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

Dec 17, 2012 5:56 AM in response to bwwolfe

I'm having a similar problem with my Apple TV 3.


I purchased a season pass for season 6 of Pawn Stars on my ATV3 and the firrst two shows showed up but after that the new shows have not. Now the only way the only way I can watch them again is by purchasing individual episodes which in turn I get charged for and I consider that double billing. I contacted support and they said I didn't get a season pass. I told them I did and it was charge to my CC and was listed in my iTunes purchase history. I haven't heard back from them yet.


I did notice that the iTunes purchase history has a bunch individual purchases listed when I purchased the season pass. It looks like the season pass option on the ATV3 may have translated the season pass to a series of individual purchases.


Any one else still experiencing this?

Sep 12, 2013 1:28 PM in response to Jstea82026

I am having the same issue, you can go and do a search on ATV and you will see last Sundays ep or when you go to the top and where it says something like more from iTunes Store ( above the last ep in the series) click it and it will take you to the new ep from the iTunes Store and you can watch it and not be charged since you have a season pass like me, that's how I have to do it because something is going on where new shows on certain series are not showing, I have the same issues with sons of anarchy and its always sunny none of the latest eps are in my purchased section. Have to search thru the top tv shows or click the link that say more on iTunes


Hope that helps

Nov 21, 2013 6:18 AM in response to bwwolfe

What makes me laught most (in fact is rather sad) ist to see the responses from Apple support.


It's obvious that they never write a single line themselves. It's all pre-defined text pieces. Even the "we are sorry bla bla bla" parts.


I got my responses in german language as I contacted german support and they exactly translate to their english counterparts. Reading the eMails posted here is a real Dejavu.


Problem with that kind of support is that they only can help in standard situations. So they pick some keywords from your eMail end use that to create their answer eMail. If you're lucky this solves your problem.


In most cases if you have a specific problem you get an answer that doesn't even remotely deal with your needs. And after some weeks - if the supporter has send out all his textlinks - somebody else takes over. Happend to me as to many others here.


And often it's somebody with the authority to tell you that your problem either can't be solved, you're not eligeble for a refund or they dig out some papers that tell you that it works as designed (e.g. downlad stuff via iTunes and not your mobile device or Appple TV). And usually all stops here ... there's no way to reach somebody with real knowledge.


Too bad! Apple creates such great products. There must be great people at that company ... so why don't get some people with the same cleverness to work in support. Even Apple has to deal with a lot problems that aren't standard ... so find people that are able to solve problem and not just stich texte pieces together.


Keep this thread alive. I know the chances are slim that responsible people at Apple will read this thread ... but if they do maybe somebody will start to think how bad customer support might hurt your sales and your perfectly built eco-system.

Jan 5, 2014 3:33 PM in response to ShadowBJ21

Over two years later, I still have these same issues with Apple TV. This time it is with Gold Rush Season 4. I get the new episode of "The Dirt", but the actual Gold Rush episode is missing.


I get the email notification from apple, but still no new episode on Apple TV. Also, missing the new epsiode when I use iTunes.


I can't understand how Apple can leave these bugs unfixed for soooo long.


Once again, why?!?! Is a problem with Apple or the Discovery channel?

Oct 17, 2011 8:01 AM in response to bwwolfe

I'm having the same problems with latest episodes of Vampire Diaries and The Office. I was able to automatically download on my computer, but i dont see the purchases showing up in my purchases to redownload or on my ATV2 to be able to stream. I think there must be a glitch with the new cloud service for season passes.

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Series episode is not available on Apple TV

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