Netflix on Apple tv and VoiceOver

By themusicman08, 12 October, 2018

Forum
tvOS and Apple TV Apps

So let me start off by saying that I am a bit confused here. I have the latest OS for the Apple TV 4th generation and I am also using VoiceOver. When watching a TV series such as Star Trek, this is what it should be doingbut it isn't doing the following.
When an episode shows the credits in the top left of the screen, near the right edge of the screen is the next episode along with what it is about. VoiceOver used to read all of this to me. It's not. This has been going on for over a year. I have fought with Netflix and Apple's accessibility hotline to see if we could get someone to take a look at this. I don't want to do a complete factory reset on the TV because then I would lose all of my apps and if I understand the TV side correctly, you can't pull from ICloud like you can a phone, IPod, or IPad. Also one more thing I am noticing. When you are looking at an individual episode, you should be able to swipe up on the Siri remote control and get the episode synopsis with VoiceOver. This is not happening. I have checked with a friend and she says her device is working properly.
Any help would be appreciated.

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Comments

By Roxann Pollard on Monday, October 22, 2018 - 23:12

I use the Apple TV fourth generation. The way I can see the episode description is to open the more episodes so that you see the entire list. Then I highlight the episode and Voiceover will read its associated description. If I want to see the description of a movie, I open the movie up so that I see the play button. Then Voiceover will read the description of the movie for me.

Admittedly, Voiceover has had some annoying issues of late. I find that Voiceover cuts itself off before something is fully spoken. I have to repeat the gesture in order to get it to read sometimes.

By Seanoevil on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 23:12

Hi,

I have a Netflix Account and an Apple TV, and can partially confirm your problem.
In my experience, when watching a series on Netflix, VO will sometimes read the next episode description at the end of one ep and before the next one starts. And sometimes it won't.

I cannot confirm what causes this behaviour, but notice it varies from Series to Series and even from within the one Series. Hi, My name is @SeaNoEvil00 and I am a Binge-oholic."

I do wonder if the increasing number of User Interface Options at the start and end of a show is causing focus problems for VO. For example, I note that some series offer buttons to Skip Recap and to Skip Titles at the start of a Show and some Series now have a button if you want to watch the End Credits.

Personally, though the inconsistency annoys me, there are many other ways to access this information so I have not concerned myself about it too much. Now, if anyone needs me I am half way through Brooklyn 99.
HTH

@SeaNoEvil00