Prime Video stopped showing 4K content in Brazil; understand why

“I have an annual subscription to Prime Video and I demand what was contracted. I have a 4K TV and soundbar to enjoy 4K content with Dolby Atmos or DTS-X, and you, out of nowhere, without prior negotiation, removed all 4K content and sound systems.” This is one of consumer complaints on Reclame Aqui after noticing that Amazon’s streaming platform no longer supports the playback of 4K content.

But what motivated this sudden change? Let’s understand the details in this article.

What happened to 4K on Prime Video?

The absence of 4K resolution support on Prime Video was just a matter of time. This stems from a lawsuit filed by DivXwhich accused Amazon of using technology HEVC (essential for compressing HD and 4K videos) without the appropriate licenses, that is, without paying the necessary royalties.

The misuse of HEC is not just restricted to Prime Video, the company also mentions the Echo Show and Fire Stick devices.

Initially, the Brazilian court ordered Amazon to stop using HEVC technology within five days. The company obtained an appeal to extend this period to 30 days and, on August 26, requested an additional 50 working days, citing the technical complexity of implementing the changes.

Return of 4K support is possible, but with no set deadline

Amazon has not ruled out the possibility of offering 4K content again on Prime Video, but this depends on a process of recoding the catalog to another codec, the deadline for which has not been disclosed.

In addition to the loss of 4K, the absence of HEVC impacts features such as HDR and audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos and DTS-X.

Practical tests: lack of 4K and advanced features

I carried out tests with some content on the platform to verify the changes.

The Grand Tour: Before, one of the highlights of Prime Video for its image quality. The “UHD” (Ultra HD/4K) badge no longer appears, indicating that playback is limited to a lower resolution. HDR support has also been removed, and audio is only displayed with 5.1 (Dolby Surround) compatibility.

When starting an episode of the series, the pop-up regarding HDR support is also no longer displayed.

My Future Self: Despite the “Dolby Vision” label being present in the catalogue, the TV does not identify the passage of the HDR signal when playing the film.

Rings of Power: The “UHD” label is gone, but the Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos icons remain. However, when starting playback, the TV does not recognize HDR, and the receiver did not identify audio in Dolby Atmos.

Therefore, the platform is indicating information that no longer matches the actual reproduction support that Prime Vídeo is currently delivering.

What does Amazon say?

In a note, Amazon issued the following position:

We disagree with the court ruling and are disappointed that DivX has taken steps to limit options for customers. The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) agrees that the DivX patent is invalid to the extent that, in theory, it would be infringed and we are confident that this situation will be resolved soon. In the meantime, Fire TV devices continue to be available on Amazon and customers will be able to continue enjoying the Prime Video experience.