About HD TV Shows
Summary
HD quality TV shows are available for purchase on the iTunes Store. Watch your HD TV shows on your computer or on your TV using Apple TV. In addition, every HD quality episode also comes with an iPod and iPhone-compatible standard definition version of the show.
Products Affected
Apple TV, iTunes Store, iTunes 9 for Windows, iTunes 9 for Mac
When you buy an HD quality TV episode on the iTunes Store, you'll receive two files: the HD version and the standard definition version. When you sync your iPhone or video-enabled iPod with iTunes, only the standard definition version will transfer to your device.
HD episodes have 720p video and many have 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround-sound audio.
You can view the HD version of the episode in iTunes or you can stream or sync it to Apple TV for viewing on your widescreen TV.
You'll need the latest version of iTunes and QuickTime before you can preview, play, or sync HD TV shows. The latest versions can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple website:
http://www.itunes.com/download
http://www.quicktime.com/download
To play HD TV shows on your Mac or PC, you'll need a computer with a dual-core 2.0 GHz or faster processor.
You can browse HD TV shows available on the iTunes Store by going to the TV Shows section and then choosing "All HD TV" from the More in TV section on the left.
You can also search for available HD TV shows by following these steps:
- Select "Power Search" under the QUICK LINKS header in the upper-right corner of the iTunes Store.
- Choose TV Shows from the Power Search pop-up menu.
- Select the "Search for HD TV shows" checkbox.
- Enter your keyword(s) into the Show or Description field.
- Click Search.
Before purchasing, you may preview a show in HD by simply double-clicking the episode. HD previews may take longer to load than standard previews.
Additional Information
HD TV shows are not available for purchase in all countries with iTunes Stores.
When purchasing HD videos using Apple TV, only the HD version will download to the Apple TV. The standard definition version will be placed into your desktop's download queue. Learn how to purchase TV shows and other items directly on Apple TV.