Seems like there are issues with primarily Sony TVs that 4k & Dolby Vision are not currently working. It is only streaming in HD through the app. My a80J it stopped this past Friday (Nov 19) so not related to most recent update on Nov 1.
Just curious if other AndroidTV/Google TV users are seeing the same thing. Particularly wondering if any non Sony TV users are seeing the issue and what device being used.
Mecool km2 tv box no such issues. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091F18931
So when ever you start a stream - no matter the device you use - streaming services does a ton of things. But in this case its most likely security-related, and on your device there was a security check done by Disney that didnt succeed so they send you the lower quality version.
Most of the time its a screen using old cables, but as another poster wrote this might be a chip-issue where Sony have to update the firmware in your TV before 4K works again.
Background:
Traditionally when securing rights as a streaming-provider you have to live up to certain security demands. These are different depending on quality you want to stream of course. The purpose is to protect against piracy, so the better quality is more valuable.
720P = Mainly basic demands around DRM-keys and geography limitations (Ip-check). 720P is usually the gurantereed quality you get in browsers for example where security is almost non existent in terms of protecting video. Especially Chrome have horrible security, so most services go for 720P when using Chrome.
1080P = Usually not much different than 720P in demands but some rights-holders already here start demanding stuff like HDCP protection , and that is when the issues usually start for both consumer and product.
This is because HDCP usually forces demands around what cables to use (HDMI 2+, DispleyPort, DVI etc.) as they support HDCP-encrypted content when send. At the same time the device/receiver of content have to support HDCP as well.
UHD/4K = HDCP is 100% sure a demand when going to UHD/4K, which is why you only find the really high quality premium content on the bigger screens a lot of the time.
As you stream directly on the TV, and not through HDMI-cable or similar from another device - most likely something is wrong with HDCP-security on your TV and havent been updated yet. So it just limits the quality to 1080P. It could also be Disney increasing security demands, and your Sony device simply isnt capable of supporting that anymore.
Dont know if your other alter-ego is Mr. Mike - but he has the same issue here:
I’m on Philips Tv and ATMOS has been broken for the last two updates but I’m still getting 4K and DV.
many users reported x900h x950g a80j etc..not only for u, facing same issue from nov 11th
only HD IMAX ENHANCED,No 4k dolby vision and atmos
I have a TCL s546 googletv. How Do I check the video quality?
I get laggy UI while watching movies on DisneyPlus app. Like the video jsut starts stuttering and the audio keeps playing.
I need to restart the video to make it go away.
Google TV as whole is also very laggy on bootup for me. I have seen rokuTvs and they are uch faster.
Guys Imax Enhanced/Dolby Vision/Dolby atmos with 4k enabled just now on my x950G,pls check yours too
I have a Hisense Android TV, and it will show 4K content on all apps but Disney+. I only noticed when Hawkeye started airing and checked the Signal Quality. It was even lower than 720p. Checked all other apps, and they were fine. Checked Disney+ thru the xBox and it was 4K.
I am still seeing these posts pop up across a lot of SmartTVs running Android, so I am not sure if anyone is interested in fixing this. I wouldn't even know where to start reporting it...
Had the same problem with my Philips TV in 2019 or 2020 I think. It had to do with a DRM certificate inside the mediatek cpu that wasnt renewed or something like that. It was patched in a firmwareupdate a few months later. Could not stream 4K in Disney+ and Amazon that time, Netflix was working fine though. Had to do with different levels of DRM protection on the cpu that was needed for 4k in these apps. Might be the same issue here…