Yes! Surround sound is available on select shows for these supported devices: Apple TV HD and 4k
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After 5 years of its launch, Hotstar finally brings Dolby 5.1 surround sound, when Disney Plus launches in India via Hotstar. Well, Dolby 5.1 is now on Disney Plus Hotstar but right now limited only to The Madalorian.
Big Bang Theory (CBS) was Dolby Digital surround and the rear speakers were clearly active. It also had substantial audio/video synch problems. There was maybe a half-second lip sync error most of the show.
Nicholas beat me to it, but I was going to suggest that maybe your local affiliate is not passing along the 5. 1 mix from the network. As others have noted, usually any network show that airs in HD gets a 5. 1 mix. I can confirm (per what I've been told by the network) that every NBC show that airs in HD is in 5.
In the comment another asked Disney to bring every content in Regional languages like Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu in 640 Kbps Audio Bitrate. The Mandalorian is in 5.1 but have 192 Kbps of Audio Bitrate. Comparing it with Netflix and Amazon they both provide content in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound with 640 Kbps of Audio Bitrate.
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By default, the Amazon Firestick only supports stereo output. For this reason, apps will be able to stream stereo content by default.
The Amazon Firestick is a video streaming device made by Amazon. It has the shape of an oversized USB flash drive. Additionally, you can plug it directly with the HDMI video input of your television.
The process of setting up the streaming device is pretty straightforward. You want your surround sound working well with Firestick, so ensure you get the setup correct.
When you purchase your Firestick, either from Amazon or other sources on the market, you will not get enough information from the instruction manual.
Many Firestick owners typically use an AV receiver to push the audio of the Fire Stick through the surround sound of their home theater.
Dave Johnson, What Is An Amazon Fire TV Stick?’: Amazon’s Portable But Powerful Streaming Device, Explained, Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-amazon-fire-stick/
When detecting Dolby 5.1, it will scroll "Dolby Digital 3/2.1" from right to left. CBS does a six channel stereo effect when outputting shows not originally in true 5.1. The local and national newscasts, some (not all) commercials, etc.
Pretty much all prime-time shows are in 5.1, with results different with each show's individual mix. For example, CSI: has a great mix of the title song, but the majority of the show is front-heavy except for scenes in the morgue which have nice reverb of people's voices.
(In theory, you could take a down-mixed stereo signal and send it through a digital connection, like you could from a CD player, but then the Dolby Digital light would not come on.)
Chuck was not 5.1 for me, but CBS shows were. So, after watching several new shows tonight, I've got mixed results. Everything is "Dolby Digital", as a matter of being sent by optical digital connection. Chuck on NBC was stereo and my receiver used Dolby Pro Logic II (Movie) to decode it.
But the receiver shows many HD shows are in stereo. The SuperBowl, for example, was digital stereo and decoded by the Dolby Pro Logic II system, not as 5.1 digital surround. PBS HD shows are often in mono, coming only through the center channel. Reruns of CSI NY are in dolby digital but only have two channel information.