So I'd like to buy Cagney & Lacey as downloads from iTunes (go ahead, and mock) but don't want to watch them on the little ipod screen but on my tv.

Any suggestions on how can I play these files to my tv? I'm guessing my Western Digital media player won't recognise m4v format files. If I connect my ipod to the tv, what will the picture quality be like?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I have purchased Apple TV that streams my ITunes computer content to my TV link here

By the way your TV fav are no worse than my 28 episodes of Time Tunnel from the 1960's on ITunes

http://www.freemake.com/

this is an excellent free programme . I think you should be able to play without converting

if you can get it in MP4 , then perhaps you can get it in DVD ? You can always convert the files on PC and burn to DVD yourself

I would suggest an Apple TV too. The files will have DRM so will only be playable on iTunes, iPod/iPhone/iPad or Apple TV. You can buy either a composite or component cable to connect directly to your iPod but they are expensive for what they are and an Apple TV can do so much more. Or you could simply connect your PC to the TV if you have HDMI or DVI and play it through iTunes.

By the way, thanks Niall for the link to freemake.com. I am looking for video converter software to convert by DVDs and not heard of that one. I was on the verge of buying a package as none of the free ones I found provided a simple interface or handled the correct format or, in some cases, even worked. I shall have to that one a go first.

the problem with Apple TV is its 720 only

That's OK as everything you download from iTunes is 720 too which was the reason for the Apple TV in the first place.