Update Now TV app for apple TV

[Anonymous User]

Will the Now TV app for Apple TV ever get an update?

The current version is complete rubbish and makes me regret ever getting a Now TV pass.

Unless there is an update my Now TV experience will be very short indeed.

[Hooba]

@Enapace I imagine its Apple saying to Sky: if you're only doing 2.0 on the Now app on AppleTV, we're returning the compliment by only doing 2.0 for the SkyQ AppleTV+ app.

They were either both going to go 5.1, or 2.0. Looks like 2.0 won the day. 

[Enapace]

@Hooba

Apparently Sky have said Dolby Atmos is coming later to the Apple TV Sky Glass/Q next year we will see when they implement if Now implement 5.1 for us as well. I forgot how much decent speakers can sound lol. Hooked up a couple of stereo speakers to my second TV today just really made me realise how bad built in TV speakers are.

[Hooba]

@Enapace Oh yeah, decent speakers make a huge difference. My second TV uses an AppleTV 4K and a pair of HomePod minis - sound is really good even as 2.0. Main TV is AppleTV 4K (latest model) and a pair of full size HomePods - that sounds really good. Second TV I use AppleTV Now app. Main TV I access Now through BT Box Pro (5.1) and Arc that into AppleTV - Homepods. Very impressive. Good job we are detached ... !

[Enapace]

@Hooba 

I will probably add a subwoofer to the set up after christmas make it a proper 2.1 set up for a bit of base not going add a center or rear speakers though. 

[Shminky]

I once again experienced 5.1 sound from OnDemand. Wonder Woman 1984 (wife’s movie choice not mine) was definitely outputting 5.1, I could hear it plus my Sony system displayed the output as so. Not sure what is happening with other people, every episode of Dexter: New Blood also outputs as 5.1 via OnDemand for myself. 

[Popeye13]

So its possible they've finally flicked that switch and stopped messing AppleTV users about.

I notice that i don't get DD if i tune to a channel thats currently on an ad-break, or Sky Sports News / Sky News, unless i've previously tuned to a channel with DD (Usually Sky Cinema Animation)

[nst]

Nothings changed for me 

still only 2.0 for on demand stuff. 

[Shminky]

Can someone test Wonder Woman 1984 on demand and see what output they get? Hoping somebody else can get 5.1 and confirm I’m not going nuts. 

[Ab76]

I’m afraid that the Sonos app says that I’m only getting Stereo PCM for Wonder Woman 1984 when streaming it from on demand. 

The Sonos app says I’m getting Dolby 5.1 when I watch a live movie though. 

[nst]

@Ab76 

Exactly the same for me.

No change.

[Shminky]

Very strange. I just tried Wonder Woman again and I am still getting Dolby 5.1. Also tested Jurassic Park and Godzilla Vs Kong with both being Dolby 5.1. The start of Godzilla Vs Kong was very obvious to my ears it was Dolby 5.1 from that intro, my Sony system also displays as Dolby 5.1 on all. I don’t understand how I am able to get 5.1 but others can’t. I recently changed my HDMI cables to the latest hi speed versions but I’m sure others also have the same. There’s no obvious settings within the Apple TV itself that may need changing either. 

[waldopepper]

That is strange. I tested watching Wonder Woman on demand too, but it's definitely stereo for me. The icon says just stereo. Actually what does the icon show for you when you click on the film's details? Does it actually state 5.1 for you?

[Mark_Weinreb]

Guys, I don’t have a 5.1 setup, so I can’t indulge in any testing of this issue. However I had a thought:

Some of you can get 5.1 all the time, some get it some of the time, some only get stereo. So, my thought is, perhaps it is down to the home theatre equipment you’re using and how it is connected to the tv as well as the Apple tv model and actual tv itself. 

If the exact equipment combinations were known, a common factor may just emerge.

Sorry if this sounds like “blame the user”, but there must surely be a reason for this conundrum/fiasco.

