HT203433: Get help using Automatic Downloads for purchased Apps, Music, and Books

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aymles

Q: Automatically download TV Subscription

My Windows machine used to automatically download subscribed TV shows.  Several iTunes upgrades ago it stopped.  I've had a technical support call and everything is "checked" correctly.  Any ideas?

iOS 6.1.4, iTunes

Posted on Sep 18, 2013 2:33 PM

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Q: Automatically download TV Subscription

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  • by DJChad,

    DJChad DJChad Oct 10, 2013 9:32 PM in response to aymles
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    Oct 10, 2013 9:32 PM in response to aymles

    I tried to post a reply, but Apple "automatically" removed it because they considered it a rant.  I will try to resummarize so its more "constructive."

     

    Yes, they took this feature away.  I do not know why and have not figured out a work around.  They suggested I turn on "show iTunes in the cloud purchases" in iTunes preferences.  I didnt necessarily find this better than going into the Store>Purchases>TV Shows and downloading 1 by 1, OR subscription to new content emails on my iTunes account (where I get emails when a new episode is available.  Here is my pro/con view of these three options:

     

    1) Show iTunes in the Cloud Purchase - for me this feature is not stable.  I have attempted to work with support to figure out why. The option will disable and disappear randomly.  It will also change what my watched/unwatched flags in my iTunes library to match who iTunes in the Cloud marks them.  The closed thing I have come to in Apple TV whatever is marked as "recent" is what is showing as "unwatched" in iTunes.  Personally, I want to go to AppleTV > Computers > TV Shows > Unwatched and just knock out my list when I have the time to enjoy what I have paid for. 

     

    2) Go into iTunes Store > Account > Manage Passes and check "email notifications" for each pass under "current passes."  This will send you an email when the new episodes is available for download.  You then have to go into your email on your iTunes computer and click the download now link.  It will pop up your web browser, and then iTunes, and then prompt you to download/cancel.  You repeat this for each email notification. Note, you may sometimes only get the last episode posted... which could be just the behind the scenese episode and not the episode its "behind."  For that you have then then go to #3.

     

    3) Go into iTunes Store > Purchased > TV Shows and click aon the button in upper right that says " not on this computer."  Then go to each show and download what you want.  Again its a rinse and repeat option just like #2. Also, I tend to find when I see the email and just go straight into this area of iTunes, I will find NOTHING.  So I have to go back to the email and click the download. 

     

    If #1 was reliable, it would not be so bad to just see the TV show episode in your library with the "download" button.  But I have tried to use it several times and its more trouble than its worth.  So I just use a combination of #2 and #3 until I know I have gotten everything.  But I rather miss the 2 clicks to Store > Check for Available Downloads.  Better, I had my iMac set to reboot every morning around 6am.  It would automatically start iTunes at login, which would trigger a check for downloads automatically.  So I didnt have to do anything really to keep my library updated. 

     

    I hope this help give you a few options and understand the challenged you may face.