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Level 3

588 points

TV episdodes for purchased seasons have stopped downloading. Check for Available Downloads is broken.

Usually, I have an applescript that runs from the mail client to automatically check for available purchases whenever an email from apple is received stating that new episodes are available to download.

In the last week, this has stopped working, so I have been attempting it manually, but when I go to Store-->Check for Available Downloads... I get the message that All purchases have been downloaded for this AppleID...

I can also click the link in the email that says there are new episodes for my purchased season, but this does not download the new episodes.

I have had this issue this week with updates for 2 different TV seasons.

Obviously, something is broken.

I know that I can click on the store menu, click on the purchased link, click on the tv season, click on the option for not already on this computer, click on the tv season with new episodes, click on the download button for the new episodes to download...... but I don't want to do all of that.

If anyone has a way to restore the functionality of "Check for Available Downloads..." for purchased TV seasons, I would appreciate a response here.

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 10:37 AM

159 replies

Shinn 63

Level 1

40 points

Mar 27, 2013 6:54 AM in response to davidsignal

Ok, that helps. So all of this just started happening recently.(Btw, stay with 10 as long as you can RandomPrime, I regret going to 11 :/) my guess is that apple may have changed the way they distribute the movies on the iTunes software and that it is conflicting with previously written code. My only suggestion that I can offer is deleting the season and redownloading it. I've had issues with song albums that I have downloaded. It has worked for my music when iTunes says that I have downloaded all downloads, but I have never tried it for videos. I have never bought a video from iTunes, if someone wants to try it and post the result that might help.

(Apologies for any bad grammar or spelling, I'm typing from my iPhone)

SMB-IL

Level 1

30 points

Mar 27, 2013 7:23 AM in response to Shinn 63

Yes, they're going to have to pry v10.7 from my cold, dead hands! iTunes 11 is just awful. On topic: the "Check for Available Downloads" worked this morning for a show that I got the "Episode available" email this morning. There seems to be some movement on this issue from Apple.

davidsignal Author

Level 3

588 points

Mar 27, 2013 7:31 AM in response to Shinn 63

Shinn, since you seem to be unfamiliar with our problem, I will give explain it again:

iTunes allows users to purchase passes to current TV seasons. This pass applies to the whole season, even episodes that have not yet aired and are not yet available on iTunes. When the next episode in the season airs, users get an email from iTunes stating that there is a new download available for the purchased season pass. Previously, users could click a link in the email, or they could select "check for available downloads" in iTunes, and the new episode would download. This easy way to get the next episode in a current season is not working.

Yes, we know how to get the episodes by other methods that require more work and are not user-friendly. We want the user-friendly method of simply checking for available downloads to work again.

SMB, Thats great! I hope it is fixed!

Mar 27, 2013 7:54 AM in response to SMB-IL

SMB -- if you don't mind the question, can you tell us what show it was? In my case, Justified worked, just curious if any other shows worked, or just the one.

SMB-IL

Level 1

30 points

Mar 27, 2013 8:16 AM in response to RandomPrime

Yes, it was the latest episode of "Smash" (don't judge!) Just yesterday morning, the latest episode of "Bates Motel" DIDN'T download, so I'm hopeful....

Mar 28, 2013 12:33 AM in response to SMB-IL

SMB -- No worries, I don't even know what that show is, but I watch my fair share of shows that no one else likes (e.g. Metalocalypse).

In any event, this morning a show (Psych) that did not work last week, worked! I actually hit "check for available downloads" before I got the email, but it started downloading the show. So, something seems to have been fixed. Hope it stays that way...

davidsignal Author

Level 3

588 points

Mar 28, 2013 6:12 AM in response to RandomPrime

It worked for me today also, to download the latest episode of Arrow, which did not work last week.

