topic Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel in Sky Q

Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:03:32 GMT

I've been experiencing audio drop-outs when playing back recordings from Discovery HD. The drop outs last a fraction of a second and the frequency is random. They appear to be somewhat programme specific (Gold Rush:White Water is a particular problem). It's definitely only affecting recordings made on Discovery HD. No other channels. I never watch anything live.

I've contacted Discovery Channel direct three times now but never received a response. Could someone here attempt to escalate this?

Thanks.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

oldfella — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:20:55 GMT

@AndrueCope wrote:

I've been experiencing audio drop-outs when playing back recordings from Discovery HD. The drop outs last a fraction of a second and the frequency is random. They appear to be somewhat programme specific (Gold Rush:White Water is a particular problem). It's definitely only affecting recordings made on Discovery HD. No other channels. I never watch anything live.

I've contacted Discovery Channel direct three times now but never received a response. Could someone here attempt to escalate this?

Thanks.

Have you tried contacting Viewer relations @AndrueCope ?

viewerR@sky.uk

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:05:13 GMT

I'll give Viewer Relations a try, thanks.

It's irritating. It seems to come and go with gaps of several months between it. I suspect an issue with their source material but am surprised no-one else has noticed.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

dlake — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 02:06:12 GMT

I'm getting the same on the same channel. Making 'Wheeler Dealers' almost impossible to watch.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 14:06:12 GMT

If you set your box audio output to 'Normal' the drop-outs are barely noticeable. Luckily most of what I watch is on the 'documentary' channels so losing surround sound is not the end of the world. For what it's worth the problem does affect live broadcasts (I confirmed it last night) and that also showed that it affects adverts as well as the actual programming. The problem doesn't exist with the SD channels but that's probably because they don't support Dolby Digital.

I've emailed Viewer Relations so I'll just have to wait now.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

dlc — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 16:36:27 GMT

I'm having same issue particularly on Expedition X and Expedition Unknown really annoying I've done software update on box but it seems to be only on discovery plus

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

krg22 — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 19:08:50 GMT

Same here with Discovery channel audio dropping out on programmes I have recorded. If I look for the same programme on catch up and download it that way it's fine. Dont have an answer. Never happens on any other channel.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

Crossword — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:02:31 GMT

I have exactly the same problem which only affects Discovery HD recordings. I'm not going to turn off dolby so will download from catchup.

This is another issue like constantly buffering Paramount + and Sky Go stuck on updating that Sky don't seem to be addressing.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:49:49 GMT

The issue doesn't seem to affect catch-up and I'm wondering if that's because it doesn't support DD. Anyway I've come to the conclusion that there's not much DD material on Sky anyway. If you watch a lot of movies there might be more but I couldn't find any of my recorded programmes flagged as DD.

I'm exchanging emails with Viewer Relations and they appear keen to find out what the problem is so if you haven't contacted them yet it might be worth adding your voices. What I've found so far can be summarised as:

The drop-outs only affect recent programming. I did some testing this morning watching an old Wheeler Dealers episode (one of the Ant Anstead era) and it seemed fine. I also remember that only the last Expedition Unknown suffered from drop-outs. So that suggests it's a change they made sometime after the 7th of April. That could explain why I initially thought it was programme specific - perhaps I had some older recordings still to watch.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

krg22 — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:54:34 GMT

Thanks. I notice the issue watching Gold Rush White Water, the latest series.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

diesel71 — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:24:56 GMT

Also seeing this and found this thread when searching for an issue. So annoying.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:52:02 GMT

Viewer Relations appear now to be suggesting that it's a fault with my equipment. They directed me to a page on their help site - one I already knew about. I think that's probably because I mentioned I was watching on a Samsung TV. The fact I said I normally played sound via my Onkyo receiver apparently escaped them.

Oh well. I've said that doesn't help me so we'll see where we go from there. For now though I've just disabled DD output on the box. I can barely here the problem then.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

Crossword — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:59:24 GMT

I too have a Samsung tv and Onkyo receiver which have been in use for quite a while without this issue. ( my tv is not the model noted as affected by Sky)

Only since early April has this been an issue so Sky shouldn't blame viewers equipment but look to their software.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

dlake — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:30:40 GMT

Samsung TV and Yamaha receiver but the BSkyB Q box is connected directly to the receiver and then only the picture passed through to the TV. Glad this seems to be gathering a bit of momentum. They'll, surely, have to do something about it if more people start shouting.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

diesel71 — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:39:30 GMT

Sony TV and soundbar but also nothing has changed since it was working fine for months if not years.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 19:22:20 GMT

@dlake wrote:
Samsung TV and Yamaha receiver but the BSkyB Q box is connected directly to the receiver and then only the picture passed through to the TV. Glad this seems to be gathering a bit of momentum. They'll, surely, have to do something about it if more people start shouting.

Yeah I use my Onkyo (TX-NR555) as the source switch box which drives the TV but for Sky I'm using the optical link to drive audio on the Onkyo. I don't remember why though. Does Sky HDMI not support 5.1 DD, perhaps?

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

AndrueCope — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:38:52 GMT

I spoke with someone today and was told that it's a known issue and it's being worked on.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

krg22 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:09:48 GMT

Thanks @AndrueCope that's good.

For info, I have a newish Panasonic OLED Tv and use a Sky soundbox, so it's obviously not just a Samsung problem.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

Arisingstar — Tue, 21 May 2024 11:21:04 GMT

It has happened before and only on the Discovery channel. Eventually it moved to other channels but it appears that this time it is only on the Discovery Channel. That time it was cured by changing a setting on the Sky Q box but I doubt that is the issue this time because it is only that channel doing it.

As I mostly only watch that channel it is hugely annoying yo the point where I hardly ever watch it now.

It is ISN'T mine or anyone else's equipment or it would do the same thing on every channel all the time so it must be something to do with Sky's broadcast on that particular channel.

I have e just sat here watching Wheeler Dealers and it was dreadful for the first 20 minutes but it hasn't done it for the last nine minutes and sometimes it drops out on adverts and sometimes it doesn't.

Sky really do need to do something about it.

Re: Audio drop-outs on Discovery Channel

krg22 — Tue, 21 May 2024 12:39:35 GMT

@Arisingstar Agree entirely and funnily enough I was watching Wheeler dealers as well and experienced the same problems. Never have this on any other channel.