Disney Movies Showing as Available in 4K on iTunes Store in Select Countries

[musicman0725]

I’m noticing that newer digital copies which I redeemed through Movies Anywhere are showing up as 4K HDR, however digital copies that I redeemed through the older Disney Movies Anywhere (the retailer on Movies Anywhere is listed as Disney Movie Rewards) are showing in HD still. Titles where the retailer is listed as iTunes are upgraded.

EDIT: Noticing that although the titles don’t say 4K or play in HDR, they are playing with Atmos audio in HD (i.e. Moana)

 

[EugW]

Now we just need the original versions of Star Wars Episode IV-VI in 4K HDR.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I’m noticing that newer digital copies which I redeemed through Movies Anywhere are showing up as 4K HDR, however digital copies that I redeemed through the older Disney Movies Anywhere (the retailer on Movies Anywhere is listed as Disney Movie Rewards) are showing in HD still. Titles where the retailer is listed as iTunes are upgraded.

EDIT: Noticing that although the titles don’t say 4K or play in HDR, they are playing with Atmos audio in HD (i.e. Moana)

Yeah I don't think any of the titles that pushed into iTunes from Disney Movies Rewards will get the upgrade.

The behavior is going to follow like the other 4K MA studios: 1) Redeem HD code into iTunes directly 2) Redeem 4K code via Movies Anywhere 3) Buy the title directly from iTunes.

 

[musicman0725]

Yeah I don't think any of the titles that pushed into iTunes from Disney Movies Rewards will get the upgrade.

The behavior is going to follow like the other 4K MA studios: 1) Redeem HD code into iTunes directly 2) Redeem 4K code via Movies Anywhere 3) Buy the title directly from iTunes.

Yeah what’s interesting though is I am seeing them upgrade HD digital copies that I had redeemed through MA but not the ones I redeemed with their older DMA system.

 

[appleallthetime]

Have to say most of you that are jumping to conclusions as to why some of your movies are still HD and some got the upgrade are just plain wrong.

All of my Disney movies were redeemed through Disney’s movie redemption website that issues an iTunes code. This morning some movies were 4k others weren’t, now many more have upgraded. This is typically any time there’s an upgrade in iTunes, some users have to wait. I’ve heard it all, trust me you’re not being singled out, you’ll get the 4k upgrade if it’s available just be patient.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Yeah what’s interesting though is I am seeing them upgrade HD digital copies that I had redeemed through MA but not the ones I redeemed with their older DMA system.

That shouldn't be correct.

 

[musicman0725]

Have to say most of you that are jumping to conclusions as to why some of your movies are still HD and some got the upgrade are just plain wrong.

All of my Disney movies were redeemed through Disney’s movie redemption website that issues an iTunes code. This morning some movies were 4k others weren’t, now many more have upgraded. This is typically any time there’s an upgrade in iTunes, some users have to wait. I’ve heard it all, trust me you’re not being singled out, you’ll get the 4k upgrade if it’s available just be patient.

Agreed this will likely be corrected and if not, it’s in 4K on D+

 

[musicman0725]

That shouldn't be correct.

Big Hero 6 is a title that was upgraded for me. I own the blu-ray and redeemed a digital copy. On MA, the retailer is listed as MA instead of DMR. In MA it shows HD, in iTunes it’s 4K Vision/Atmos.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Interestingly, the iTunes codes out there for Star Trek 4K cost a lot more than the codes for Star Trek: Beyond and Star Trek: Into The Darkness, presumably partially because we all got Beyond and Into The Darkness upgraded for free to 4K, while Star Trek didn't get upgraded.

The original Star Trek 1080p Blu-ray release contained an SD digital copy. The 4K Blu-ray included an HD digital copy that could be redeemed on iTunes in 4K. The 1080p Blu-ray releases of Beyond and Into The Darkness included HD iTunes codes as well as the 4K UltraHD Blu-rays.

In other words, a whole lot more codes that can be redeemed for 4K in iTunes for the latter two films than the first one.

 

[garylapointe]

yeah i just checked in my appleTV and ipad and TONS of Disney movies i own have suddenly appeared in the 4K HDR section! took a while, but i'm finally glad my purchases were upgraded

I'm in the US and my 4k HDR section has not updated yet (I force quit it and started again).
Edit: Although, and I don't think it should matter, I think my ATV 4k is still running tvOS 13.x.

