There has been a lot of controversy surrounding digital film and TV downloads lately, so it's nice to finally hear some good news.
While Sony announced that it's ditching physical PlayStation discs and removing purchased content from users' libraries, Apple has taken a major step to improve the content within its users' Apple TV digital libraries.
A selection of around 50 TV shows has been quietly upgraded from HD to 4K, and that change is being retroactively applied for users who have already purchased these shows, at no additional cost.
The selection includes some high-profile releases, such as all seven seasons of Mad Men, the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and recent TV phenomenon Heated Rivalry. You can find the full list below:
- Aerial Australia
- Aftertaste (Season 1)
- American Magik (Season 1)
- Auto Exotica (Season 2)
- The Basement Talks (Season 1)
- Black, Brilliant, and Bold (Season 1)
- Blossoms Shanghai (Season 1)
- Bong Zombies (Season 1)
- Building Nations (Season 1)
- Car & Country Quest (Season 1)
- Changing of the Gods (Season 1)
- Chasing the Tide (Season 1)
- Claire-ity (Season 1)
- Clash of Dynasties: St. Edward vs Walsh Jesuit
- The Coroner's Assistant (Season 1)
- Drink: A Look Inside the Glass (Season 1)
- The Envoy, Pilot
- The Eternal White (Season 1)
- Extreme Airport Africa (Season 2)
- Founder (Season 1)
- Gatherings (Season 1)
- Gentle and Lowly Video Study (Season 1)
- Guerrera (Season 1)
- Gus Plus Us (Season 1)
- Heated Rivalry (Season 1)
- Honor Guard (Season 1)
- Hunting to Save the Rhinos (Season 1)
- The Hunting Wives (Season 1)
- Ice Airport Alaska (Season 5)
- Killer Whales (Season 2)
- Legacy Makers (Season 1)
- Mad Men (Seasons 1–7)
- Missionary: Obeying the Great Commission (Season 1)
- My Name is Anxiety (Season 1)
- Office Joe (Season 1)
- Perfect Sweat (Season 1)
- Q: Into the Storm
- The Religion Business and the Nonprofit Goliath (Season 1)
- Rich Africans (Season 1)
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK (Season 5)
- The RVers (Seasons 3 and 4)
- Selling Superman (Season 1)
- Sexpectations (Season 1)
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Season 1)
- That’s Wine (Season 1)
- Third Shift
- Tractor Ted (Season 3)
- The Twilight Zone (Reboot) (Season 1)
- The Wingfeather Saga (Season 2)
This upgrade was spotted by X (formerly Twitter) user Sigmund Judge (via FlatpanelsHD), and users in the UK and US who have purchased these TV shows from the Apple TV Store (formerly the iTunes Movies & TV Shows store) should already be able to access the upgraded 4K versions from within their Apple TV library.
It's worth noting that Apple has a track record of providing free 4K upgrades to its Apple TV users. It began upgrading purchased movies from HD to 4K HDR alongside the launch of the Apple TV 4K back in 2017, and we've since seen free Dolby Atmos, HDR10+ and 3D 4K upgrades hit users' Apple TV libraries too.
This is how you win digital media sceptics over, and other companies should certainly take note.
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