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Issues with Itunes Movies

flakk-jakket

flakk-jakket

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 2, 2019
27
37
AZ
All, I am new here and having some weirdness happening.

I have an AppleTV 4K and recently got a 4k TV. I noticed that a bunch of HD movies I had bought over the years were playing in SD.

Here is how the weirdness happens: I have a movie I mistakenly bought in SD (Donnie Brasco). If I go tot he movie store and then to 90's essentials for $4.99 and go to that movie, it has a button to but for $4.99 or add to want list. Perfect. If I got to Misery (same category) it shows in HD and I have a button to PLAY as I own the HD version. Perfect.

But when I go to Reservoir Dogs it has the PLAY button instead of the buy button, but at the top the HD logo isn't there. Like it knows I have the HD version but wants to only play the SD version. I can replicate this on a ton of movies.

Apple Support said I bought the SD version but since 99% of the movies I buy are through Apple TV and I only show the HD movies, and these are all available in HD that argument doesn't hold water. Plus I know these were playing in HD before. Plus, that doesn't explain why I, if I supposedly only have the SD version, why I don't get the BUY button instead of the PLAY button like I do with Donnie Brasco.

I appreciate any help!
 
Hi buddy. The old SD movies can be 'hidden' from your account. Delete the SD movie. It will disappear from your Apple TV screen and you'll be able to play the bought HD one. You can always 'unhide' a deleted movie by going into your iTunes account.
 
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BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
Hi buddy. The old SD movies can be 'hidden' from your account. Delete the SD movie. It will disappear from your Apple TV screen and you'll be able to play the bought HD one. You can always 'unhide' a deleted movie by going into your iTunes account.
Click to expand...
So when I go tot he movie store in iTunes, it says I have the SD version and that I can buy the HD version. On my AppleTV it doesn't prompt me to buy the HD version but instead offers me the SD version to play.

Makes no sense. And I know I bought the HD version
 
flakk-jakket said:
So when I go tot he movie store in iTunes, it says I have the SD version and that I can buy the HD version. On my AppleTV it doesn't prompt me to buy the HD version but instead offers me the SD version to play.

Makes no sense. And I know I bought the HD version
Click to expand...
Do you have iTunes on your computer? If so, click the info button and file. It will say the date that you bought it. Go into your accounts and your bill/invoice will be there. It will confirm on that whether it was a HD purchase or not. Also, you'll see under file the size of the film that's a great way to know whether it's SD or HD owned!

Even though I've used Apple TV for the last 8 years, I ALWAYS buy my iTunes purchases on my MacBook. I just feel that I have more control with it - maybe because it has a proper keypad & I'm used to using it for any hours a day etc.
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
Do you have iTunes on your computer? If so, click the info button and file. It will say the date that you bought it. Go into your accounts and your bill/invoice will be there. It will confirm on that whether it was a HD purchase or not. Also, you'll see under file the size of the film that's a great way to know whether it's SD or HD owned!

Even though I've used Apple TV for the last 8 years, I ALWAYS buy my iTunes purchases on my MacBook. I just feel that I have more control with it - maybe because it has a proper keypad & I'm used to using it for any hours a day etc.
Click to expand...
Well thats another conundrum. I did just as you said last week and they don't say they are HD movies. But if they weren't HD then it should prompt me to buy the HD version rather than showing me the SD version. On top of that, these are all HD movies and I always buy via AppleTV and I don't see the SD versions. I don't even remember how to even see them let alone buy them. And every one of these movies were bought on sale (as are nearly all the movies I buy).
 
flakk-jakket said:
Well thats another conundrum. I did just as you said last week and they don't say they are HD movies. But if they weren't HD then it should prompt me to buy the HD version rather than showing me the SD version. On top of that, these are all HD movies and I always buy via AppleTV and I don't see the SD versions. I don't even remember how to even see them let alone buy them. And every one of these movies were bought on sale (as are nearly all the movies I buy).
Click to expand...

