topic Re: Disney+ Query in What's On

Disney+ Query

Gincap — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:10:29 GMT

I've subscribed to Premium for a while now, however I noticed that my content was in HD only through Sky and Apple TV Disney app.

I was watching furious via Sky when it loaded a bumper to sign up to Disney played but Furious started and I thought no more other than the picture quality not so good for 4K.

So I stopped the program and realised I was watching a stream from the Sky server and not the Disney+ app. I'm guessing Sky is integrating Disney into Stream aside from the Disney app but despite subscribing to UHD premium only HD was available.

I had to log out of all of my Disney+ logins across my devices to reactivate the Premium subscription but although Disney+ app is now UHD the Sky server streams are still only HD.

1. Has anyone else noticed Disney content switching to Sky servers

2. Are you only receiving HD with a premium subscription.

3. Has Sky provided any information what the plan is here, server streams against Disney+ app.

Re: Disney+ Query

Angel_Aka — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:35:25 GMT

@Gincap wrote:
I've subscribed to Premium for a while now, however I noticed that my content was in HD only through Sky and Apple TV Disney app.

I was watching furious via Sky when it loaded a bumper to sign up to Disney played but Furious started and I thought no more other than the picture quality not so good for 4K.

So I stopped the program and realised I was watching a stream from the Sky server and not the Disney+ app. I'm guessing Sky is integrating Disney into Stream aside from the Disney app but despite subscribing to UHD premium only HD was available.

I had to log out of all of my Disney+ logins across my devices to reactivate the Premium subscription but although Disney+ app is now UHD the Sky server streams are still only HD.

1. Has anyone else noticed Disney content switching to Sky servers

2. Are you only receiving HD with a premium subscription.

3. Has Sky provided any information what the plan is here, server streams against Disney+ app.

That's not good.

If you're paying for Disney+ Premium then you should also be getting it at the correct 24fps and in Dolby Vision via the Disney+ app, not sped up to 25fps and only in HD via Sky's servers.

Did you choose the episode from a playlist or continue watching rail? Can you actually open the Disney+ app and play the episode from correctly in there?

Sky need to clarify exactly what they're doing here.

Re: Disney+ Query

Gincap — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:11:06 GMT

Normally I do watch Disney via Apple but already using Sky I used Stream

That's not good.

If you're paying for Disney+ Premium then you should also be getting it at the correct 24fps and in Dolby Vision via the Disney+ app, not sped up to 25fps and only in HD via Sky's servers.

Did you choose the episode from a playlist or continue watching rail? I selected it from Stream CW rail

Can you actually open the Disney+ app and play the episode from correctly in there? Yes but initially also in HD until I got my head around what was going on by logging out of the app and back in.

Sky need to clarify exactly what they're doing here. Would be nice to know if Disney is being merged into the Sky ecosystem.

Re: Disney+ Query

xenon81 — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:47:37 GMT

Since Sky/Disney's deal to include Disney+ in March, a selection of Disney+ content is available on Sky's On Demand system so it can be watched without opening the app/signing in etc, but this is only a very small number of programmes.

Re: Disney+ Query

lettice — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:51:28 GMT

This is not totally specific to Sky Stream/Glass.

You can also view the Furious series, along with some similar NatGeo series within Sky On demand on other Sky platforms and I also see it in the Sky Go (Q and +) app.

Have seen some other recent series (plus films) that have been listed on both Sky On demand and Disney+ app for a good six months or so.

With Sky Stream/Glass, the tile does show a Play option for the series in Sky On demand and below 'Play on Disney+' to launch the app.

The tile though for Furious does show Disney+ that may be slightly misleading, as it plays out with Sky On demand and uses the Sky box trickplay, not launching in the Disney + app.
If you feel that is worong, would suggest reporting the tile for the series to VR.

Re: Disney+ Query

Gincap — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:17:15 GMT

Thanks for info. I do believe that regardless of which is selected in or out of the app if you pay for UHD then you shouldn't be getting HD.

Re: Disney+ Query

Angel_Aka — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:22:17 GMT

@Gincap wrote:
Thanks for info. I do believe that regardless of which is selected in or out of the app if you pay for UHD then you shouldn't be getting HD.

I agree. I guess 'trickplay' (dumb name) is Sky tricking you into using their inferior stream.

If I were a customer I would definitely be contacting Viewer relations about this. I would also be contacting Disney+ about it. Are they aware that their customers are technically being deceived in this way? I know that most probably won't notice, some may even prefer it, but it does seem somewhat devious, particularly if more Disney+ content is being converted for Sky's servers to play out by default if a show is playlisted.

