple tried to save the money using cheap components and the result is as we see. I wouldn't recommend ATV to anybody except the fantastic iTunes which allows me to rent and buy movies directly. ATV 2 & 3 are definitely not the piece of hardware I would recommend. ATV 1 is a completely different story.

Btw, changing the HDMI cables won't help, I tried with 5 different ones and nothing helped.

Jan 19, 2014 7:49 AM in response to virtualAThome

How is the Apple TV connected to the TV? If its connected straight to the TV then you may have a bad hdmi cable, try to get a cheap but good quality cable, I have wirelogics these are made by audioquest, but if there is another device in between the TV and tha ATV such as an hdmi switch this solved my hdcp issues, I just added an hdmi active repeater with an input and output, the ATV will negotiate EDID with the repeater and will trick it into "thinking" that its plugged straight into the TV set, add an hdmi switch only after the repeater, cheap hdmi switchers do not handle EDID, hope this helps

Jan 19, 2014 7:50 AM in response to ny2k2020

How is the Apple TV connected to the TV? If its connected straight to the TV then you may have a bad hdmi cable, try to get a cheap but good quality cable, I have wirelogics these are made by audioquest, but if there is another device in between the TV and tha ATV such as an hdmi switch this solved my hdcp issues, I just added an hdmi active repeater with an input and output, the ATV will negotiate EDID with the repeater and will trick it into "thinking" that its plugged straight into the TV set, add an hdmi switch only after the repeater, cheap hdmi switchers do not handle EDID, hope this helps

Jan 30, 2014 9:13 AM in response to David Irvine

I was having the same problem and fixed it connecting my ATV to the network with an ethernet cable. Apparently it couldn't handle getting the stream over my wireless. Seems like ATV may be sensitive to spotty bandwidth.


If you still get the problem even though you're connected over ethernet, you might want to check to make sure you're getting consistent bandwidth. Spotty bandwidth could explain why this problem has been so erratic for some.

This content requires HDCP for playback problem! Apple TV2

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