When I look on my phone, I see the 4k "bug" that I'm pretty sure hadn't been there for the Disney/Marvel movies that I owned, but that manner of checking has changed a few times and I don't know if I've looked since iOS 14.

If this is the case that means all my 4k movies will be in iTunes. I'll only have some D2D content in Vudu for the rest of my collection ($2 to convert my movies from physical media, was too hard to pass up).

 

[BeatCrazy]

Big Hero 6 is a title that was upgraded for me. I own the blu-ray and redeemed a digital copy. On MA, the retailer is listed as MA instead of DMR. In MA it shows HD, in iTunes it’s 4K Vision/Atmos.

That is behavior that is unlikely to be repeatable.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Big Hero 6 is a title that was upgraded for me. I own the blu-ray and redeemed a digital copy. On MA, the retailer is listed as MA instead of DMR. In MA it shows HD, in iTunes it’s 4K Vision/Atmos.

Yeah I still can't image how this would work.

I also had a version I redeemed via DMR:


Then, I redeemed the same code via MA in 2017:


^^^ Neither of those showed 4K in iTunes today!

However, I did buy a code this morning, redeemed in iTunes directly, and now I have 4K entitlement via all applicable services:

 

[musicman0725]

That is behavior that is unlikely to be repeatable.

Yes it will vary because you will have to have redeemed a non-4K digital copy through MA rather than the older system. This is what you would look for.

 

[fruitpunch.ben]

BTW, I bought most of those movies for $2 as digital codes only.

How?

 

[JonDiesel]

I’m noticing that newer digital copies which I redeemed through Movies Anywhere are showing up as 4K HDR, however digital copies that I redeemed through the older Disney Movies Anywhere (the retailer on Movies Anywhere is listed as Disney Movie Rewards) are showing in HD still. Titles where the retailer is listed as iTunes are upgraded.

EDIT: Noticing that although the titles don’t say 4K or play in HDR, they are playing with Atmos audio in HD (i.e. Moana)

I am noticing this as well. I double checked a bunch of my movies from way back when and couldn't find them in my Purchases under Account settings, and realized they were movies I had redeemed in Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA). I must have about 20 movies or so I did this with.

Back at that time, all the Disney physical Blu-Rays were coming with DMA codes that encouraged you to redeem them through that specific website (disneymoviesanywhere.com), and then it would transfer over into iTunes.

It sucks that they are not honoring that redeemed code as a "purchase" in iTunes, seeing as that was a program Disney themselves started. Now if I want those movies in 4K on my iTunes I may have to buy them all over again

 

[EugW]

How?

I got most of my Star Wars codes from another Canadian forum user (on a different forum) who bought all the discs but had no use for the digital codes. He sent me scans of his code inserts.

However, you can also buy them from various online sellers. Prices vary based on demand and availability. iTunes codes usually carry a premium though. Codes for other movie streaming sites are often cheaper. Check out www.uvspider.com but check the seller reviews before before buying.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Yes it will vary because you will have to have redeemed a non-4K digital copy through MA rather than the older system. This is what you would look for.

EDIT:

I see your screenshots but that doesn't necessarily confirm 4K. The AppleTV iOS app appears to currently have a glitch. I can see from your "4K" screenshot you were browsing by "Disney". When you do that, the title will show as 4K, even though you likely only have HD entitlement.

To confirm, either:
1) Go into the TV app and look under Library-Watch in HDR-See All. I would not expect to see Big Hero 6 in there for yours.
2) Watch the Movies app via AppleTV 4K. When watching Big Hero 6, you can press menu, and you will see it's in HD or 4K.

I can replicate by looking at Frozen, which I absolutely do not own in 4K, even though the app would lead me to believe so.

 

[musicman0725]

EDIT:

I see your screenshots but that doesn't necessarily confirm 4K. The AppleTV iOS app appears to currently have a glitch. I can see from your "4K" screenshot you were browsing by "Disney". When you do that, the title will show as 4K, even though you likely only have HD entitlement.

To confirm, either:
1) Go into the TV app and look under Library-Watch in HDR-See All. Big Hero 6 will not be there in yours.
2) Watch the Movies app via AppleTV 4K. When watching Big Hero 6, you can press menu, and you will see it's in HD.

I can replicate by looking at Frozen, which I absolutely do not own in 4K, even though the app would lead me to believe so.