If they don't say that they are HD on your receipt, then sadly, you have bought the SD version. I've never bought films directly from the ATV so I'm not sure but is there a setting on the menu for purchase with 'Buy in SD, buy in HD?'

All is not lost. I'm sure that if you Email Apple with the genuine mistake that you bought a film in SD and meant to buy in HD, they may help you to buy the HD version. That's good customer practice and they may help.
Is it also possible that you bought a film in SD because many years ago, the film may not have been available to buy from iTunes in HD?
The UK was very very behind the USA with this. Sure we had new releases in HD from 2010 or so BUT it took until 2014 for our older films to have a HD option!
Sadly I bought Meet Joe Black in SD as that was the only option in 2013. Now of course, it is available to buy in HD. Sure it would be lovely if you could pay £1 and have an upgrade but Apple doesn't offer this - maybe too few SD purchases around now.
Good luck with it all!
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
If they don't say that they are HD on your receipt, then sadly, you have bought the SD version. I've never bought films directly from the ATV so I'm not sure but is there a setting on the menu for purchase with 'Buy in SD, buy in HD?'

All is not lost. I'm sure that if you Email Apple with the genuine mistake that you bought a film in SD and meant to buy in HD, they may help you to buy the HD version. That's good customer practice and they may help.
Is it also possible that you bought a film in SD because many years ago, the film may not have been available to buy from iTunes in HD?
The UK was very very behind the USA with this. Sure we had new releases in HD from 2010 or so BUT it took until 2014 for our older films to have a HD option!
Sadly I bought Meet Joe Black in SD as that was the only option in 2013. Now of course, it is available to buy in HD. Sure it would be lovely if you could pay £1 and have an upgrade but Apple doesn't offer this - maybe too few SD purchases around now.
Good luck with it all!
Click to expand...
Nope. I cannot see the SD versions to buy unless the movie was only on iTunes in SD. I assure you I bought the HD versions. It looks like about 2 dozen movies. Maybe more.
 
Very easy to clarify. Simply just check your receipts. They are all there in your account. Find your purchase date by setting 'Info' and then 'File' on the movie.
It will INSTANTLY say HD if it does not, then you've bought the SD version.
If it says HD then Apple will sought it for you.

Not a problem once you've checked your invoice. As I said, they are all there in your account :)
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
Very easy to clarify. Simply just check your receipts. They are all there in your account. Find your purchase date by setting 'Info' and then 'File' on the movie.
It will INSTANTLY say HD if it does not, then you've bought the SD version.
If it says HD then Apple will sought it for you.

Not a problem once you've checked your invoice. As I said, they are all there in your account :)
Click to expand...
Well then somehow, without having the option of buying SD movies-I bought SD movies. Which means I lost a ton of money. I'll never buy another movie through itunes again.
[doublepost=1546534132][/doublepost]
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
Very easy to clarify. Simply just check your receipts. They are all there in your account. Find your purchase date by setting 'Info' and then 'File' on the movie.
It will INSTANTLY say HD if it does not, then you've bought the SD version.
If it says HD then Apple will sought it for you.

Not a problem once you've checked your invoice. As I said, they are all there in your account :)
Click to expand...
But that raises the question. If I can only see HD movies and go find a movie I supposedly bought in SD, it doesn't offer me the option to upgrade, only play (not in HD).
 
flakk-jakket said:
Well then somehow, without having the option of buying SD movies-I bought SD movies. Which means I lost a ton of money. I'll never buy another movie through itunes again.
[doublepost=1546534132][/doublepost]
But that raises the question. If I can only see HD movies and go find a movie I supposedly bought in SD, it doesn't offer me the option to upgrade, only play (not in HD).
Click to expand...

