Wow... I'm dissapointed!

[RevolvingSheep]

I bought the Apple TV with the idea that most movies available on DVD and Blu-Ray would be available to purchase. I come to find that many movies I search for aren't available at all, and all of the rest are only available to rent. I only bought 2 movies and at this point, that is all I'm interested in. I added a bunch of rent only movies to my wish list but I hate the idea of spending $4 to rent a movie every time I want to watch it... when I could just go buy a physical copy.

I thought there would be better options than Netflix and that isn't the case. There are different options but many on Netflix aren't on iTunes and many on iTunes aren't on Netflix. In fact, I see tons of movies I want to watch that are on Blu-Ray and you can rent in HD but only buy in standard definition.

What a complete mess.

 

[steve-p]

I'm afraid this is just a reflection of where we are at with digital distribution of movies and TV shows right now. For whatever reason, the rights holders have decided the way to make the most money is to sell the rights to distribute titles on a more or less ad hoc basis to one or more of the many competing services, and the end result is a fragmented market where no one service has everything, or even close to everything. It is shortsighted and does not benefit the consumer at all, but that's how it is. Hopefully as the market matures it will improve.

 

[Irishman]

I bought the Apple TV with the idea that most movies available on DVD and Blu-Ray would be available to purchase. I come to find that many movies I search for aren't available at all, and all of the rest are only available to rent. I only bought 2 movies and at this point, that is all I'm interested in. I added a bunch of rent only movies to my wish list but I hate the idea of spending $4 to rent a movie every time I want to watch it... when I could just go buy a physical copy.

I thought there would be better options than Netflix and that isn't the case. There are different options but many on Netflix aren't on iTunes and many on iTunes aren't on Netflix. In fact, I see tons of movies I want to watch that are on Blu-Ray and you can rent in HD but only buy in standard definition.

What a complete mess.

Where did you hear that titles would be available for purchase? Much less on launch week?

 

[RevolvingSheep]

Where did you hear that titles would be available for purchase? Much less on launch week?

Uh... the Apple TV has been through three generations and the ability to buy movies on iTunes has been available for a long time. What's your point?

 

[Shoesy]

I guess the point is - do your research.

It would be nice to assume that everything is available right now - but as you've discovered it just isn't the case. Blame who you like but things need to get better, the current situation is pretty crazy across the board.

 

[hafr]

Uh... the Apple TV has been through three generations and the ability to buy movies on iTunes has been available for a long time. What's your point?

How many generations the Apple TV has been through and how long you've been able to buy movies through it has nothing at all to do with what's being released in which quality, or when. What's your point?

 

[RevolvingSheep]

How many generations the Apple TV has been through and how long you've been able to buy movies through it has nothing at all to do with what's being released in which quality, or when. What's your point?

The 2nd gen Apple TV had HD titles as well but they were in 720p... which is still HD. The only thing that's new is that now there is the option for 1080p. Since you have been able to buy/rent movies since the initial launch of the hardware... content has been available for a while. Of course I expected titles to be available on day one.

 

[heisenberg123]

can't you buy movies at the store, convert using software for appletv, add them to you itunes than watch on your apple tv?

 

[stikle]

Uh... the Apple TV has been through three generations and the ability to buy movies on iTunes has been available for a long time. What's your point?

Your original post contains "with the idea" and "I thought". It sounds like you didn't do your pre-purchase research - you assumed.

There has never been an announcement that "most movies available on DVD and Blu-Ray would be available to purchase" when the AppleTV 3 was released.

What steve-p stated is correct. It's just how things are at this point. Titles get added to <streaming media service of choice> all of the time, but it's not exactly feasible to add 15 years worth of DVDs & Blurays to every service instantly.

It's going to take time, so enjoy your AppleTV for what it is and what is available now.

 

[RevolvingSheep]

can't you buy movies at the store, convert using software for appletv, add them to you itunes than watch on your apple tv?

I haven't looked into this too far, but what I have read says that if you want to convert a Blu-Ray to view on iTunes (or Apple TV), you have to have a blu-ray drive... which I do not. It wasn't an option on my Macbook Pro which is my only computer.

I will definitely jump on ripping my Blu-Rays as soon as it's possible for me. Blu-Ray has higher quality audio and just barely higher quality video. Many of the HD movies I have looked at on the Apple TV are $20. Most blu-rays these days you can buy for around $15 on Amazon.com. I can buy the blu-ray for normal viewing and rip it for other situations... like when I want to watch a movie on my iPad.

 

[hafr]

The 2nd gen Apple TV had HD titles as well but they were in 720p... which is still HD. The only thing that's new is that now there is the option for 1080p. Since you have been able to buy/rent movies since the initial launch of the hardware... content has been available for a while. Of course I expected titles to be available on day one.

Again: How many generations the Apple TV has been through and how long you've been able to buy movies through it has nothing at all to do with what's being released in which quality, or when. What's your point?

 

[RevolvingSheep]

Again: How many generations the Apple TV has been through and how long you've been able to buy movies through it has nothing at all to do with what's being released in which quality, or when. What's your point?

----------

Your original post contains "with the idea" and "I thought". It sounds like you didn't do your pre-purchase research - you assumed.

