Periodically (8:58 or 8:59) - iTunes is currently unavailable. Try again later

I agree!

What I don't understand is why the iTunes store needs to constantly authorize the stream to play. I can see the file is still downloading; it's just that irritating authorization procedure they have in there that is causing all sorts of problems. It should be only once, when you first play the movie or TV show. The only other case is if you pause or stop, then moments later continue where you left off on a stream.

Exact issue here as well. Doesn't happen with netflix, youtube or movie rentals. TV shows stop at exactly 8:59 and then approximately every 8-9 minutes after that . Annoying. Reset apple tv, checked for software updates, wifi signal strength=excellent and even changed my dns to point to google's public dns 8.8.8.8 to remove the possibility that my isp had something to do with the issue. Started happening on 1/20. Contacted support and they referred me to a link that had absolutely nothing to do with the issue I am having, almost like they didn't even read my email. APPLE PLEASE RESOLVE YOUR ISSUE!!!!

Hi, just tried the turning off the dobly digital out and it had no effect on the issue. The same "iTunes is unavailable try again later" message came up after roughly 8 minutes.

I didn't have any success with trying this either. After turning off Dolby Digital out the show still stopped playing after 8:59.

Yeah, I wouldn't think it would have any bearing as the same behavior would have occurred for videos streamed through a home computer instead of Apple's servers if the digital audio out were the culprit. I think it has more to do with some DRM issue against certain Apple IDs with their servers.

This has happened to me before – sort of – where a download would occur, but the video would not play because my Apple ID would not authorize it. I posted a question on it before on these forums, but no one answered because it wasn't as widespread as it is now. Eventually, it did resolve itself somehow. Whether Apple intervened, I don't know. Today's issue that plagues us is a little different as the file would play for 9 minutes before getting an error message.

I don't know if its the DRM maybe it is but not so much Authorizing but a streaming issue because it does authorize and play for the 8 min and 59 sec and can resume again for another 8 min and 59 sec, I think its a problem with itunes store servers streaming re: tv shows and music but for some reason rented movies work fine and maybe those are on seperate servers...

I don t know but my best guess is someone is sitting at itunes offices and

pulling the plug every 8 min and 59 sec lol or its been hacked by "Anyonymous" and he has it set to sut off every 8 min and 59 sec

I think itune store support needs to see 8 min 59 sec for tv shows and 23 sec for music as the problem and go from there and see what is making it cut off at those exact times

Could be just streaming issues. Not really sure. Although I did get the same error message when I had my original problem where the show would not play at all because my Apple ID would not authorize it. At that time, I didn't want to take the chance of renting a movie to test the hypothesis of movies being on a different server from TV shows, thinking instead it came from the same source.

I do believe it's Apple ID related, though. With my original problem, it appeared as if no other user had that problem. Now, it seems with the current problem and more widespread, Apple cannot immediately find out what is wrong due to it affecting only certain users.

Huh. That totally blasted my assumption. Haha. I'll try it when I get home. Although my sound goes out directly from my Apple TV to the sound system, not through the TV... Maybe the Apple TV gets confused when outputting sound to two sources: the TV and the sound system?

Anyway, I'm glad it was such a simple fix and not the one that I assumed. Eating crow now... ;-) Apple needs better error messages though.

Well it worked for me...I don't know how or why but I'm happy to report a full episode of star trek with no interruptions!!

Worked!

AMAZING! Worked for me! I have to admit when I read it I did not think it would work but I am watching a whole episode of a show with no interruptions!

Actually, I just tried playing something without altering any settings, leaving the Dolby Digital setting to Auto. And the TV show is playing without stopping at the 9 minute mark. I'm wondering if Apple actually did correct the problem on their servers prior to our trying out the solution that was given. When the solution was first tried by Jhitpo and tnerb, it didn't work. Curiouser and curiouser...

Well, at least it's working now and I don't have the turn off the setting.