Have you checked your invoices? Then, you can get it sorted with Apple. Stop worrying and check your invoices.
If you bought a film in SD and want to rebut but in HD, simply DELETE the SD film from your iTunes Library. You will then be able to buy in HD.
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
Have you checked your invoices? Then, you can get it sorted with Apple. Stop worrying and check your invoices.
If you bought a film in SD and want to rebut but in HD, simply DELETE the SD film from your iTunes Library. You will then be able to buy in HD.
Click to expand...
My invoices do not say HD. But since I don't have the option of buying SD..... No idea how that works. And if Donnie Brasco is SD and it asks me to upgrade, then why not the ones I feel I bought in HD?
 
flakk-jakket said:
My invoices do not say HD. But since I don't have the option of buying SD..... No idea how that works. And if Donnie Brasco is SD and it asks me to upgrade, then why not the ones I feel I bought in HD?
Click to expand...
If your invoices do not say 'HD' then you've bought to SD version. The invoice will ALWAYS state HD if you bought or even rented the HD version.
The ones that you feel that you've bought in HD simply check your invoices.

Case closed.
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
If your invoices do not say 'HD' then you've bought to SD version. The invoice will ALWAYS state HD if you bought or even rented the HD version.
The ones that you feel that you've bought in HD simply check your invoices.

Case closed.
Click to expand...
So explain how I can't select SD but somehow got SD anyway. I can't wait to hear your answer
 
Sorry to hear of your situation. iTunes is not as clear as it could be. If I scroll down before purchasing the ITunes movie it will give you the option if another format is available i.e. SD or HD for example) - see attached photo. It is not something I have given Munich thought in the past when purchasing a movie on ITunes. I just click on buy it and expect it to be HD but will now always check.
 

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Update: After not going into Movies on the ATV for a couple of weeks I suddenly had exactly 20 movies in my recent section. These were all movies I had on my list of movies (I owned) that were now SD. And all the movies in the recents are now HD. Ya don't say......

There's still 14 movies I know I bought in HD that aren't.

Bummer I guess because I've made the move to BRD and hit an estate sale where I grabbed 20+ movies on BR for $2 each. Oh well.
 
flakk-jakket said:
Update: After not going into Movies on the ATV for a couple of weeks I suddenly had exactly 20 movies in my recent section. These were all movies I had on my list of movies (I owned) that were now SD. And all the movies in the recents are now HD. Ya don't say......

There's still 14 movies I know I bought in HD that aren't.

Bummer I guess because I've made the move to BRD and hit an estate sale where I grabbed 20+ movies on BR for $2 each. Oh well.
Click to expand...


There's something SERIOUSLY wrong with either your Apple TV or Apple I.D. / Account.
This is not normal behaviour for either iTunes or Apple.

I suggest that a technician sorts this out for you.

Something has gone seriously wrong with your Apple I.D. account. Sounds like it's been corrupted/hacked.
 
BODYBUILDERPAUL said:
There's something SERIOUSLY wrong with either your Apple TV or Apple I.D. / Account.
This is not normal behaviour for either iTunes or Apple.

I suggest that a technician sorts this out for you.

Something has gone seriously wrong with your Apple I.D. account. Sounds like it's been corrupted/hacked.
Click to expand...
I've talked to 3 different reps. Showed them the oddities I see and all dismissed me. I don't care anymore.

I've moved on from iTunes and that garbage. I merely posted this in case anyone else runs into any of this.
 
Whilst the thread starter appears to have moved on, here’s my experience of sd/hd purchases.

Because of my unreliable broadband at times, after I have purchased a movie, I immediately download it to iTunes on my windows pc and Airplay as and when using Apple TV which for me works perfectly. I’ve had to invest in local storage of course.

Here’s the rub. Twice, over the last couple of years, after I have updated windows iTunes, I have airplayed a movie and it didn’t seem to be hd. In iTunes/preferences/ downloads, I found that my setting “download full hd movies” had been replaced by “download sd videos” for some reason, even though I paid for hd. So, I changed the setting back, deleted the affected movies which were sd, went back to iTunes and re-downloaded them, and I got the full hd copies.

This is just the way I do it. Had I streamed these movies from the cloud then I would have presumably got what I paid for i.e hd. Why the settings were changed I don’t know. After every iTunes update, I now check this setting.

My take - just sayin’
 
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