Dolby Atmos Comes to Netflix

Dolby Atmos Comes to Netflix​

(Netflix; Dolby)(June 28, 2017) Greg Peters (Chief Product Officer, Netflix) has announced that Netflix is now offering Dolby Atmos support. According to a company blog post, the service begins today with Okja, a critically acclaimed film that recently debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

Rollout of the technology will be rather slow, with nearly a month’s time elapsing between the debut of Okja and the release of a second title, BLAME!, on July 28. Other announced titles include Death Note (August 25), Bright (December), and Wheelman (2017). And while Netflix expects the catalog to continue to grow, the lack of blockbuster powerhouse hits is notably absent from its initial reveal.

Peters noted that many Atmos titles will likely be available in 4K and HDR.

Atmos streaming is currently supported on Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox One S. Owners of these console systems can get the full Atmos treatment through Atmos enabled home theater systems, televisions, soundbars, or through headphones when using the new “Dolby Access” app available in the Xbox Store.

Peters says that Atmos playback via Netflix will also be supported on 2017 LG OLED televisions later this year. He added that support for more devices would be added over time.

Those subscribers with appropriate gear must subscribe to the “4 Screens + Ultra HD” plan to have access to Atmos encoded media. In addition, streaming quality must be set to “High” or “Auto,” with a native Internet connection speed of at least 3 megabits per second. Netflix says it will display an Atmos icon next to Atmos encoded titles.

 

[Sonnie]

Very nice!

 

[Todd Anderson]

The death of the physical disc just inched that much closer...

 

[Sonnie]

Good point! Although I still like being able to see it 4 weeks sooner than waiting for it on Netflix.

But yeah... 4K/HDR/Atmos all on Netflix... not sure why you would buy a movie if you don't mind waiting until it's released... assuming it will be available on Netflix.

 

[Todd Anderson]

The 4K media I've streamed to my LG OLED from Amazon has be ridiculously good. It sure feels like we're getting closer.

I'll stick with discs, tho, as long as I can for the home theater. The thought of having a single ounce of lesser audio or video drives my desire for the disc. I'm sure most enthusiasts feel the same way.

 

[tesseract]

This 99% music listening system usage two channel guy went surround (with no regrets!) a few years recent. Most of my viewing, when the occasion strikes, is via Netflix. Having heard extremely convincing Atmos demonstrations, I am now prompted to step up my game again!

 

[phillihp23]

This 99% music listening system usage two channel guy went surround (with no regrets!) a few years recent. Most of my viewing, when the occasion strikes, is via Netflix. Having heard extremely convincing Atmos demonstrations, I am now prompted to step up my game again!

Itch...Itch...Hometheateritus anyone....

 

[phillihp23]

This is some interesting and great news....hope Netflix continues the fight for quality streaming.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Dennis - you'll love Atmos!

 

[Sonnie]

I was talking with our local cable owner and he was telling me it won't be long before they will simply provide a streaming box for their clients. They already offer what we have now, IPTV, where it's all over the Internet. We can simultaneously record an unlimited number of shows with no storage limit. I don't think it will be long before they'll include Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc, in with their boxes. Streaming is where everything is headed.

I remember talking about this 5-6 years ago at HTS. We said one day the disc will be gone and we'll access it anytime online. I already see where you can buy digital downloads of movies now online and store them permanently for viewing as often as you desire.

 

[Asere]

This is some awesome news. I had called Netflix a few months back to see if they where going to have Atmos anytime soon and the rep said he didn't know but eventually. It finally is here much sooner then I expected. I do not have 4K gear but I will definitely upgrade my Netflix subscription just for the Atmos experience when more and more titles are available

 

[typ44q]

I am guessing this is Atmos with 5.1 surround so 5.1.2?
I agree with Todd about sticking with physical media for now. The Video quality isn't there yet and they still have a long way to go with the audio too. Plus the fact that netflix seems to remove movies and tv shows about as fast as they add new ones makes physical media even more attractive.

 

[Tonto]

I would imagine it's what ever your system decodes. Be great if it is 5.2.4!

 

[typ44q]

I was saying 5.1 because as far as I know netflix does not do 7.1

 

[Asere]

I bumped my Netflix subscription just as a trial to get Atmos (couldn't wait) but I am unable to display Atmos with Netflix program Okja.
I have a 1080p tv the F8500 and an Atmos capable receiver the x4200 and I get Netflix from my Roku.
I understand I won't get the 4K image but I should be able to get the Atmos, yes?

 

[typ44q]

So currently the only way to get Atmos is to use the netflix app on an Xbox one or one S

 

[Asere]

So currently the only way to get Atmos is to use the netflix app on an Xbox one or one S

Yup I see that now. At work I read too fast plus having dyslexia does not help me. I will move the Xbox One to the family room then

 

[Todd Anderson]

Well... the very nature of Dolby Atmos is that the encode uses metadata that a receiver then decodes and best applies to whatever speaker configuration you have deployed. It's not locked into any one speaker configuration. So, if Netflix is running Atmos, it should work on 7.1.4 down to 5.1.2...and someday will accommodate more speakers too!

 

[typ44q]

Right and with virtually no extra overhead, which is why I am surprised that it took so long.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I bumped my Netflix subscription just as a trial to get Atmos (couldn't wait) but I am unable to display Atmos with Netflix program Okja.
I have a 1080p tv the F8500 and an Atmos capable receiver the x4200 and I get Netflix from my Roku.
I understand I won't get the 4K image but I should be able to get the Atmos, yes?

Check this out:

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/64066

 

[Todd Anderson]

Right and with virtually no extra overhead, which is why I am surprised that it took so long.

Hard to say... probably requires more bandwidth?

 

[Asere]

Thanks I meet all the Atmos requirements except I don't have a Netflix Atmos capable device in the family room. My Roku and Oppo 103D does not support Atmos via Netflix. I will need to move my Xbox One to the family room.
I emailed Oppo to see if they where going to provide a firmware update for Atmos on Netflix.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I just reached out to my contact at OPPO to see if I can get any insight for you.

I'm sure relegating it to Xbox...and eventually 2017 LG Vs... has some marketing dollars behind it (my guess). If true, how long those deals last will likely dictate future availability on other devices.

 

[Asere]

Check this out:

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/64066

I just reached out to my contact at OPPO to see if I can get any insight for you.

I'm sure relegating it to Xbox...and eventually 2017 LG Vs... has some marketing dollars behind it (my guess). If true, how long those deals last will likely dictate future availability on other devices.

Thank you Todd and yes what you said is possibly true.

 

[typ44q]

Hard to say... probably requires more bandwidth?

I was wrongly under the impression that Atmos just redirected the audio that was already there to the extra speakers but according to an interview with a Dolby PR manager "depends on the complexity of the content itself. Our initial goals are to minimize overhead to 20% or less."
That would explain why it has taken so long for it to be available on streaming services where every bit is sacred.
I wonder if netflix is dialing up the compression even more on the audio and video to compensate for it.