There has never been an announcement that "most movies available on DVD and Blu-Ray would be available to purchase" when the AppleTV 3 was released.

What steve-p stated is correct. It's just how things are at this point. Titles get added to <streaming media service of choice> all of the time, but it's not exactly feasible to add 15 years worth of DVDs & Blurays to every service instantly.

It's going to take time, so enjoy your AppleTV for what it is and what is available now.

Absolutely. I guess I should have said "I'm disappointed in the movie choices." I still love airplay, mirroring, and the screen saver... it was definitely worth it.

 

[Mac_Max]

Like what the others have tried to get at, is that its not a technical issue. It's a people/marketing/business issue. The big studios are about as quick to change as Mt. Rushmore. So you don't have to look it up, this is kindof the lay of the land:

I got to take a class taught by a former Lionsgate exec who worked in foreign & domestic film licensing. He also brought in a few other important people (like a producer for The Office and his old boss at Lionsgate). They all talked a lot about the financial part of the business (and none of them were 100% happy with how things are now in relation to digital licensing).

At a very basic level with a lot of caveats, the studios see their income coming from various pay windows (kinda in order):

(Note, I'm sure I will say something wrong so anyone who knows better should feel free to correct me)

1. First Run Movies (Theater) - Couple months
2. Second Run (HBO, Cinemax, etc) - First year
3. DVD Sales - First year to infinity
4:
a. In flight movies - Couple months
b. Military Network - Ditto
c. Private corporate viewings - Month or two
d. etc
5. TV Network broadcast rights - One to Two years and on

Now usually number 1-3 are where they make the most of their money. 4 is gravy and 5 is a bonus (sometimes worth an extra couple million just for the "World Premier" if the movie is big).

Notice how streaming media is not part of that list? Things are still in flux and streaming media probably will end up being prioritized between two and three (opinion based on the commentary in that class I took). The thing the studios don't want to do is jeopardize DVD sales because those are still where they make their profits. A 200 Million dollar movie that makes 200 Million dollars in the theater is only half paid for at best (theaters do a 50/50 split for the first week or so and then the split moves in their favor until a floor ratio). Right now they feel they need to protect DVD sales and second run broadcast profits at all costs.

Times change though and eventually we'll laugh about DVDs the way we laugh about VHS cassettes .

If you feel like doing something about your frustrations, write the big studios and complain. If enough people do so they might actually do something about it.

 

[Mike Valmike]

I haven't looked into this too far, but what I have read says that if you want to convert a Blu-Ray to view on iTunes (or Apple TV), you have to have a blu-ray drive... which I do not. It wasn't an option on my Macbook Pro which is my only computer.

I will definitely jump on ripping my Blu-Rays as soon as it's possible for me. Blu-Ray has higher quality audio and just barely higher quality video. Many of the HD movies I have looked at on the Apple TV are $20. Most blu-rays these days you can buy for around $15 on Amazon.com. I can buy the blu-ray for normal viewing and rip it for other situations... like when I want to watch a movie on my iPad.

I'm in your boat. I just bought an el-cheapo blu-ray burner external USB2, I think the retail tag was at most $85-$90 if memory serves. There's no blu-ray playback client for OS X, but it works fine with MakeMKV and Handbrake for making .mp4 files that play in Apple TV or on iOS devices, etc.

And as an added bonus, less wear on my Mac's built-in optical drive.

 

[chrono1081]

can't you buy movies at the store, convert using software for appletv, add them to you itunes than watch on your apple tv?

This is what I do. Content holders are very stingy with streaming rights right now. Some places like iTunes and Netflix will get things they can stream, but only after 30 - 60 days, and sometimes one will get it and not the other.

This isn't the fault of Apple, Netflix, or whoever else has streaming services, its the content holders who have the control.

 

[CrAkD]

welcome to the rip and convert club. if your willing to do the work you can have a great collection of digital movies.

 

[BigDukeSix]

If I was king, all newly released movies would be available for streaming or DVD on the same day, on all the provides (Netflix, iTunes, etc..) But, since the studios are so greedy and want megabucks to provide it all at once, it is the way it is. I do seem to think that iTunes has a better selection of new releases, but obviously that is not always the case.

 

[RevolvingSheep]

Hmmm.. another dissapointment

Air play is behaving horribly for me. Whether I stream from my iPhone 4S or iPad 3rd Gen, the audio skips regularly. I haven't tried streaming video or playing an iPad game on my HDTV... but I can't imagine it being any different. We'll see...

 

[blueroom]

It's hard to imagine a movie that I'll watch more than once or twice so renting isn't a problem for me. If I do have a movie that I'll watch over and over I'll simply Handbrake my DVD.

 

[hafr]

Hmmm.. another dissapointment

Air play is behaving horribly for me. Whether I stream from my iPhone 4S or iPad 3rd Gen, the audio skips regularly. I haven't tried streaming video or playing an iPad game on my HDTV... but I can't imagine it being any different. We'll see...

Could it be a wifi connectivity issue? Earlier you said you loved Airplay and mirroring, what has changed?

 

[NoteburnerDRM]

Agree

can't you buy movies at the store, convert using software for appletv, add them to you itunes than watch on your apple tv?

I agree, you can buy the movies at the iTunes store and convert to AppleTV, there're many such software, just google them. Good luck!