I purchased a movie on iTunes, but it will not play on my Apple TV1. It says the Apple TV is not authorized to play this content.

Question

I purchased a movie on iTunes, but it will not play on my Apple TV1.  It says the Apple TV is not authorized to play this content.

Answer 1

Annoying isn't it.
This seems to have started at the end of October and may be some kind of 'authorisation expiry' on the original unit that needs updating.
Solution include:
Purchase something on the AppleTV1 itself with DRM (a free TV Show episode might be an idea if yiou can find one).
Remove the connection to itunes by removing the iTunes library from AppleTV's Computers>Settings menu, then add it back again.
Remember this will wipe synced content from the AppleTV if AppleTV1 is syncing (My Movies/TV Shows etc) as opposed to streaming (My Shared Movies etc) from that itunes library.  In theory direct purchases on AppleTV that have never transferred to itunes might survive the 'wipe for a clean slate for a new sync' process that happens when you remove a sync library but don't risk it and right click on the AppleTV Device in itunes, choose Transfer Purchases if there are any prior to resetting the AppleTV Computers entry and readding the library.  If AppleTV is streaming only it's very quick to remove the libarry and re-add it as there's nothing to sync when you re-establish the connection - it works I've done it.  Purchasing a protected music video on my other AppleTV1 which was synced also worked.
Good luck
AC