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

I just purchased the 3rd Season of "Justified" which is a great show and I'm happy to not have to watch commercials, but.


FACTS


1) I watched 9 minutes it just stops and goes to a black screen ""iTunes is currently unavailable. Try again later". okay

2) Resume - and I get more time, maybe 9 minutes before it dies. I didn't get a perfect time because I was into the show.

3) Sigh and resume and get 9 or 10 more minutes.

4) Went to another show and it also died

5) Cached Far ahead - Strange, but the show was already cached far, far ahead of the crash.

6) AppleTV is fully updated to 4.4.4 I think

7) I did a restore and reproduced the problem

8) I did a reset and reproduced the problem... crashes at 8:58 or 8:59 each time



PROBLEM 2 - maybe related.

I get some Netflix freezes as well, but i have a great connection. When I use my Roku, or my Macbook Pro to watch the same shows that freeze everything works. but the AppleTV cannot operate without crashing.

AppleTV 2

Posted on Jan 21, 2012 5:41 PM

Reply
62 replies

Jun 12, 2018 5:49 PM in response to frankfarias

I am having the exact same issue. Same thing, begins at 8:59 and then periodically throughout the TV show or Movie Rental. This is totally aggravating.


I have 2 Apple TVs and they both do the same thing. I also reset both, checked my router and so on. This is definitely a problem that just started occurring.

Jan 21, 2012 11:21 PM in response to MilesofDenver

Hi

I'm having the exact same problem since yesterday,

Every 9 min I get the black screen with itunes not available try again later.

Now I don't have a prob using my library or Netflix

I did unplug it and reset it and I did rest my internet connection

So I'm thinking its gotta be itunes prob

I'm going to call them in the morning, but u are right its ever 9 min

Jan 22, 2012 8:25 AM in response to MilesofDenver

I have exactly the same problem since January 19th, 2012.


Identical symptoms : All TV shows previously purchased cut out after just under 9 minutes. Press Menu, Press Play, Press Select to accept Resume Playing and it continues for another just under 9 minutes.


This is happening on both Apple TVs in our house. Reset both boxes and still happening.


Verified both boxes are running firmware 4.4.4 and are connected via Ethernet.


I hope someone finds a solution for this one... I'll be watching here...


Thanks.

Jan 22, 2012 12:05 PM in response to MilesofDenver

I called Apple and they had not heard of this issue, I was on the phone with them for an hour and they agree its something to do with itunes, I explained that I can stream from my library with no problems and I even tested out Netflix and there was no problems there but only using itunes store and every 8:59 (Minuets) I get the screen and i can resume but it is very annoying and well they were on the phone and we tested everything, bottom line

they suggested that I email itunes store and use the express lane feature and explain whats going on because its not the apple tv its on the itune store end and Apple care cant go any further.


so im doing this now, and they suggested the more that go to apple support express lane and complain under itunes store the faster we will get help

Jan 22, 2012 6:00 PM in response to MilesofDenver

Got a response back from the Epress Lane. I will say this... it was fast. He said he doesn't support AppleTV but instead supports the iTunes Store. He gave me a few links to some troubleshooting tips and also this discussion forum. Clearly, he did not read my simple post.


I have asked for him to escalate my issue to a supervisor. Frankly, I'm an Apple shareholderand ai very much want to resolve this issue. If half a dozen of us bothered to post about it there are problem several thousand other people with the problem who either don't know where to post or don't have the time or don't care.


I very much want Apple to have good customer support.

Jan 23, 2012 11:35 AM in response to MilesofDenver

I called again today because I was getting replys from apple express lane to take my apple tv to the store and let them test it.


I tried a new apple tv that I did not use yet and it was on software 4.4.3 and same thing happened so

he contacted itunes store and they insist that its not them and it may be my network,

problem is I cant go to the Apple store this weeks try out their network, the thing is im not the only one with this exact issue.


I am going to keep calling

Jan 23, 2012 1:34 PM in response to MilesofDenver

Same exact issue here. Weird that it's every 8:59? Anyway I also used express lane and they were very quick to respond unfortunately supplying a new download of the same tv show did not solve the issue. Too coincidental we all have the same problem that started on the same day (Jan19). Anyway, if someone gets an answer from apple please let us all know...

Jan 23, 2012 2:41 PM in response to MilesofDenver

What makes me mad is that they think its my network and wont even look at it on their end, when I have not one single problem with homesharing or netflix on my Apple tv or my 2 xbox systems and all the video apps on that. I also don't leave my xbox's on or computers on when using Apple tv (except one for my itunes library) so I should not have an issue there and I also pay more for the faster internet speed thru my isp, which is very fast connection.


I know its there problem on their end and the Apple care was kind by helping me when they contacted itunes store support but after them telling me to go take it to my Apple store ( which is not close) and to have them look at it is upsetting because I have pointed out that there is a thread with several people experiencing the same exact problem.


If someone is able to go to a Apple store and have the people there test it out let us know

but im not stopping I will call Apple care again tomorrow, if anyone still has there Apple care extended warranty please call so they can force the itunes store to take a look

Jan 24, 2012 4:32 AM in response to Alia2624

For those of you contacting Apple please point them to this thread. They all have access to the web. The discussion number is 17381480.


We can narrow some of these things down for them already:


It's not the network as we all have different networks with the same problem.


It's not the individual Apple TV as we all have different Apple TV boxes with the same problem. I personally have 2 Apple TVs connected, via Ethernet, to the same network both with the same problem.


It's not a problem with Firmware 4.4.4 as there are different Apple TVs here running 4.4.3 which are having the same problem.


The problem started happening to several Apple TV customers, on different networks, with different Apple TVs as of January 19th, 2012.


One thing you could all perhaps confirm, as we may be in different countries: are you all connected to the US (American) iTunes Store? I can confirm that all my TV show purchases come from the US iTunes store.


It appears obvious to me that the problem is something as regards the iTunes store and streaming protocols as we are all being interrupted in blocks of precisely 08:59 of streaming content.


Help!

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

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