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Searching for movies JUST on Movies on Apple TV

pacmania1982

pacmania1982

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 19, 2006
1,224
630
Birmingham, UK
Guys:

I have a conundrum: In the old days, I'd buy my movies in iTunes then stream them on the Apple TV. As I no longer have iTunes, I'm using the TV app. I've searched for a movie but rather than it showing as available or not on what I'm going to call the iTunes Store - it's showing for third party apps. I don't want this as I want to add some movies my library.

An example is: Aguirre, Wrath of God - on my Apple TV using the Apple TV App - it shows as being available but it's on Amazon or something called BFI Player.

Does anyone know how to limit the search results to just what Apple offers excluding the third parties?

Thanks
 
I noticed something similar in the TV app and mentioned it in passing in another thread. I was searching for an old 1950's science fiction film, didn't really expect them to have it but thought it was worth a try. Was surprised when it actually found the film, but it was actually something available for streaming IF you subscribed to some streaming service. Again - not what I wanted, I already have streaming, I also wanted a copy for my library.

With the new TV app, I get the feeling that searches always return some kind of result, even if they don't have what you're looking for. Have searched for other relatively obscure films and gotten several hits, none of which were the film I searched for and kind of baffling why they were relevant at all. I think they just don't want to miss an opportunity to sell you something. 😁

I don't know of a way to limit search result but would be interested, if it exists.
 
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Boyd01 said:
I noticed something similar in the TV app and mentioned it in passing in another thread. I was searching for an old 1950's science fiction film, didn't really expect them to have it but thought it was worth a try. Was surprised when it actually found the film, but it was actually something available for streaming IF you subscribed to some streaming service. Again - not what I wanted, I already have streaming, I also wanted a copy for my library.

With the new TV app, I get the feeling that searches always return some kind of result, even if they don't have what you're looking for. Have searched for other relatively obscure films and gotten several hits, none of which were the film I searched for and kind of baffling why they were relevant at all. I think they just don't want to miss an opportunity to sell you something. 😁

I don't know of a way to limit search result but would be interested, if it exists.
Click to expand...
This is exactly my experience. I'd rather it say 'Sorry, this isn't available on our store - would you like to search our partner stores?'
 
Do your searches on Mac.

TV app on AppleTV is loaded with "innovative" features to try to extract rental, subscription and more purchases from you.

Ironically, I opened TV app on Mac, clicked store, entered Aguirre, Wrath of God and it popped right up in the first slot. Click "Buy or Rent" button and both options are available to me. If I chose:
  • "Buy," I could then download it to Mac and steam it to AppleTV. And I'd do exactly this, store it with other purchased movies on an external drive, index it in the TV app on the Mac and stream it (via home sharing) to AppleTV in the Computers app, NOT the TV app (mostly to dodge the marketing in the latter). Computers (app) works so great and lacks the relentless marketing.
  • "Rent", I assume I'd have 24 hours to watch it anywhere (Mac, iDevices or AppleTV) though I haven't rented one in a LONG time. Then I'd go back to AppleTV, probably find it available to stream as a rental and watch it.
Around here, we try to never even open the TV app on AppleTV. Computers (app) all the way for all owned media.
 
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Just looked - this was the film I searched for and got two hits, both of which wanted me to subscribe to streaming services. Again - this was TV.app on an m4 Mac Mini. I guess some people would appreciate this, I am not one of them however... feels kind of "spammy".


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I see. Well OPs movie example did come up as described. I guess if perhaps iTunes Store doesn't have a buyable copy, maybe the streamer is the only thing they show?

I just followed my same steps to search for Quartermass Experiment and got the same result. My guess is it is not sellable or rentable from the Apple Store.

So then I hopped on "justwatch.com"- a search engine for media- and could only locate the original 1953 show, also only available via streaming.

My take is that the 2005 version is exclusive to BritBox... much like AppleTV+ has its mix of exclusives... as do seemingly all of the others. The original might be exclusively licensed to Screenpix.

The next thing I'd try- which would actually be the FIRST thing I always try- if I wanted to own that one is search for a disc to buy, rip, and store on a local drive to stream to AppleTV via Computers app. Found what might be the original on Amazon for $26 "used" as Blu Ray and $17 as DVD and then a minimal amount of shopping around I found new Blu Ray for $18. I'm guessing with more "shopping around" effort, it's probably available for about $12 somewhere.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
I see. Well OPs movie example did come up as described. I guess if perhaps iTunes Store doesn't have a buyable copy, maybe the streamer is the only thing they show?

