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

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152 replies

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.

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!!!!

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.

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.

Oct 18, 2011 8:35 AM in response to bwwolfe

Same issue here. I purchased the Season Pass of Walking Dead 2. It downloaded fine on iTunes and I can watch it on the Apple TV by selecting it under the Computers tab, but it does not show up in the Purchased list under TV Shows. It's a bummer too because I was in the process of showing my wife how easy it was to use.. and it didn't work. Hopefully they will fix this soon. This is the first time I've tried to purchase a season pass through the Apple TV interface. Thankfully I do have the files saved in iTunes and am able to watch the episodes.

Oct 18, 2011 8:45 AM in response to bwwolfe

I am having this same issue... All Season Passes for NCIS, NCIS: LA, Fringe, and House are not showing up in my purchased area on itunes or on my AppleTV. AppleTV indicates that I have purchased the seasons but only shows content that was posted prior to updating my AppleTV to the latest version.


I am not able to get new shows on my MAC Book Pro, iPad or AppleTV (through the iCloud)

The Latest epidose of fringe was downloaded to my iTunes account on my Windows Desktop at home. I am guessing that i will also see the latest epidsode of House sitting there when i get home tonight but it is not avaiable throught the cloud.

Oct 18, 2011 9:53 AM in response to bwwolfe

I contacted Apple support in September about an issue with Futurama Season 8 not showing all the episodes under purchases in iTunes as well as available to stream on ATV2. Customer support told me to talk to an Apple TV tech since they couldn't do anything within iTunes. I discussed with the Apple TV tech, but told her that my Apple TV was working fine. That the problem appeared to be with TV season passes. The tech called customer support and had my iTune's account refreshed. Nothing happened. I then wrote back to customer support with a detail list of what I was seeing. (ie. 1. Open iTunes. 2. Go to purchases. 3. See episodes of Futurama but not all of the purchases (here I listed the episodes).). I then received an email telling me that my problem had been elevated and that Apple's engineers were working on the solution. Since then, I have periodically received emails telling me that the engineers are still working on the issue. This appears to be a software glitch of some sort.

Oct 18, 2011 2:15 PM in response to bwwolfe

Just spent over an hour with a Senior Analyst for Apple TV. The issues ISN"T Apple TV. The update Apple TV sent out last night won't fix the streaming from iTunes store. It is an iTunes issue. Between restarting the Apple Tv and re-issuing an episode that should have shown up under the Purchased tab, it was deduced that it is an issue with the latest update from Itunes. The Senior Analyst was involved in a chat with someone from iTunes.


For now, why itunes techies work on fixing the issues, you will have to either (A) use HomeSharing to watch episodes off a computer to the Apple Tv or (B) use airplay. To use airplay, start the episode you want to watch and in the lower right hand corner is what looks like an envelope tab. Click on the tab and choose apple tv. When the episode is playing it will play to the Apple Tv.


Frustrating? yes. A way to work around for now until they fix their problem? Yes.


Just an FYI.

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Series episode is not available on Apple TV

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