Channel Bug/Logo Flicker

Channels Apple TV
#1

Note: I would post this in the beta section of the forum, but it appears to be closed (or at least to me).

Running the latest Channels beta with the latest tvOS developer beta on a Apple TV 4K. I am seeing a flicker channel bugs/logos. As far as I have noticed, this hasn’t been an issue with other graphics on the screen. It does not appear to be a problem when viewing the same channel on with the Channels app on my iPhone X or live via the Plex app on either device.

GIF: http://gph.is/2iX4bAp

Screenshot (via iPhone X): http://i68.tinypic.com/ei37fq.png

Once a program is on with a ticker on the bottom of the screen (news or sports), I will check that as well.

Quick update…right now this only appears to be happening with one channel for me (WTTV - CBS4 - Indianapolis). It also only happens with the local affiliate logo/bug is on the screen, NOT when it’s just the CBS “eye” logo. Weird. Once again…it’s only a problem when viewing live with this app…not live via Plex or on my iPhone.

#2

This is probably a deinterlacing artifact. You can try changing the deinterlacer on the Settings tab.

Are you saying it doesn’t happen in the regular Store app?

#3

Well, I’d like to preserve 60p for sports. That’s why I have it set to linear in the settings.

  • This does happen in both the regular (non-beta) version of the Channels app and the beta version of the Channels app on my Apple TV 4K.
  • It does not happen with the beta version of the Channels app on my iPhone X (with the same linear deinterlacing setting applied).
  • It does not happen when viewing the same live channel in the Plex app on my Apple TV 4K.
#4

I suspect it’s also happening on iOS, but the lower resolution makes it hard to notice.

Plex transcodes on your computer… last I checked it didn’t deinterlace at all, but maybe that’s changed. Since computers are more powerful, it might be using a more advanced motion-compensation deinterlacer.

When we first tried more complex deinterlacers on the ATV, it wasn’t able to keep up. But the A10X in the ATV4K is more powerful, so I plan to revisit and see if we can upgrade the deinterlacer when the app is running on that hardware.

One thing that might be helpful is if you start a recording on that channel when it’s having the issue, then stop it after a couple minutes. Email me the recording to [email protected] and I can investigate further.

#5

Well I would do that, but I do not currently subscribe to the DVR add-on. I appreciate your help! I’ve been telling people about your app since the first day I found it. A wonderful experience.

#6

Here’s how you can make a recording manually without any DVR software: TvOS 11 Stuttering

#7

Thank you. I just sent the email.

1 Like
#8

Just wanted check in on this. I know you’re busy!

#9

I got the email and sample but haven’t had a chance to dig in yet. Hopefully next week.

#10

Thanks for the sample.

I tried to play it in VLC with Deinterlace>On and Deinterlace Mode>Linear and saw the same problem as you.

Then I tried Deinterlace Mode>Yadif(2x) and it improved slightly, but it was still flickering a bit around the logo. Not as bad as Linear but still noticeable if you look at it.

Blend and Yadif(1x) show no flickering, but that’s because they only produce 30fps output. I’m guessing Plex is using Yadif(1x) when they transcode for ATV playback.

We plan to add a Yadif(2x) option to the app for ATV4K users, but it involves a fair bit of work and won’t happen for a couple months.