I didn’t try playback before but I can confirm now that playback is also 4K/HDR. My TV indicates HDR and this is what I see in the TV app on my ATV4K with the title.

For what it’s worth it was the 3D blu-ray version of Big Hero 6 that I redeemed through MA. I also have the 3D version of other Disney movies redeemed through DMA which are still HD.

EDIT: And here is a picture of my TV showing HDR playback (match range and frame rate are both enabled)

 

[HiRez]

This must apply for only new purchases. None of my previous purchases were upgraded like other studios did.

Yeah, same for me, sucks. But, sometimes iTunes 4K upgrades take time to ripple through the system and at times they've even gone back and forth between HD and 4K a few times before settling in, so fingers crossed.

EDIT: Problem seems to only apply to iOS, there all my Disney-owned movies still appear as HD (other movies show 4K). But then I checked on my 4K Apple TV and it appears all (or at least most) Disney movies are now 4K (even really old ones like Beauty & The Beast), not only that but most seem to support Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision as well. Awesome day!! Good job Disney for finally resolving this, it restores my faith. Now I won't have to hesitate buying new Disney movies on iTunes.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I didn’t try playback before but I can confirm now that playback is also 4K/HDR. My TV indicates HDR and this is what I see in the TV app on my ATV4K with the title.

For what it’s worth it was the 3D blu-ray version of Big Hero 6 that I redeemed through MA. I also have the 3D version of other Disney movies redeemed through DMA which are still HD.

EDIT: And here is a picture of my TV showing HDR playback (match range and frame rate are both enabled)

You gotcha a unicorn there Can't say I've read about anyone else getting that same kind of HD->MA->iTunes 4K upgrade.

 

[Tech198]

Givin' the issue Apple had when not all 4K movies slapped with the "4K-logo" were actually 4k, how can we really trust these logs anyway?

It can extend far beyond Apple.

 

[musicman0725]

Yeah, same for me, sucks. But, sometimes iTunes 4K upgrades take time to ripple through the system and at times they've even gone back and forth between HD and 4K a few times before settling in, so fingers crossed.

Yeah, some of mine are upgraded and some are not yet. Hoping all of them will be upgraded. Everything I own is either purchased through iTunes, Vudu in 4K, or redeemed directly through Disney Movies Anywhere or Movies Anywhere as a digital copy from a blu-ray. With other movies that have been upgraded (not Disney) I’ve found that when I find out a title has been upgraded it can be a few days before it gets upgraded in my library.

 

[hface119]

They actually removed some of those movies? I have quite a bit of those and I don't think I experienced any removal.

it was the InstaWatch Walmart titles that redeem to Vudu and then port to iTunes via Movies Anywhere. I had always thought iTunes treated these as true purchases, but when Vudu took action to make sure those types of redeemed codes matched an email address of the Walmart account they were purchased with, those that didn’t were removed from my Vudu account and also the other synced services like iTunes. I didn’t know how this all worked or where the codes came from until after they were removed and I did some research. I had assumed they were just resold codes 🤷🏼‍♂️

it was maybe 10 movies out of my 400 so not overly worried about it. Come to think of it I also had Cap America 1, Thor 1 and Iron Man 1 removed from my library too and those were true disc redemptions. I think the thing there was something about the sale to Disney and those having come out prior, I forget precisely but those are still in my Vudu account just not iTunes.

 

[EugW]

Yeah what’s interesting though is I am seeing them upgrade HD digital copies that I had redeemed through MA but not the ones I redeemed with their older DMA system.

Hmmm. Did some of my non-Disney titles get downgraded? I also have a secondary US iTunes account which I used with Movies Anywhere to link from Google Play, etc. and I was sure that my Mad Max: Fury Road had previously been upgraded to 4K. However now it is showing HD. Also my Fifth Element is currently HD.

Some of my other HD titles are ET, The Spider-Man Trilogy (2002 on), Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. These latter titles are all from 4K UHD discs.

BTW, my on-screen thumbnail for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (also HD) is bigger than all the others, which is very confusing since it always looks like it’s selected.

 

[bommai]

I don’t even need “Hi-Res”, which would be nice. All I’m asking for is standard CD quality lossless. Seems like every streaming service but Apple offers this.

That is why I subscribe to Tidal HiFi. Great sound in my good quality speakers.