topic Re: Sky Q - audio on Paramount+ in Sky Q

Sky Q - audio on Paramount+

A+Daulby — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:41:52 GMT

Just watched Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ using my Sky Q box and noticed the the audio (using an A/V amplifier) is just PCM Stereo. I routinely get Dolby Digital (surround sound) on many Sky channels and Amazon Prime. For me, surround sound is an important part of enjoying a programme or film. I Emailed Paramount+ support who sent a list of devices that support surround sound. Here's the list:

Apple TV HD and 4k
Roku devices and Roku TV
Android TV
Fire TV

So, Sky Q is absent from the list. My question is why? Why doesn't Sky Q offer Dolby Digital on Paramount + ?

Re: Sky Q - audio on Paramount+

oldfella — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:55:50 GMT

Hi @A+Daulby

Possibly a Question for Paramount as they are supplying the content

Re: Sky Q - audio on Paramount+

nigea99 — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:11:36 GMT

@A+Daulby wrote:

Just watched Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ using my Sky Q box and noticed the the audio (using an A/V amplifier) is just PCM Stereo. I routinely get Dolby Digital (surround sound) on many Sky channels and Amazon Prime. For me, surround sound is an important part of enjoying a programme or film. I Emailed Paramount+ support who sent a list of devices that support surround sound. Here's the list:

Apple TV HD and 4k
Roku devices and Roku TV
Android TV
Fire TV

So, Sky Q is absent from the list. My question is why? Why doesn't Sky Q offer Dolby Digital on Paramount + ?

hi @A+Daulby

The app is supplied by Paramount + to SKY - hopefully it will eventually get 5.1 sound.

I use my Firestick (as I do for any apps I can't get on my TV) and even the Firestick app did not have 5.1. when P+ launched - it took several months for it to get 5.1 sound despite the Firestick platform, as far as I know, being technically the same as the U.S. where P+ already had DD+ & atmos and 4K support.

I guess we will never know why it is taking so long to get 5.1. on the SKY Q version of the app - especially as others apps on SKY Q do support DD+ and Atmos (although Atmos took a while IIRC for Disney+) - it could be delays (or just lack of will power) at either end

BTW Rather bizarrely SNW S2 is 2.0 for all episodes from 2 onwards even on a firestick - even though S2 episode 1 is 5.1 & S1 is fully 5.1 - The response from P+ when I queried this was rather disappointing & did not explain why the later episodes are 2.0 only

BTW I also think Surround Sound is an important part of the experience

Re: Sky Q - audio on Paramount+

A+Daulby — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:01:54 GMT

You have a point, maybe Paramount are only offering Sky a "vanilla" version of their service. But it seems an annoying oddity, as so much content is in surround sound.

Re: Sky Q - audio on Paramount+

SlenderRobert — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:50:12 GMT

It's a common thing in the UK with a lot of content from the USA.

There are many programmes which Sky have exclusivity on but which are only shown in HD with a maximum of 5.1 audio in the UK. The same content is often available in the USA in 4K with Dolby Vision & Atmos.

I have found in recent years that Sky's marketing of "everything in one place, easy" needs to be taken with a very large pinch of salt. You may get the quantity of content with Sky, but you don't always get the best quality.