blackout during playback on apple TV

Was watching 'Slow Horses' on Apple TV+ through my Apple TV (A2843, tvOS 18.6) when a couple moments in the show the picture went black. Audio was fine but video went to black for a couple of seconds.

I rewatched the scenes in question on the Apple TV app on my phone and NO BLACKOUTS.

This has only happened on the Apple TV app on my Apple TV device.

I've had separate issues on different apps on the TV device (Disney+ shows/movies taking forever to play) and a few months ago there was no signal coming from the device to the TV set. I switched out the HDMI cable and that seemed to fix THAT problem.

Is my Apple TV device going bad? Is there a known issue with the Apple TV+ app?

Thanks for any insight here.

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 18

Posted on Sep 25, 2025 1:08 PM

Top-ranking reply

XtremeArtists

Level 1

50 points

Posted on Nov 7, 2025 4:54 AM

On Apple TV hardware, this is also happening on Down Cemetery Road. The show is produced by 60forty Films, the same company that produces Slow Horses.

The workaround is to leave the Apple TV in 4K SDR and disable match frame rate and match dynamic range.

it’s possible only turning off dynamic range matching (leaving match frame rate on) could work since the issue seems to stem from the Dolby Vision metadata repeatedly forcing HDMI handshakes.

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22 replies

Oct 11, 2025 4:48 PM in response to johnbanana

Same here. Ran a TV OS update and forced a restart of the AppleTV app - but the problem persisted on the Apple TV. OK on the AppleTV app on my TCL TV.

Oct 21, 2025 9:23 PM in response to zamboknee

This issue just happened to me on the S05 E05 around the 7 minute mark. I'm watching on a PS5 via the Apple TV app.

zamboknee Author

Level 1

55 points

Nov 8, 2025 5:09 AM in response to chardaway

So to be clear....you were watching through the Apple TV app on your PS5, when it happened, right?

Nov 12, 2025 11:46 PM in response to Philip Brandes

Tried this. Didn't work.

Nov 13, 2025 10:08 AM in response to zamboknee

Yes

Nov 16, 2025 8:04 PM in response to XtremeArtists

Thank you!!! You saved the day. This solution worked for me.

Nov 14, 2025 9:34 AM in response to zamboknee

I wonder if this has anything to do with the new dolby vision 2 and hdr10+ "variable refresh rate" features.

I t was established somewhere in here that at least some people could avoid this issue by setting "match refresh rate" to off.

I suspect they are experimenting with this variable refresh rates, but it's just a hunch. in any case, don't use popular series to experiment!!

blackout during playback on apple TV