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Level 1

9 points

Series episode is not available on Apple TV

First I have the latest 2nd generation Apple TV with the latest software.

I bought a season several weeks ago and today got an email at 6:57 AM saying the latest show was available.

At 8:45 PM it was not in my Purchased TV folder. I checked for updated Apple TV software and installed the latest update. Still not in my folder. I removed and re-added my iTunes password. Still not available.

Earlier today iTunes on my PC was updated. (I have never watched a TV show in my Apple TV from my computer over the via iTunes.) When I opened the updated iTunes it started downloading 3 episodes of the series: the latest in HD and SD and the previous episode.

After the HD episode was downloaded on my computer it appeared in my Apple TV's computer TV show folder along with two prior episodes. The first episode did not appear and was apparently never download when I purchased the season.

After all this the current episode plays ONLY from my Apple TV computer TV folder, not my Purchased folder. It appears in my Favorites and will let me buy it for $ 2.99 even after I've already bought the entire season.

The email from 6:57 AM told me

"If you purchased your Season Pass on Apple TV you will automatically receive new episodes if your iTunes Store password has been saved. To manually check for new episodes, select Settings from the main menu, then select Downloads, and Check for Downloads."

but my Apple TV before and after the latest software update had no Downloads folder in the Settings menu. One other menu had a Rentals folder but there are no rentals anymore.

What the heck is going on? I don't have these problems with Amazon.com purchases on my Roku. What I buy is available immediatly and it doesn't try to let me re-buy seasons I've already purchased.

Very, very frustrated with Apple TV seasons purchases!

AppleTV 2, Windows Vista, Latest software updates applied

Posted on Oct 14, 2011 7:43 PM

152 replies

Oct 17, 2011 12:26 PM in response to bwwolfe

I'm having the same issue with The Walking Dead Season 2. Support told me to email itunes support. What bullcrap. I know there is a problem with iCloud because I can't see the episode on my ipad 2 or iphone 4 as well as my Apple TV 2.

iTunes>TV Shows>Purchased.

This is very frustrating and I expect more from Apple to at least acknowledge the problem and let us know they are working on it.

bbabbino

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2011 2:55 PM in response to bwwolfe

I purchased the season pass of The Walking Dead Season 2 earlier today and I can't watch it at all. They charged me but I can't watch it on either of my two macs, my iphone 4, or my apple tv. This is the first time I have bought a season pass from Apple and it will proabably be the last. They have my $35 and I got nothing for it. C'mon Apple I know you are better than this.

Orren

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2011 2:58 PM in response to bbabbino

Have you tried the "check for downloads" command on iTunes? It might work on your Mac.

Orren

bbabbino

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2011 3:00 PM in response to Orren

I have and it says all purchases have been downloaded for this accout. I have checked my purchase history on my account to make sure I did actually buy it and it is there. They charged me 34.95

Oct 17, 2011 4:24 PM in response to bwwolfe

Same problem for me as well. Own the season pass for teh Walking dead season 2 I downloaded first episode on my itunes library this morning and took the mac to work with me. My family wanted to watch the show before I got home tonight, I figured no problem they can watch directly from iCloud boy was I wrong. if they want to pay 2.99 for that single episode they can!!! This very poor execution for what is supposed an awsome service.

Come on Apple fix this!!!!

viderian

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2011 4:51 PM in response to bwwolfe

I am getting the same problem with Walking Dead and The Office. I can download it in iTunes but not stream it on AppleTv. The support person told me it was fixed but it still is not. Apple is not looking so good right now.

Oct 17, 2011 5:18 PM in response to bwwolfe

I am having the exact same problem. None of my new season pass content is showing up on my Apple TV purchased list. This includes The Walking Dead, among others.

Oct 17, 2011 5:58 PM in response to viderian

I bought the first episode of Walking Dead today. Purchased it on my iMac. Shows up there fine, but not to be found on my Apple TV. Lots of similar posts about missing purchased TV shows and season passes on the Apple Community boards. I'm not going to waste my time contacting iTunes. The cloud is pretty much a crap shoot at this time.

Oct 17, 2011 6:22 PM in response to Bruce Kieffer

There's a new Apple TV update - 4.4.1

Oct 17, 2011 6:45 PM in response to Steven Ng

It's actually iOS 5, season pass episodes are still not showing up under purchased.

bbabbino

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2011 6:45 PM in response to Steven Ng

Update didn't solve this issue.

bwwolfe Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 17, 2011 7:16 PM in response to bwwolfe

The new 4.4.1 update doesn't fix anything for me. Still having the same problem.

The original case I opened, that they asked for invoice numbers on, was closed so I opened a new case. Why I can't see what I posted when I look at my case list is beyond me. The page just suggested 3 things that were obviously not the solution.

It certainly seems like the Apple site is optimized to make getting support really, really, hard unless you pay for it or you're within your X number of purchase days. After spending $ 80 on two seasons -- up front -- I have no patience for not being able to see the episodes or adequately report the problem. Some of you have spent lots more....

And will someone please tell me why after I've purchased a season pas the Apple TV UI still offers to sell me the very same season pass or an a-la-carte episode? Seems counter intuitive to me.

Mupu

Level 1

4 points

Oct 17, 2011 7:19 PM in response to bwwolfe

I'm having the same issue AFTER AppleTV update. have purchased season pass of Big Bang Theory season 5 and newest episodes are not available for streaming. I can download to iTunes in my computer, but that is not optimal. PLEASE FIX.

Zoggied

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2011 10:33 PM in response to bwwolfe

The saga continues.. With me. Walking Dead season 2 has been purchased, I can't find it anywhere. Restarted my ATV2 and now it doesn't even show up under purchased items. However , it does tell me I've purchased it just before offering to sell me an additional copy. Lame. Apple: please fix, I'd like to watch what I pay for.

Oct 18, 2011 1:17 AM in response to bwwolfe

Having the same issue here with Season Passes and individual show purchases as of late. It's really hit or miss. Currently I have 5 Active Season Passes (including The Walking Dead Season 2) that are missing episodes that have been available for days.

I've sent iTunes support 22 emails this past week and 5 new ones today. Most of the replies I got last week were from people who seemed to barely understand English let alone how the new "Purchased" sections work within iTunes and on AppleTv. Some just replied sending me links to AppleTv FAQ's. Not a single one of them has shown me they have a clue what I'm talking about. The only resolution I've been offered is download credits or downloads sent to my iTunes. Neither of which fix the issue with the shows not being available in the "Purchased" sections for streaming or downloading on demand.

I've never had such a massive amount of problems before so I don't have much experience with iTunes Customer Support. After this whole mess though I'm really shocked at how terrible they are. Not something I expected at all. Doesn't feel like I'm dealing with Apple Employees at all.

Series episode is not available on Apple TV