iTunes movies

[Newt82]

Hi
I’m concidering upgrading my Apple TV. I currently have the 3rd gen device.
My question is can you download your purchased iTunes movies to the Apple TV. Or does it only steam? I know the the new Apple TVs come with storage options. So I assume is for offline content and apps. This is a deciding factor for me whever or not purchase the device. As I wish to watch 4K movies without having to stream due to internet issues I currently have.

 

[Hermes Monster]

It's streaming only, for movies/tv

The Apple TV 4 will however allow you to "buffer" the entire movie but doesn't download it as such. The 4K version doesn't even allow that, so you'll need 25mbps to watch any 4K iTunes content

Alternatively you can download your HD movies via iTunes to store locally, and then stream to the Apple TV (again, this is not an option with 4K movies)

 

[Newt82]

Ah bummer. Bit of a deal breaker at the moment. My internet speed is not very good for normal hd streaming, 4K streaming is certainly not on the cards unless it had a offline download mode. Until I can get faster internet I’ll wait and keep using my 3rd gen via my MacBook and airplay.

 

[priitv8]

...I’ll wait and keep using my 3rd gen via my MacBook and airplay.

If you are on AirPlay streaming anyway, then internet speed will only affect your download speeds. You can still stream and enjoy 4K content from your iTunes Library, via Home Sharing.

 

[Hermes Monster]

If you are on AirPlay streaming anyway, then internet speed will only affect your download speeds. You can still stream and enjoy 4K content from your iTunes Library, via Home Sharing.

No, you can't download 4K movies at all currently, even via iTunes for locally streaming.

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/21/itunes-4k-content-streaming-only/

 

[priitv8]

No, you can't download 4K movies at all currently, even via iTunes for locally streaming.

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/21/itunes-4k-content-streaming-only/

Yeah, I know.
Then again, iTunes Store is not a must or sole source of media for appleTV owner.
One can begin with own 4K movies taken with iPhone, for example.

 

[Hermes Monster]

Yeah, I know.
Then again, iTunes Store is not a must or sole source of media for appleTV owner.
One can begin with own 4K movies taken with iPhone, for example.

Sure, but the OP was specifically asking about their iTunes purchases. You could obviously store movies on a NAS/routrt connected HDD and stream via apps such as Plex, Infuse, VLC etc and bypass iTunes altogether

 

[phoenixXx]

One thing that bothers me with this, iTunes can lose the rights to some movies, rarely, but it happens. That's fine for HD movies as we can download a copy of this for backup. But for 4K movies that I buy, I cannot download a copy of this. What happens if these disappear from iTunes, I'll have a HD copy but not 4K which was the reason I paid for it.

 

[Hermes Monster]

One thing that bothers me with this, iTunes can lose the rights to some movies, rarely, but it happens. That's fine for HD movies as we can download a copy of this for backup. But for 4K movies that I buy, I cannot download a copy of this. What happens if these disappear from iTunes, I'll have a HD copy but not 4K which was the reason I paid for it.

The way I see it, you’re buying the HD copy but getting the 4K experience as an extra. It’s not great, but that’s price you pay for getting the free upgrades and avoid a price increase for new purchases.