How do I watch my iTunes purchases (tv series & movies) on my Smart TV?

UPDATE! I ran a HDMI cable from my computer to my TV and this time it worked fine, got sound and everything. The first time I tried this it was on a different TV (Element). This time I hooked it up to my Sharp Aquos and it worked fine. Hope this helps.

100% agree with your "shooting themselves in the foot comment." I have spent quite a bit elsewhere because of these issues. I love itunes set-up, but to pay an extra $100 just to watch what you have already purchased when I could get (and did get) a roku for $35 makes no sense and now with smart TVs - completely illogical. Apple if you are listening, this week alone your requirement for an apple TV stopped me from buying $80 of movies (which would have completely been an impulse buy with your sale). Oops!, but thank you for helping me save for retirement (many years away)! (Change it and you will have a customer for life).

Somthing like PLEX Server for Mac will allow you to setup 'channels' which can pass through iTunes/Apple content from iTunes. Your smart TV can then see the PLEX server and play the content, hopefully....

I have never tried this as I have a ATV doing the job so it may or may not work. i 'll give it a go at home tonight and see.

FYI. Plex does state clearly that it cannot play itunes content, but given a couple other places saying to try it, I did. Nope. Shame for immediate gratification. Win for savings.

Yeah sorry about that, I tried the Plex client on the Samsung TV, it can view the Apple files but cant play them

I do not own an Apple TV but am currently watching an HD TV program on my 50 inch plasma from the iPad 2. You just need the Apple AV HDMI adapter (expensive) and it streams no problem. Looks great as well.

Wow. Such an easy solution. Paid 80 bucks for an Apple TV. Best thing ever. All my purchased content right there. Plus a better solution for Netflix and hulu. Atv blows samsung smart applications away. Would have kept older tv and just bought this.

Hi olibear,

This is what we did:

We bought a Logiix Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter II

We connected that to my macbook pro then connected that to the HDMI cable.

Now you've got picture, next is sound.

Go to System Preferrences (in your macbook pro)

Click on sound

Then you will see "Internal Speakers" and your TV, click on your TV.

(your TV will show up only if you plug in the HDMI cable.)

I hope this was clear.

Brenda R.

Rent movies on Amazon. They play on Smart TVs. Save yourself all the troublesome computer plugs and wires and workarounds.

I don't have a smart tv, but will probably get one soon. I will be purchasing to upgrade my tv, and not for the "smart" feature, otherwise I would buy ATV. I too see no reason to purchase ATV as well. I'll just purchase/rent from Amazon, Netflix, etc.

The HDMI cable solution using a laptop or iPad (or even iPhone) works great while on the road with my kids! Thanks so much for help everyone!

Now... if Apple would implement some sort of disc to digital program for my Disney movies, that would be a HUGE step forward. Having to pay $20 more for a digital version of a movie I've owned a physical copy of for years is absurd. Please take a page out of the Vudu (technically Ultraviolet) playbook - it's been a lifesaver being able to pay a marginal fee ($1-$2.50) for digital copies & have them available for hotel rooms & road trips (certainly better than packing disks!). Problem is most of my Pixar & Disney stuff is unavailable for them to watch since I can't get reasonably priced digital versions on iTunes.

Install Medialink on your iMac, if your smart tv is dlna capable you could then share your iTunes library and your tv will pick it up.

Hi all - I am new to this. The family bought a movie from iTunes (to be run on a PC). It works fine on the laptop. Then, when we try and project to the TV using a VGA cable, we can see the laptop screen fine, but alas the movie won't play. Is this because it is blocked by Apple from being 'projected' onto other devices? Is the solution to buy an AppleTV device? Can't say I am impressed. Only downloaded it so that the kids would not download it illegally from other sites!!!! Any advice much appreciated

I Purchase occasional movies for viewing on my iPad while traveling. Mostly I rent them. Apple has always worked to lock you into their products. Personally I'm not crazy about their business practices so I'm mainly a PC guy. That said, try purchasing via Amazon Prime - you can view them easily through iPad or streaming TV.

I Also have this situation. I rented and purchased movies and now Apple has blocked me from watching them on any of my tvs. I used to plug this long hdmi cord from my IPad into tv and while cumbersome it worked. Now it won't let me even do this any longer. I have no intention of purchasing an Apple TV

Apple is so ahead of everyone in technology, but they really dropped the ball here. I can rent movies from my cable service or stream from Another service, so I won't be purchasing any more movies from Apple Until I hear that they have fixed this problem

J