Netflix-App-Update breaks Atmos and 5.1 on AppleTV 4K

[ibaneye]

Difficult for me to determine if it's TVOS or the apps, as all the Atmos enabled apps I have, Netflix, Disney+, Plex, etc., seem to have their own updates along with TVOS. Most are stuck in 2.0 land, except AppleTV+, which is now outputting 7.1, instead of Atmos. Odd! Atmos badging has disappeared from all but AppleTV+; maybe pointing towards an OS level issue... 14.2beta, to be clear.

 

[Mark Yastion]

I assume Tidal Atmos is not via DD+ as it is for iTunes, Netflix and Disney+?

Tidal Atmos is the same Dolby Metadata-enhanced Audio Transmission (Dolby MAT).

 

[waw74]

My Plex app updated today and this now also only outputs 2.0 - previously working fine after last week's upgrade to tvOS 14. Has anyone else noticed this following the Plex app update today?

also a CX, but sonos arc
I am on the 14.2 beta (don't do it, it fixes nothing, and breaks things , no atmos anywhere)


I still get 5.1 in plex on the updated app.
both from stuff that's in 5.1 and in shows that plex transcodes from 7.1

---- to the tidal questions

when attempting to play atmos from tidal, I get a warning that it's not supported on this device

 

[Jalu]

Difficult for me to determine if it's TVOS or the apps, as all the Atmos enabled apps I have, Netflix, Disney+, Plex, etc., seem to have their own updates along with TVOS. Most are stuck in 2.0 land, except AppleTV+, which is now outputting 7.1, instead of Atmos. Odd! Atmos badging has disappeared from all but AppleTV+; maybe pointing towards an OS level issue... 14.2beta, to be clear.

To be honest, this seems to me like a separate issue with tvOS 14.2 beta.

The issue for which this thread was started concerns ONLY the Netflix app (and possibly also the Plex app, I don't use that) which has stopped offering any 5.1/Atmos audio streams since the latest update. Which I find quite the blunder from Netflix, pushing such an update while apparently not testing such basic functionality.

The Netflix app doesn't even show the surround sound indicators (5.1, Dolby Atmos) in the info screens anymore.

 

[ibaneye]

To be honest, this seems to me like a separate issue with tvOS 14.2 beta.

The issue for which this thread was started concerns ONLY the Netflix app (and possibly also the Plex app, I don't use that) which has stopped offering any 5.1/Atmos audio streams since the latest update. Which I find quite the blunder from Netflix, pushing such an update while apparently not testing such basic functionality.

The Netflix app doesn't even show the surround sound indicators (5.1, Dolby Atmos) in the info screens anymore.

I believe you may be correct. Seems like I'm looking at compounded issues...

 

[Jalu]

I believe you may be correct. Seems like I'm looking at compounded issues...

Just to be clear: On tvOS 14.0, Dolby Atmos works just as it should using other apps, like Infuse and the Apple TV+ app. It's only the Netflix app not offering anything but 2.0 stereo anymore.

 

[MacinMan]

Wanted to confirm that Netflix is only doing 2.0 here as well. TVOS 14.0 on both a 4th gen and 4k Apple TV. I don't have ATMOS abilities, but I do have 5.1. As others have said other apps seem to work just fine, and it's just Netflix. Plex was also mentioned, and I just tested Plex before completing this post, and sound works correctly for me in Plex. I have the latest Plex Media Server, and app. Most of my media on Plex is Blu-ray rips so they either have DTS HD or Dolby TrueHD as the main track.

 

[Laurentiu Catalin]

The problem is with Apple, not Netflix! Tvos beta 14.2 broke it! Apple knows about this problem. Updating to Netflix was just a coincidence! Try reporting to Apple, not netflix

 

[Laurentiu Catalin]

I have 4 appletv 4k. On one I have the old version of Netflix. Also, dolby atmos does not work. The problem is tvos14.2!

 

[MacinMan]

The problem is with Apple, not Netflix! Tvos beta 14.2 broke it! Apple knows about this problem. Updating to Netflix was just a coincidence! Try reporting to Apple, not netflix

In my case, it's Netflix. I am NOT on the beta. I'm running on TVOS 14.0.

 

[ibaneye]

I have 4 appletv 4k. On one I have the old version of Netflix. Also, dolby atmosphere does not work. The problem is tvos14.2!

It's both Netflix and TVOS 14.2. The Netflix update has broken itself, but the TVOS 14.2 update has broken Atmos everywhere (including Netflix).

 

[Danindub]

Same issue here with Netflix since the last update: will only play 2.0. I'm on iOS 14.0 (official one). No problem with Disney+, Prime Vidoe or Apple TV+ app though.