[nst]

@Mark_Weinreb 

No its not.

Bear in mind those of us with such a setup have it wired in perfectly correctly ....

AND....

It works for ALL other apps across appleTV anyway.  We aren't going to go poking around with plugs and wires hen every other app is fine.

[Samuel71]

I think the previous user was just wondering if it’s a problem with the now tv app not reading the output properly or not able to send 5.1 to certain outputs rather than the app itself not being apple to do 5.1. Seemed like a valid question to me to see if that’s an issue.

Nothing to do with being set up correctly more to do with now tv not programming the app to detect when to send 5.1 maybe.

I myself have 5.1 capability for all apps but refuse to pay for boost until I know it’s working so can’t test. Actually tbh I refuse to pay for boost as it’s ridiculous in the world of streaming we are that 5.1 isn’t a standard. I’d also pay to go from stereo to Dolby vision and atmos but not just to go to 5.1. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[nst]

point being, NOW launched this app 1 year ago.

1 year.

plus 9 months of "beta testing".

.. on a device and OS that has many other streaming apps from many other companies.  ALL of which have been providing 5.1 content since the new AppleTV platform was launched in 2010.  2 0 1 0 - 11 years ago.

I find it impossible to accept that NOW are unable to provide a 5.1 stream on a device fully supported by all the other main players in the field... many of whom are no actually providing 4K Dolby ATMOS content now too.

Why has it taken a year.  Why is it still not working....

Why are they happy to charge AppleTV boost users full price for something that doesn't fully work on the platform?

Utterly ridiculous.

We can only hope they "fix" this soon.

As ive said before many times for the above reasons and more I just dont believe this could possibly be a technical issue.

Getting REALLY fed up waiting for this.

If this is a technical issue, then NOW should be utterly embarrassed by this.  They charge an arm and a leg compared to Netflix and Disney+ and Amazon Prime... yet they are content to provide the worst service.

[GW]

I tried what @Popeye13 said, and this might be a coincidence, but I put on the darts and my Sonos says it’s Dolby Digital 5.1 (I only have a 5.0 setup though.) There is definitely crowd noise in the back speakers, but it’s a little difficult to tell if it is broadcasting in 5.1 but I suspect it is. 

I tried Dexter on demand and the banner still says stereo but Sonos says it’s 5.1, but it’s clearly only stereo as there’s nothing in the back channels. It’s currently also on ‘live’ on Sky Atlantic and Sonos says that is 5.1, and there’s back channel action there. 🤔 

[UPDATE] I checked the broadcast episode to the on demand one. There’s a Leonard Cohen song that plays in episode three, and that played in the back channels live, but no in the on demand version. 

[Hooba]

Oh. Wow. I just got 5.1 for the first time on AppleTV. I had started to think it was a problem with my set up (pair of HomePods). But clearly not. Xcode is showing 6 channel audio, at 256kbps.

Never thought I'd see the day ...

[Hooba]

Update: All live channels 5.1. All on demand 2.0. And now I've got the same problem others are reporting on other threads referring to AppleTV / NowTV / HomePods - whenever the audio switches from 5.1 to 2.0 (e.g. adverts) the sounds drops out completely. Obviously something is broken and needs a fix ..... 

[nst]

@Hooba 

Ive had this since early August.

Checked again yesterday as I noticed the app had just been updated on the AppleTV...

however, no change.   Live is always 5.1, on demand is always 2.0

Utterly, utterly, ridiculous that we are using an app that has been 5.1 capable for months yet they wont let their on demand content be 5.1.

[dr_necessitor]

I’m surprised we haven’t heard anything about the new “Juice” pass. Only available to tv users. Same features as the “Boost” pass - but with added 5.1 sound, enabled across the board (Live AND On Demand for Sport, Movies, Entertainment). Just £10 a month extra (£6 if you get an offer). 

😂 Whoa! That was some nightmare I had last night…