Q: itunes is currently unavailable

KurtEP,

HDCP is a "High Definition Copyright Protection" placed on the files to prevent unauthorized viewing of content.

I've seen this myself when I share my HDMI sources between TV's. I had an HDMI switch from Monoprice.com which handled HDCP on most of my devices, but would fail on the Xbox for some reason. Perhaps you have a similar issue with a switch?

I've also seen this when the output device (ATV) and the input device (TV) don't properly communicate between each other. HDMI needs to have a "handshake" before the content can be viewed. Your ATV says, "Hello TV, are you an authorized source to play protected content?" The TV has a few moments to respond and say "Hello ATV, yes I am." If this takes too long, your content will not be displayed. If you have a HDMI pass-through device such as a integrated receiver (Yamaha, Pioneer, etc), that also needs to have a handshake...

The fix for this scenario is to turn off the TV and ATV and try again. If it keeps failing, you may have a bad HDMI cable or a bad HDMI output or input. There are a number of failure point in the HDMI world, depending on how you have yours setup.

Another method would be to "hot swap" your HDMI cable on both ends (at the ATV and TV). basically a "hot swap" is when you have your devices turned on and you unplug your HMDI cable from your sources, then plug them back in. I believe HMI allows this, but I can't remember. If you feel safer, turn off your devices, then unplug on both ends, then plug it back in.

Hope this helps!

Did this.  Worked last night.  No dice this am.

Add me to the growing list of people that cannot access any iTunes content thru Apple TV.

Two (2) Apple TV v3 and the iTunes store is unavailable to both. I've tried using airplay from the iMac a nd my other iDevices without luck. I always get the 'iTunes is currently unavailable. Try again later.' error message.

All other sources (Netflix, HBO, Showtime, etc) operate just fine.

I tried contacting support chat, but all they had my do the standard "have you restarted, it? Please sign-out of iTunes on your iMac, pPlease check your router, etc..."

Thanks, I am aware of that issue as well, but this most certainly is NOT that issue. I can't play music or vidoes purchased from iTunes (including using iTunes Match) on both my Apple TVs. I just get the iTunes is unavailable message.

I'm getting both issues and nothing will fix it. both This content requires HDCP for playback  error message on my MAC when i try to mirror/airplay and I-tunes is currently unavailable.

Wow, ok. Regardless, this must be a problem with Apple's servers. There's no other explanation for everybody having this issue. Oddly, it worked for me earlier today. Perhaps that means they're working on the problem...one can hope, anyway.

it would be nice if Apple would publicly tell their customers what is going on in a public forum!!!!

mrsnork,

Indeed. All of my content is failing as well; my issue is that the ATV won't connect to the iTunes library on my home shared computer.

My solution has been to unplug the ATV and use my PS3 to watch my UV content in Vudu. It removed all of the stress and made me a happy camper

As far as music, I'm just using Pandora via a bluetooth connection to my receiver. Stress free for tree decorating...

I'm sorry that I don't have a solution with the ATV. I just accepted the fact that its broken until they fix it. The end user (consumer) won't be able to fix this issue without Apple's know-how.

Thanks!

mrsnork wrote:

 

Wow, ok. Regardless, this must be a problem with Apple's servers. There's no other explanation for everybody having this issue. Oddly, it worked for me earlier today. Perhaps that means they're working on the problem...one can hope, anyway.

FWIW. This is far from a wide spread issue, everyone ISN'T having an issue. This thread only has 150 posts and many of them are from the same people, others are reporting entirely unrelated problems. I'm not dismissing the issue, but you need to put the problem (whatever it is) into context, the vast majority of Apple support staff may well be unaware of events.

Add me to the list.  Was able to purchase and play GotG last night; today nothing plays.  Except, of course, Netflix on the ATV, and all of my content on my other devices.

Oh, I agree with that generally, but there's clearly something going on with the server connection from the Apple servers to the effected ATVs. I didn't mean to imply ALL Apple TVs or users are having an issue. That said, there are numerous threads in the last few days on the issue, not just this one.

I've got the same issue... about ready to throw a cinder block through my TV...  https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/  shows all systems normal... I've reset everything.

Add this to the mystery of the iTunes store not being available:

I can access the material on the iTunes Extras. In other words, with the movies there is extra content (deleted scenes, gag reels, trailers, etc...). I can watch all that, just NOT the actual movie.

tncybercop: Ditto, the trailer for the TV show we bought when it first died has been viewable throughout. It just seems to be anything requiring authorization. Including (as mentioned above) iTunes Match music, TV shows, movies, ...

Worked fine last night, "itunes unavailable" error message today.