E V

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2013 7:16 AM in response to Jasper337

This solution worked for me this morningl with Top of the Lake. 🙂 I was in contact with a nice but no so helpful person from the iTunes store. I received an email Tuesday AM that the episode was available for download, but could get nothing until this morning. Thanks!

davidsignal Author

Level 3

588 points

Mar 28, 2013 7:40 AM in response to E V

E V wrote:

This solution worked for me this morningl with Top of the Lake. 🙂 I was in contact with a nice but no so helpful person from the iTunes store. I received an email Tuesday AM that the episode was available for download, but could get nothing until this morning. Thanks!

What solution? Users are starting to notice that "check for available downloads" has appeared to start working again for the latest episodes to our TV shows. Is this what you experienced? I think that the issue was that Apple broke something quietly and the solution was that Apple quietly fixed it after users called attention to it.

Mar 28, 2013 1:15 PM in response to davidsignal

Agree that something has changed or been fixed - clicked the check downloads - and three seperate shows started downloading - this is very promising - hopefully it is fixed permanently now.

abnewlin

Level 1

0 points

Mar 28, 2013 2:59 PM in response to davidsignal

I, too, am having problems. Revolution did not automatically download, and now they want me to pay again for season 1. Also, The Americans seemed to have had their 9th episode last night (according to FX's website; tvguide says something else). It also did not automatically download for me. I reset the cache, as another user indicated, but that did not resolve the issue. Any help is grateful!

E V

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2013 4:38 PM in response to davidsignal

Well, the solution of checking in the iTunes store for purchased items, clicking on TV Shows and bring up Top of the Lake did enable me to download Episode 3. Good so far. When I viewed the Episode tonight, I noticed the soundtrack is way off. The characters voices are not audible. 😐 I thought it was good to go. I have emailed iTunes help again and will await their response.

davidsignal Author

Level 3

588 points

Mar 28, 2013 10:13 PM in response to abnewlin

abnewlin, I think you might have a separate issue. I will wait until my next season updates at the beginning of next week, but if 'check for downloads' works to download the new episode, I will mark this thread as solved. Credit to mkbrogers with the definitive answer of 3 separate season passes successfully downloading using the check for downloads.

Mar 28, 2013 11:45 PM in response to davidsignal

agreed , probably wise to leave open until early next week just in case - I have some more shows over the weekend that should download as well - so will post back again if they work as well.

E V

Level 1

8 points

Mar 29, 2013 6:19 AM in response to mkbrogers

I'm a novice to these discussions, and may still be posting in the wrong area. Dunno. I was able to download a good version (with sound) of Episode 3, Top fo the Lake last night. Here is an email I got from iTunes help:

Hello Eric,

Greetings from Apple! This is Anjoe, your iTunes Store Advisor for today and I understand that you're having difficulties with the episode you purchased. I apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused you, Eric.

But don't worry. I got your back and I have good news for you.

I have replaced the 3rd episode with a fresh copy back to your account. Please follow these steps to initiate the download, free of charge:

1) Make sure you're using the latest version of iTunes. It can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple website:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download

Note: Installing the latest version of iTunes will not affect your library or any items in your account that you haven't downloaded.

2) From the Store menu at the top, choose Check for Available Downloads. You can also click this link to do the same thing:

https://buy.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/checkForPurchases

3) Enter your account name and password, then click the Check button.

The item(s) should begin downloading and appear in your library.

Is there anything else I can help you with today, Eric?

I wish everything goes well and enjoy the rest of the day.

Should there be any concerns that will arise, Anjoe, your iTunes Store Advisor is just an email away!

Take care, Eric.

Sincerely,

Anjoe

iTunes Store / Mac App Store Customer Support

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/

... Also, I received an email that a new episode of Scandal was available. I opened iTunes and clicked on "Check for Available Downloads". That new episode is downloading right now. So this issue seems solved for me. I don't know why the very difficult time with Top of the Lake, though. Perhaps I'll find out next week.

TV episdodes for purchased seasons have stopped downloading. Check for Available Downloads is broken.