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 26, 2011 7:36 PM in response to drewfreels

I bought a Ringer season pass for $9.99. After iCloud was working on our home network my Apple TV contained everything downloaded previously but did not receive any new downloads. I had to watch on my MacBook Pro. Today I looked for the next episode to download (downloads are set to automatic) but none came down. I have no idea how to get the rest of the episodes. I don't want a refund; I want the rest of the season. Is there anyway you can assist me?

Oct 27, 2011 1:24 AM in response to justinfromrockford

@justinfromrockford I'm using the "Report A Problem" link from within my account history in iTunes. Sometimes it lets me fill out a blank right there and other times it opens up a link to the support page where you have to jump through hoops before you can finally send off the complaint. Either way I usually get a response in 2-7 days. Lately it's getting slower and slower since they're being overwhelmed with problems concerning iTunes.


I agree, it's becoming a joke. Got a new episode notification of American Horror Story and Revenge last night and they're nowhere to be found. Once again, didn't even get the downloads in my queue.

Oct 27, 2011 1:28 AM in response to cottonwood44

@cottonwood44 Support doesn't monitor these forums so as useless as it may be, sending in support requests is the only solution. Go to your iTunes Purchases History, look up the Order Number with the show and click on the "Report A Problem" link. You'll probably get some inept off topic response the first time but keep replying back!


If it's any consolation Ringer is one of the now twelve season passes I'm having an issue with as well.

Nov 1, 2011 9:22 AM in response to bwwolfe

Yup same problem has been happening to me for the past few weeks with my season pass on my 2nd generation apple tv. When I click to purchase it, it acknowledges that I already bought it and yet it is not in my purchased episodes list. I reported the problem to apple 2 weeks ago and they took 5 business days to reply to me with a response that did not solve the problem. They told me to go to settings-iTunes store- check for rentals. I did this and yet Nothing. I paid for the season pass to watch this show in a timely manner and this is NOT ok. Very annoyed and want a refund for this season pass.

Nov 14, 2011 6:04 AM in response to bwwolfe

I purchased season pass for a show "**** on wheels" and I can download the latest episode on my macbook but cant download it on my ipad, iphone 4s, or apple tv. If I click "buy it" I tells me i have arleady purchased it. Would you like to purchase it again. Why not give the option to download it. Who in would ever want to purchase it again. Please help.

Nov 16, 2011 4:54 AM in response to bwwolfe

I have the same issue. Puchased "New Girl" season pass off my MacBook and in the email it says that for me to watch the episodes straight on my Apple TV I have to check the "Downloads" section in "Settings". There is no "Downloads" section.


If I press "Buy season pass" on Apple TV, will I spend another $50 even though I puchased it before on Macbook?

Nov 17, 2011 7:55 AM in response to danielfromo fallon

i'm glad you raised this single episode issue as well, because i'm having both problems too.


my season pass for Top Chef Texas doesn't show up as purchased on my apple tv, my ipad, or iphone. i bought it on my apple tv. i can find the episodes as purchased on my desktops at work and at home, but i don't want to have to download huge files on the devices that i don't intend to watch the shows on. haven't the foggiest idea why this is happening, and i would reach out to support but my recent experience with them on my other problem was an exercise in futility.


i reached out to support about single episodes that i had purchased not showing up as having been paid for. they wouldn't acknowledge a problem on their end, and implied that it was my fault for paying twice for the same thing. they refunded my money after i detailed invoices and shows, but it sort of seems to me that he could have found the same info more easily. i am super frustrated, and as an apple loyalist, pretty disturbed!

Nov 22, 2011 5:51 AM in response to bwwolfe

you know i have been having the same probelms for a while now with certain shows always having to repurchase the show if i back out of the show and want to watch it later. I got 4 apple tvs in my house and the issue is on all of them. Sorry to say i am going to get a roku now and use the amazon service to watch my shows. This issue with repurchasing shows is crazy to me this bug has not been fixed,

Mar 14, 2012 9:48 PM in response to bwwolfe

I was able to solve the problem.


I checked iTunes on my MacBook > STORE > Purchased on Apple TV and found the missing TV shows there, which suggested a syncing problem.


Solution: disconnect the iTunes library on the Apple TV and then reconnect. The process took 1 minute tops.


Very surprised Apple hasn't resolved this issue as the thread dates back at least 6 months. Back to watching Breaking Bad.

Mar 19, 2012 12:21 PM in response to bwwolfe

This happens to me as well with Breaking Bad S4.

Here is an interim workaround:

When you want to watch a missing episode, browse to the series (I put it in Favorites for quick access) and simply "buy" the individual espisode (not the season pass). Don't worry, if you purchased the pass in the past, you won't get charged. It will prompt you that you already purchased and can download it for free again or access from Purchased. The latter wont work but do chose the download option. The epsisode will be downloaded in the background and few seconds to a minute later you will be prompted to hit play to start viewing. A bit inconvinvinet but works.

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Series episode is not available on Apple TV

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