 

[MacinMan]

With the exception of the TVOS 14.2 beta known bugs, i was wondering when I first experienced the problem if this was deliberate move on Netflix. They and Apple haven't played nice in a long time over various issues.

 

[Jalu]

The problem is with Apple, not Netflix! Tvos beta 14.2 broke it! Apple knows about this problem. Updating to Netflix was just a coincidence! Try reporting to Apple, not netflix

Again: two different issues:

1. Atmos and 5.1 does not work on the latest version of the Netflix app on any tvOS version.

2. Apparently, Atmos/5.1 is also broken on tvOS 14.2 beta. But quite frankly, that’s the risk of running beta software.

 

[ibaneye]

Again: two different issues:

1. Atmos and 5.1 does not work on the latest version of the Netflix app on any tvOS version.

2. Apparently, Atmos/5.1 is also broken on tvOS 14.2 beta. But quite frankly, that’s the risk of running beta software.

True, true & true. People get so up in arms when betas break things - the desire to be 'cutting-edge' outweighs the risk, but then how easily they forget the risk.

 

[Wolf39us]

Confirming.

Apple TV+, Infuse, Plex all have 5.1 audio (I have an Atmos enabled receiver)
Netflix, no matter what I do, always outputs in 2.0 PCM

 

[SilverRubicon]

With the exception of the TVOS 14.2 beta known bugs, i was wondering when I first experienced the problem if this was deliberate move on Netflix.

That is a concern. Prime Video dropped Dolby Vision. Maybe Netflix looked at the numbers and didn't see a cost benefit of providing Dolby Atmos. Fingers crossed that it's merely a bug.

 

[Mark Yastion]

That is a concern. Prime Video dropped Dolby Vision. Maybe Netflix looked at the numbers and didn't see a cost benefit of providing Dolby Atmos. Fingers crossed that it's merely a bug.

There is no way Netflix would drop atmos support given how many people have home theaters. Second the reason I think it’s a bug is 5.1 is also not working which is a setup lots of average people have.

 

[Wolf39us]

There is no way Netflix would drop atmos support given how many people have home theaters. Second the reason I think it’s a bug is 5.1 is also not working which is a setup lots of average people have.

Netflix is the ONLY app I have (and I have several) with 5.1 issues. If Apple broke their 5.1 capabilities, then it is the developers responsibility to fix it.

Clearly whatever broke isn't present in other apps.

 

[Mark Yastion]

Netflix is the ONLY app I have (and I have several) with 5.1 issues. If Apple broke their 5.1 capabilities, then it is the developers responsibility to fix it.

Clearly whatever broke isn't present in other apps.

Not like this is helpful but in the windows 10 Netflix app atmos and 5.1 work perfectly

 

[MacinMan]

That is a concern. Prime Video dropped Dolby Vision. Maybe Netflix looked at the numbers and didn't see a cost benefit of providing Dolby Atmos. Fingers crossed that it's merely a bug.

This is one reason I've chosen to use Roku as my Primary Streamer, and Apple TV as secondary. Unlike Apple, Roku doesn't sell content, they simply provide the platform for Vendors to use, which probably makes licensing much easier, and with Apple bringing the Apple TV channel to Roku, really I can still access my iTunes purchased content without a physical Apple TV. I know I still use a few apps on Apple TV, that I can't on Roku, but I'm basing his strictly on commercial services, that are pretty much everywhere now.

 

[Wolf39us]

This is one reason I've chosen to use Roku as my Primary Streamer, and Apple TV as secondary. Unlike Apple, Roku doesn't sell content, they simply provide the platform for Vendors to use, which probably makes licensing much easier, and with Apple bringing the Apple TV channel to Roku, really I can still access my iTunes purchased content without a physical Apple TV. I know I still use a few apps on Apple TV, that I can't on Roku, but I'm basing his strictly on commercial services, that are pretty much everywhere now.

wut?

Last I checked, Roku has advertisements built right into their homepage.

 

[ibaneye]

wut?

Last I checked, Roku has advertisements built right into their homepage.

Yeah. That interface fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down!

 

[Tyler72]

How long will it take until the next iOS update to fix atmos problem ?

 

[MacinMan]

wut?

Last I checked, Roku has advertisements built right into their homepage.

They do have ads yes, but they aren't always visible. The channel interfaces have much improved in recent years. Depending on the channel, the interface is on par, or the same as the same app on the Apple TV, or other streaming devices. I've used both platforms for a few years together now, and I'm so used to both. I don't even think about stuff like ads most of the time. Hey, at least the Youtube channel on the Roku supports 4K/ HDR, the latest Youtube update for apple TV still Doesn't do that. I tried it.