Amazon Prime Video Apple TV app updated for 5.1 sound in UHD content, NFL streaming only on newer units [u]

On a recently updated document, Amazon has retracted claims that 5.1 sound is available in the early versions of the Amazon Prime Video app for the Apple TV, and that live streaming of Amazon channels and Thursday Night Football has limitations.

it isn't clear when the support document in question was updated. The document lists limitations and specifications for all streaming platforms compatible with Amazon Prime Video, spanning set-top boxes, consoles, and mobile devices.

Amazon Prime Video is available as a service on the third generation Apple TV. However, live streaming of Thursday Night Football, and Amazon Channels is limited to the fourth generation Apple TV and the 2017 release of the Apple TV 4K.

At launch, Amazon said that 5.1 sound was included in the the app, However, as shipped, receivers and televisions connected to an Apple TV were only getting PCM audio, and not the promised 5.1. Other systems not capable of 5.1 audio are Vizio televisions and blu-ray players from 2013 and earlier, Panasonic televisions, the Nintendo Wii, first and second generation Kindle Fire tablets, the Echo Show, website streaming to a computer, and most mobile devices.

Modern gaming consoles are capable of 5.1 sound, as are nearly all the embedded players in smart televisions.

The debut of Amazon Prime Video for Apple TV was highly anticipated, as it marks the first time users can browse and stream original content from the online retailer on Apple's set-top box. Popular programs produced by Amazon include "The Grand Tour," "Catastrophe," and "The Man in the High Castle," as well as acclaimed films like "Manchester by the Sea" and "The Big Sick."

Update After this article was published, Amazon updated the Amazon Prime Video app for 5.1 sound in 4K programming. Amazon claims that the audio improvements for HD and SD streamed content are coming soon.

22 Comments

lorin schultz 2744 comments · 10 Years

About 6 years ago

I'm a little confused by this. I don't understand what obstacles might prevent Amazon from streaming 5.1 audio to any device capable of supporting it. Does any other streaming service have this limitation?

Mike Wuerthele 6901 comments · 8 Years

lorin schultz said:

I'm a little confused by this. I don't understand what obstacles might prevent Amazon from streaming 5.1 audio to any device capable of supporting it. Does any other streaming service have this limitation?

Netflix can be 5.1. So, I presume not.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

lorin schultz said:

I'm a little confused by this. I don't understand what obstacles might prevent Amazon from streaming 5.1 audio to any device capable of supporting it. Does any other streaming service have this limitation?

Mike Wuerthele said:

lorin schultz said:

I'm a little confused by this. I don't understand what obstacles might prevent Amazon from streaming 5.1 audio to any device capable of supporting it. Does any other streaming service have this limitation?

Netflix can be 5.1. So, I presume not.

I suppose the questions I'd ask are: What prevented Amazon from including it? What coding hurdles are there for any tvOS App Store app wanting to support more additional channels of audio?

I'd assume that Apple has all the APIs and that Amazon's encodes would be standard, but I honestly don't know.

sevenfeet 471 comments · 16 Years

The Prime Video app was just updated today (12/20/17) with 5.1 support for UHD shows. SD and HD shows will come later according to the upgrade notes.

applesauce007 1702 comments · 17 Years

sevenfeet said:

The Prime Video app was just updated today (12/20/17) with 5.1 support for UHD shows. SD and HD shows will come later according to the upgrade notes.

I guess that's a good start.
These apps are too often ported multi platform applications, so iOS ends up with the lowest common denominator with very little if any iOS specific features.

Now that I have Prime Video, I am wondering if I still need Netflix.
Thoughts?