Re: Disney+ Query

Gincap — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:09:52 GMT

Yes , my main gripe was being converted to HD even within they Disney app despite paying premium only resolved by trying log out log in.

I nearly always use Apple for Disney, Netflix etc.

Re: Disney+ Query

mr.tickle — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:24:55 GMT

@Gincap wrote:
Yes , my main gripe was being converted to HD even within they Disney app despite paying premium only resolved by trying log out log in.

I nearly always use Apple for Disney, Netflix etc.

And that (using anything except Sky hardware for streaming) is almost always the best advice. It's the only way to get the correct framerates and full quality Dolby Vision for a start, as mentioned above.

Disney+ made a change a while ago which significantly hid and obfuscated which content is available in which format. For example imagine you want to watch a movie that's available in full quality Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. (on a Samsung TV D+ will stream a HDR10 version instead, nearly as good, still HDR).

Unless you pay for Premium Disney+, the best you can get is HD resolution and 5.1 audio. Imagine you don't have Premium, but you are considering getting it, and you want to know whether it's worth it and which programmes you like are available in a higher picture and sound quality.

BEFORE: You would see the badges in the Disney+ interface, showing Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. When you playback, you get HD/5.1 of course because that's all your subscription allows. But you had the information.

AFTER THE CHANGE: You now see the "HD" and "5.1" badges on that same content, because it matches the badges to your maximum subscription level! Now you have no clue whether it's available in higher quality or not with a Premium subscription. You have to take a "leap of faith" that X amount of programmes will get upgraded, specifically the ones you want to watch.

Re: Disney+ Query

Angel_Aka — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:25:52 GMT

@mr.tickle wrote:
@Gincap wrote:
Yes , my main gripe was being converted to HD even within they Disney app despite paying premium only resolved by trying log out log in.

I nearly always use Apple for Disney, Netflix etc.
And that (using anything except Sky hardware for streaming) is almost always the best advice. It's the only way to get the correct framerates and full quality Dolby Vision for a start, as mentioned above.

Disney+ made a change a while ago which significantly hid and obfuscated which content is available in which format. For example imagine you want to watch a movie that's available in full quality Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. (on a Samsung TV D+ will stream a HDR10 version instead, nearly as good, still HDR).

Unless you pay for Premium Disney+, the best you can get is HD resolution and 5.1 audio. Imagine you don't have Premium, but you are considering getting it, and you want to know whether it's worth it and which programmes you like are available in a higher picture and sound quality.

BEFORE: You would see the badges in the Disney+ interface, showing Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. When you playback, you get HD/5.1 of course because that's all your subscription allows. But you had the information.
AFTER THE CHANGE: You now see the "HD" and "5.1" badges on that same content, because it matches the badges to your maximum subscription level! Now you have no clue whether it's available in higher quality or not with a Premium subscription. You have to take a "leap of faith" that X amount of programmes will get upgraded, specifically the ones you want to watch.

I've only ever had a Premium sub so can't check but hasn't it always been the case that you can just click on the 'Details' tab on Disney+ content to get a list of 'Available in the following formats:'

It will then show you everything, regardless of subscription tier, 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, Atmos, 5.1, etc.

Worth noting also that most recent Samsung TVs will stream the superior adaptive HDR10+ version of content if it's available on Disney+, not just HDR10. It gives you a more finely tuned, shot by shot, type of HDR experience, comparable to Dolby Vision. This is using the TV's Disney+ app and a premium sub. Sky Stream pucks or Sky Glass can't output HDR10+. FireTV devices & newer generation Apple TV 4K boxes will also output HDR10+.

In the past, Disney+ have been poor at making all superior formats available. It can sometimes depend on the location. Similar to HBO Max, sometimes they'll only offer an HD/5.1 version of a show when it's actually available in 4K/DV/DA in other territories. They sometimes randomly upgrade the content at a later date but don't publicise the fact so it's always worth checking elsewhere if something catches your eye that you think may look better in a superior resolution.

Re: Disney+ Query

Gincap — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:37:13 GMT

It really is a bit hit n miss what quality output you'll get via stream 🤷‍♂️. Anyway my account is all sorted and Premium is confirmed and showing as such on the Disney+ app.

As I said earlier it was just pure chance that I watched Disney via stream as I generally use Apple as picture and sound are far superior.