Some Netflix users are having problems with the Apple TV — including Yours Truly. I was able to sign in to my account with no problem, see my viewing history, see my Instant Queue, browse titles and more.
However, when I tried to play anything (say an episode of “Friday Night Lights”), I was treated to the “spinning wheel of death” for a few seconds, then got an error message. The message would say “An error occurred loading this content. Try again later” or “Netflix is currently unavailable; try again later.” This only happened with the Apple TV/HDTV combo; there was no problem using Netflix on my Mac or iPad.
I had fewer than the maximum six playback devices currently authorized to play streaming content. Also, there were no problems streaming content from other providers like YouTube and Vimeo.
If you’re experiencing the same thing, first try doing an Apple TV reset to factory defaults. This also forces the device to download the latest firmware. That solved my problems. However, if that does no good, Netflix blames it on the network connection and says you should:
° Reboot your home network by turning your router and modem off, then on to refresh the Internet connection.
° If you have a wireless router, password protect it to prevent unauthorized access to your wireless network.
° If you’re using a wireless connection, try connecting your Netflix device directly to your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
° If you’re using a wireless connection, move your router to a new location to improve signal strength as walls and other electronic devices in the home may interfere with your wireless signal.
° Change your router’s wireless channel to improve signal strength.
If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to contact your ISP.
— Dennis Sellers