Disney+ Subscribers Face Frustration as Dolby Vision Features Disappear Across Europe
A growing number of European Disney+ subscribers are waking up to a disappointing reality: the high-definition visuals they've come to expect from their favorite streaming service have vanished. The culprit? Dolby Vision, an advanced HDR format that has been a hallmark of Disney's content offerings in recent years.
At first, it was just German subscribers who took to Reddit to express their frustration, only to find out that similar issues were plaguing fans in Portugal, Poland, France, and the Netherlands as well. Disney's response? A cryptic statement admitting that technical challenges had rendered Dolby Vision support unavailable in several European countries.
While the company claims to be actively working on resolving the issue, concerns have been raised about the long-term viability of restoring access to this much-coveted feature. Notably, Disney has removed any mention of Dolby Vision from its video quality support page in Germany – a move that has only added fuel to speculation that the real problem lies not with technology, but with patent disputes.
Sources close to the matter suggest that InterDigital, a company that won an injunction against Disney in November 2022 over alleged patent infringement on streaming video technology, may be at the center of this drama. While it's unclear exactly how the disputed patents apply to Dolby Vision, one thing is certain: Disney's European subscribers are facing a frustrating experience.
The question on everyone's mind now? Will Dolby Vision ever return to the Disney+ lineup in Europe – or will InterDigital's influence continue to hold back this beloved feature? Only time will tell.
A growing number of European Disney+ subscribers are waking up to a disappointing reality: the high-definition visuals they've come to expect from their favorite streaming service have vanished. The culprit? Dolby Vision, an advanced HDR format that has been a hallmark of Disney's content offerings in recent years.
At first, it was just German subscribers who took to Reddit to express their frustration, only to find out that similar issues were plaguing fans in Portugal, Poland, France, and the Netherlands as well. Disney's response? A cryptic statement admitting that technical challenges had rendered Dolby Vision support unavailable in several European countries.
While the company claims to be actively working on resolving the issue, concerns have been raised about the long-term viability of restoring access to this much-coveted feature. Notably, Disney has removed any mention of Dolby Vision from its video quality support page in Germany – a move that has only added fuel to speculation that the real problem lies not with technology, but with patent disputes.
Sources close to the matter suggest that InterDigital, a company that won an injunction against Disney in November 2022 over alleged patent infringement on streaming video technology, may be at the center of this drama. While it's unclear exactly how the disputed patents apply to Dolby Vision, one thing is certain: Disney's European subscribers are facing a frustrating experience.
The question on everyone's mind now? Will Dolby Vision ever return to the Disney+ lineup in Europe – or will InterDigital's influence continue to hold back this beloved feature? Only time will tell.
I'm so annoyed when things just disappear like that! First, we're told we have one thing, and then BAM! Poof! Gone! I mean, I know Disney likes to make money, but this is ridiculous. They need to sort out whatever's going on with InterDigital or something. It's not fair to their customers who are just trying to enjoy their shows in high quality. Can't they just be upfront about what's happening instead of being all cryptic? And now we're stuck with this mediocre video quality... 
it feels like disney is being super dodgy about the whole thing and not telling us what's really going on... i mean, removing the mention of dolby vision from their website in germany is pretty sus 
does anyone know if they're going to get dolby vision back or just have to keep watching with a lower quality? 
IT'S LIKE THEY TOOK AWAY A LIFESTYLE CHOICE FROM US EUROPEAN SUBSCRIBERS WITHOUT EVEN WARNING US! 
FIRST IT WAS GERMANY, THEN PORTUGAL, POLAND, FRANCE, AND THE NETHERLANDS - NOW EVERYONE IS WONDERING IF DOLBY VISION WILL EVER COME BACK! 
INTERDIGITAL'S INVOLVEMENT HAS ALL OF US SPECULATING ABOUT PATENT DISPUTES, BUT LET'S BE REAL, IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF LEGALESE THAT'S MAKING OUR HEADS SPIN 
COME ON, DISNEY! GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND FIX THIS ISSUE ALREADY! 
so i think disney is being super dodgy here... 
first they take away dolby vision and then just kinda ignore it on their support page in germany 
it looks like interdigital has some kinda hold on them 
maybe we'll never see dolby vision back on disney+ in europe 
unless they pay up for whatever patents are at play 
I'm getting so frustrated with Disney right now! First, they're taking away our favorite shows and movies... now this? It's like they're playing with fire, messing around with the picture quality that we actually pay for 
Disney+ is literally killing me! I mean, I know they're trying to save a buck, but come on, Dolby Vision is like the cherry on top of my streaming sundae. And now it's just... gone 
.
Come on Disney, sort this out!
. can't they just sort this out already? i'm not exactly a tech expert but it seems like patent disputes are the culprit... poor european subs are getting shafted 
Dolby Vision is like the icing on Disney+ cake - now it's getting ruined by corporate drama 
