Apple TV 4 Spinning Wheel TV Purchases

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Level 1

40 points

Apple TV 4 Spinning Wheel TV Purchases

Very often - for the past month or two - whenever I try to watch a purchased TV show, the screen will begin to open the program that I select but then the Spinning Wheel appears indefinitely until I back out by hitting the menu or home button or double clicking the home button & close the app. It never actually opens the purchased show to allow me to select an episode from the given tv show. I can watch the exact tv show on my laptop via itunes or in another room in my house with my older 3rd gen Apple TV so I know that this is not a network issue on my end. I can also do a search of the exact TV show on the very same Apple TV 4 and watch it that way.

Additionally, I normally keep the Apple TV 4 connected via ethernet but whenever I experience this problem (which is very often lately with TV purchases) I have tried using wifi instead to see if that helps but the problem continues. Again, no problem watching these same TV shows on macbook air via itunes or on my older 3rd gen Apple TV.

I have done hard resets each time, logged out & back in to itunes, cleared everything from Apple TV 4 by restoring settings, closed all open apps but still have the same problem with the TV show not loading & the never-ending spinning wheel.

This has been an issue that I’ve experienced off and on with the 4th gen ever since I purchased it a few months after the 4th gen initially came out and it seems to only happen with my TV purchases. Don’t recall having the issue with my Movie purchases.

I’m wondering if it has something to do with the Apple TV 4 servers that my specific itunes account is linking to or attempting to connect to. Especially since - as I mentioned - I can immediately watch the same given tv show on my older 3rd gen or on my Macbook air using itunes.

Anyone know what’s going on and have a solution?

-Thanks!

Apple TV, iOS 10.3.2, Apple TV 4 generation

Posted on Jul 6, 2017 6:54 PM

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Answer 1

vazandrew

Level 8

40,996 points

Jul 6, 2017 7:58 PM in response to tmmdg

Other devices working doesn't rule out a network issue. Have you tried streaming a movie to see if the issue occurs? Other services adapt to the connection so they wouldn't be an apt comparison.

Make sure DNS is set to auto (settings-network)

Test on another network

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Answer 2

tmmdg Author

Level 1

40 points

Jul 6, 2017 9:07 PM in response to vazandrew

Yes, I can still stream purchased movies. The issue is only affecting my TV purchases not my Movie purchases. Additionally, I can stream any content from the Netflix, Vimeo and youtube apps as well - all on the Apple TV 4. The DNS setting is set to auto(I’ve never changed the default). I have also tried this 4th gen Apple TV at my brother’s house on his network & get this same issue with my TV Purchases only. Thanks

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Answer 3

Jul 10, 2017 7:48 PM in response to tmmdg

I have the same issue and have not been able figure it out. Other streaming devices, I own, have no issue, but Apple TV just spins when I try and play certain TV shows. It's an on and off issue. I have gigabit internet service so it's not a bandwidth issue. I have also replaced routers and used ethernet without success.

Sometimes when I completely unplug the power and replug it in of the Apple TV it fixes the issue temporarily. A reboot by holding the play and menu buttons does not fix the issue. Nor does a factory reset. This was also an issue with the Apple TV 3 as well and I think it must be related to my account, since it has happened across Apple TV devices. I have reported it to Apple in the past with no fix.

I am not sure if its related but the new TV app on my iPhone takes forever to open as well most of the time. It seems that there is something that is causing iTunes purchased content to periodically hang even on my phone.

Ill let you know if I find any solution 🙂

Mike C

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Answer 4

Jul 11, 2017 3:51 AM in response to tmmdg

Hey

So I did a little bit of experimental testing last night and I was able to get things working for the last few hours without unplugging the Apple TV.

I changed the dns for my wireless network from automatic to manual and set it to 4.2.2.1 in the Apple tvs network settings. After making this change both of my Apple TVs that were experiencing this issue are now able to load the purchased tv shows that were having issues before. Hopefully this is not just a temporary fix. I'll keep you posted.

Mike C

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