Can I watch 1 rented movie on 2 Apple TVs?

[dmk1974]

I have an Apple TV 2 and am thinking of buying an additional Apple TV 3. One question I have is: Can I rent a movie on one of the boxes and then continue watching it on the other? My plan would be to replace the ATV2 with the ATV3 in the family room and then move the ATV2 to the bedroom. Thanks!

 

[dXTC]

You can stop and start rentals between devices only if you rent through your Mac or PC, and the movie downloads into your iTunes library.

If you purchase the rental through a specific iOS device, including the tv, it can be watched only on that device.

You may want to check out the rental terms on Apple's website for full details.

 

[almonde]

I have an Apple TV 2 and am thinking of buying an additional Apple TV 3. One question I have is: Can I rent a movie on one of the boxes and then continue watching it on the other? My plan would be to replace the ATV2 with the ATV3 in the family room and then move the ATV2 to the bedroom. Thanks!

I rented mission impossible the other night on my ATV3 in the living room, when I checked the ATV2 in the bedroom the film was showing as 'rented' with the normal 24 hr countdown below it. I didn't check it but I think I would have been able to rewatch on the ATV2 or pick up where I'd left off, but I didn't actually check to confirm this

 

[Dobbs2]

You can stop and start rentals between devices only if you rent through your Mac or PC, and the movie downloads into your iTunes library.

If you purchase the rental through a specific iOS device, including the tv, it can be watched only on that device.

You may want to check out the rental terms on Apple's website for full details.

I don't think that is correct. I have rented a few things on my iPad and watched them on my atv.

 

[waw74]

a google for "apple rental policy" brought up the following link as the first option.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1657

 

[dXTC]

a google for "apple rental policy" brought up the following link as the first option.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1657

Quoted from the policy at the above link:

If you download a rented movie on your computer: You can transfer it to a device such as your Apple TV (1st generation), iPhone, iPad, or iPod if it’s a standard-definition film (movies in HD can only be watched on your computer, iPad, iPhone 4 or later, iPod touch (4th generation or later), or Apple TV). Once you move the movie from your computer to a device, the movie will disappear from your computer's iTunes library. You can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period, but the movie can only exist on one device at a time.

If you download a rented movie on your iPhone 4 or later, iPad, iPod touch (4th generation or later), or Apple TV: It is not transferable to any other device or computer.

Dobbs2 may have been able to AirPlay his iPad-rented movie to his tv; I'm not sure whether that's specifically allowed or forbidden in Apple's policy. AirPlay wouldn't help between two tvs anyway, which is what the OP ultimately wants.

The iTunes store may, however, remember that your account rented a particular movie and will allow you to restart a file from another device tied to that same iTunes account within the 24-hour period.

 

[Dobbs2]

Quoted from the policy at the above link:



Dobbs2 may have been able to AirPlay his iPad-rented movie to his tv; I'm not sure whether that's specifically allowed or forbidden in Apple's policy. AirPlay wouldn't help between two tvs anyway, which is what the OP ultimately wants.

The iTunes store may, however, remember that your account rented a particular movie and will allow you to restart a file from another device tied to that same iTunes account within the 24-hour period.

Nope I rent on my iPad while at work. I come home grab the wife and play on my atv2 or atv1.

 

[dXTC]

Nope I rent on my iPad while at work. I come home grab the wife and play on my atv2 or atv1.

In that case, it looks like there's been a shift in policy in favor of user convenience. Apparently, iTunes remembers what rental items are still active for an account and allows restarting/resuming across devices. Color me corrected.

 

[KeithJenner]

In that case, it looks like there's been a shift in policy in favor of user convenience. Apparently, iTunes remembers what rental items are still active for an account and allows restarting/resuming across devices. Color me corrected.

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Movies rented on the ATV2 have always been able to be viewed on different units in my experience. I have only ever rented one movie from the iTunes store myself, which I did very soon after the ATV2 was released. I rented the Movie on one ATV, and resumed watching on a different unit. It picked up from where I was up to.

The link you quoted earlier seems to be relating to transferring downloaded files. As the ATV2 streams, I don't think that it is covered by that section. The reference to Apple TV in that quote specifically states first generation.

 

[Dobbs2]

In that case, it looks like there's been a shift in policy in favor of user convenience. Apparently, iTunes remembers what rental items are still active for an account and allows restarting/resuming across devices. Color me corrected.

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Thats just been my experience from the Apple tv 1-3. The official stance probably is what you stated and now that this has been brought to light they will clamp down.

 

[musicman0725]

I have an Apple TV 2 and am thinking of buying an additional Apple TV 3. One question I have is: Can I rent a movie on one of the boxes and then continue watching it on the other? My plan would be to replace the ATV2 with the ATV3 in the family room and then move the ATV2 to the bedroom. Thanks!

We rent movies on iTunes quite frequently. Since replacing our ATV2 in the living room with an ATV3 and moving the ATV2 to the bedroom, all content we've rented shows up (and resumes) across both devices. The same is also true for purchases that are available in iCloud (which show up on the main screen like rentals). The kb article discussed seems to refer to older content agreements before iCloud (it also mentions the 1st gen apple tv, which leads me to believe it hasn't been updated). Anyways, I can say for a fact that this setup works!