I just followed my same steps to search for Quartermass Experiment and got the same result. My guess is it is not sellable or rentable from the Apple Store.

So then I hopped on "justwatch.com"- a search engine for media- and could only locate the original 1953 show, also only available via streaming.

My take is that the 2005 version is exclusive to BritBox... much like AppleTV+ has its mix of exclusives... as do seemingly all of the others. The original might be exclusively licensed to Screenpix.

The next thing I'd try- which would actually be the FIRST thing I always try- if I wanted to own that one is search for a disc to buy, rip, and store on a local drive to stream to AppleTV via Computers app. Found what might be the original on Amazon for $26 "used" as Blu Ray and $17 as DVD and then a minimal amount of shopping around I found new Blu Ray for $18. I'm guessing with more "shopping around" effort, it's probably available for about $12 somewhere.
Click to expand...

justwatch.com is a good resource for finding where movies/videos are available online.
 
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Normally when I search it shows all the services the movie is on but additionally gives me a purchase/rental option directly from Apple.
 
I've also had this issue on the Apple TV, they actually make it quite difficult to purchase things these days.

Last night I tried to buy Moanna for the kids and it kept opening in Disney plus. I had to scroll down to the bottom of the page to buy it.

I find it bizarre that Apple would be prioritising a streaming service over people buying from their own store.

Amazon are also the same - if you search for the movie they only show the streaming results. they don't want you to buy the physical discs anymore.

All very sad and a bit worrying for the future. I used to work in home entertainment and the reason me and many others don't is because of streaming.. bonkers when physical is more profitable but you have to give the people what you want!
 
TV app navigation is absolute trash on both Mac and aTV. I run into this all the f//king time. If it's not an Apple exclusive it's quite impossible to tell if something is actually included with aTV+ or if it wants to direct you to Yet Another F//king Streaming Service. This is why I get 99% of my media off the back of a truck.
 
JamesMay82 said:
I find it bizarre that Apple would be prioritising a streaming service over people buying from their own store.
Click to expand...

So do I, but this seems to be where everything is heading. Just speculation on my part, but I'll bet they make more money (or will make more money in the future) from their "cut" of a Disney+ subscription than the sale of a downloadable movie. If that wasn't the case... then why would they be doing this with search results?
 
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When you find the movie you want, click to go to the full info page.
Then ignore everything on top, scroll all the way down the page until you get to “How to Watch”.
If it’s available to buy or rent, those two options will always be in the list of options.
 
Boyd01 said:
So do I, but this seems to be where everything is heading. Just speculation on my part, but I'll bet they make more money (or will make more money in the future) from their "cut" of a Disney+ subscription than the sale of a downloadable movie. If that wasn't the case... then why would they be doing this with search results?
Click to expand...
They probably do in the long run as more people subscribe than buy digital purchases these days.

Our company was only small but at 30 people and now it's just a team of 5 people and the business is split 50/50 on physical and digital.

Miles more profit in physical though if people supported it. Digital you don't get paid straight away, you can be waiting 12 months for your money plus there are loads of set up costs for each title.
 
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I'll also bet that Apple gets a cut every time you renew your Disney subscription inside the TV app. Looking at it their way, if you just want to purchase the movie, you'll figure out how to do that eventually. But, in the meantime, they'll try to sell you a subscription (or two, in my example) - no harm in trying, from their perspective.

I guess it is what it is. I just wish there was a search preference that we could set to filter the results.
 
This has been doing my head in over the last few months mixing different streaming services into the Store. I even had to delete a streaming app from the UK Channel 4 before I could actually access the film in the Apple Store itself. Very frustrating and the whole thing is getting fragmented and a mess. If I wish to search the store I'd like a toggle option to show other services. The I can actually browse the Apple Store and the Apple Store only. I've even turned two apps off in the setting and they still show up on the home page, BBC and Channel 5. Over complicated, and totally unnecessary.
 
Lee_Mac said:
I even had to delete a streaming app from the UK Channel 4 before I could actually access the film in the Apple Store itself.
Click to expand...
You meaning so you could buy it?
If so you could’ve just scrolled down to How To Watch instead.
 
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Thanks for that I'll keep an eye out for it. It does however seem they gone back to separate selection for a streaming service rather than forcing the only option to a 3rd party. Still, it's all a mess, hate it since the redesign.
 
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