Apple stops 'complete' TV show purchases through TV app

[hj8ag]

I haven't seen anyone else talking about this but it seems that on Catalina, Apple have removed the options to purchase 'Complete' TV box sets and are now trying to make you buy them on a per season basis (which works out way more expensive!)

Here are a couple of examples:

In the TV app, searching for the UK show 'Psychoville' just brings up S1 and S2 -

in the iOS store app (and in prior versions of Mac OS) the same search gives you these options:

You can see you have the complete collection, but also the stand alone halloween special which is completely unavailable on the new TV app.

This is the same for all shows - If you were to buy The Wire in the new TV app, it would cost £118.96 for all seasons... Yet on the iOS app and prior versions, you can buy a 'complete' set for £69.99

I know at present you can workaround by just making purchases from the iOS app - but what if that goes away in the next version and is integrated into the TV app in the same way as above?

Can anyone see a workaround?

I emailed Apple and was told by support that this was a deliberate change and not a bug or an oversight...

 

[Crash0veride]

I hope they find a better solution and do kill it. The complete collections for TV are terribly done. I bought X-files and it’s one giant list of 200+ episodes you have to scroll through each time on the TV, no season breakdown. It’s ridiculously cumbersome. That and I bought the collection between season 10 and 11 and now when I search x-files on Siri (for specific seasons and easier browsing) it doesn’t think I own it because that “version” of the complete series is no longer for sale and removed from the store and there is a new one with season 11. My version can only be accessed by scrolling all of the episodes in the TV library.

Personally, I’d be stoked if they removed the complete collections, as I would never buy one again. They need to turn it into season bundles and handle it more like movies.

 

[xDENTALPLANx]

I've also been searching for an answer to this. It's very odd that they have omitted it from the Mac.

I think they need to get someone to do some general maintenance to the Apple TV archive - for example, I own both the boxsets for both the UK and US versions of The Office, but on Apple TV they are considered the same show in my library. It's odd they haven't done anything about this considering they are both listed as the best selling shows of all time on iTunes.

 

[hj8ag]

I've also been searching for an answer to this. It's very odd that they have omitted it from the Mac.

I think they need to get someone to do some general maintenance to the Apple TV archive - for example, I own both the boxsets for both the UK and US versions of The Office, but on Apple TV they are considered the same show in my library. It's odd they haven't done anything about this considering they are both listed as the best selling shows of all time on iTunes.

glad someone else cares! I haven’t posted a follow up as this thread gained no traction... I even emailed MacRumors as I think it’s a massively anti-consumer move but didn’t get a reply

I’ve had a lot of chat with Apple Support since my original post and they say it is 100% a deliberate move to only allow season purchase on the new ‘TV’ app. Makes me think that in a future version of iOS TV purchases will be rolled into the TV app and you just won’t be able to buy complete sets or certain one off episodes anymore.

 

[Glenny2lappies]

Apple TV?

Why not try other services which aren't as expensive and actually have content? Such as https://www.britbox.co.uk/ - British TV box sets

Problem with Apple is they behave as if there's no competition.

Apple TV is just about the worst streaming service I've ever experienced.

 

[hj8ag]

Apple TV?

Why not try other services which aren't as expensive and actually have content? Such as https://www.britbox.co.uk/ - British TV box sets

Problem with Apple is they behave as if there's no competition.

Apple TV is just about the worst streaming service I've ever experienced.

Have you actually read any of the posts in this thread?

 

[Super Mits]

Same issues noticed just now. The Apple TV app on Mac is just unusable to browse and purchase. No boxsets whereas on iTunes on iOS the boxsets are there often with deals.

 

[Blackbird77]

I'm glad to see this thread because I've had the same questions about complete TV series purchases. I thought maybe I was just doing something wrong when searching using the TV app on my Mac.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don’t understand why Apple did that. I used that feature.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Absolutely insane that there hasn't been any change or progress on this functionality. Bumping because it's still an issue and shouldn't be overlooked - the content purchasing experience on Mac is abysmal.

 

[hj8ag]

It’s annoying as it seems none of the Apple fan/rumour sites (or even people like Gruber) care!

would be great if some of them could push Apple for an answer. I don’t see why it can’t work like bundled movies as another poster suggested.

Really annoying that Mac Rumors won’t make a post about this but will about crooked iMac stands

 

[IceStormNG]

Great to hear I'm not alone. I have the feeling the TV app was more meant to push TV+. Buying or renting TV shows.. or just finding them is now a nightmare.

That's why I prefer to just purchase them on the iPhone/iPad.. as long as they don't kill iTunes Store there. Although.. even there they often redirect you to the TV app from the iTunes store to view certain things.