How to Purchase TV Shows, Movies, Music, and Music Videos on Apple TV

  • Last Modified: June 30, 2009
  • Article: HT1860
  • Old Article: 307456

Summary

With Apple TV software version 2.0 or later, you can now purchase many of your favorite TV shows, movies, music, and music videos from the iTunes Store on your widescreen TV.

Products Affected

Apple TV, iTunes Store

Before you purchase any media on Apple TV, you should have the most recent Apple TV software:
  1. From the main Apple TV menu, choose Settings > Update Software.
  2. Follow the onscreen prompts to download and apply the Update.
  3. When the Update has downloaded and finished installing, your Apple TV will restart.

Refer to "Apple TV: How to upgrade Apple TV software from version 1.x" for additional instructions.

To sign in to the iTunes Store

  1. From the main Apple TV menu, choose Settings > General > iTunes Store.
    If your location and iTunes account already appear here, skip to the next section.
  2. Select Set your location.
  3. Scroll to highlight your location and select it.
  4. Press the Menu button on the remote once to return to the previous screen.
  5. Select Sign in.
  6. Enter your Apple ID and password. If you don't have an Apple ID, create one using iTunes on your computer. (The password is case-sensitive.) Note: If your Apple ID is an AOL account, you'll need to convert it to work with Apple TV. If you need help converting your AOL account, please contact iTunes Store Customer Service.
  7. Apple TV will give you the option to remember your password. Select Yes if you want to save the password.
  8. Press and hold the Menu button to return to the main Apple TV menu.

To purchase TV shows on Apple TV

  1. Select TV Shows from the main Apple TV menu.
  2. Choose one of the following categories to begin finding TV shows:
    • Favorites
    • Top TV Shows
    • Genres
    • TV Networks
    • Search
  3. When you select a TV show, you have the options to add the show to your Favorites, Buy all episodes, or you can select an individual episode. If an episode or season is available in high-definition, you'll see an HD logo.
    • Add to Favorites
      When you select Add to Favorites, the selected show will appear in the Favorites category, giving you a shortcut for browsing your favorites shows.
    • Buy All Episodes
      When you select Buy All Episodes, you will be purchasing all available episodes of that season for the selected show.
    • Buy Season Pass
      When you select Buy Season Pass, you will be purchasing the entire season. All past episodes, up to the most currently aired episode, will begin downloading immediately. All future episodes will be automatically added to your download queue the day after the episode is aired. (Season passes must be purchased on the Apple TV in order for new episodes to be queued to your Apple TV for download.)
    • Individual Episodes
      When you select an individual episode, you'll have the options to preview or buy that episode.
  4. When you've decided on a selection that you want, choose the appropriate onscreen option to purchase that selection.
  5. A confirmation message will appear. Click OK to continue.
  6. Your selection will begin to download immediately. Download speeds will vary depending on your Internet connection.

To purchase movies on Apple TV

  1. Select Movies from the main Apple TV menu.
  2. Choose one of the following categories to begin finding movies:
    • Top Movies
    • Genres
    • Search
  3. Find a movie you would like to purchase and press Play/Pause for more details.
  4. Select Buy. (Movies may not be available for purchase in all regions.)
  5. A confirmation message will appear. Click OK to continue.
  6. Your movie will begin to download immediately. Download speeds will vary depending on your Internet connection (a broadband Internet connection is required).

To purchase music and music videos on Apple TV

  1. Select Music from the main Apple TV menu.
  2. Choose one of the following categories to begin finding music:
    • Top Music
    • Music Videos
    • Genres
    • Search
  3. Browse or search:
    • When you select an album, you have the options to buy the album, or you can select an individual song.
    • When you select a song, you have the options to preview or buy the song. (Some songs may only available when purchasing the album, and are not available individually.)
    • When you select a music video, you have the options to preview or buy the video.
  4. When you've found a selection that you like, choose the onscreen Buy button for that item.
  5. A confirmation message will appear. Click OK to continue.
    Your selection will begin to download immediately. Download speeds will vary depending on your Internet connection. Click here for more information.

Note: Music videos included with an album will download along with the album's song tracks directly to Apple TV. However, Digital booklets cannot be downloaded directly to Apple TV. If an album includes a digital booklet, the booklet will download to your computer. From your computer, open iTunes and choose Store > Check for Purchases to download the digital booklet.

 

Additional Information

If your download is interrupted, go to Settings > Downloads and select Check for Downloads. Apple TV will connect with the iTunes Store and will resume downloading.

If you sign into your iTunes Store account on your computer, you may also complete a download that was interrupted on your Apple TV. From your computer open iTunes and choose Store > Check for Available Downloads. The item will resume downloading to your computer. You can then sync the item back to your Apple TV. 

Note: Purchases made using your computer must be downloaded on a computer first (they cannot be initially downloaded to the Apple TV).

If you set up Apple TV to sync with your Mac or PC, your purchases automatically transfer back to your computer so you can enjoy them there, or on the go with your iPod or iPhone.

 

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