How to turn off the "soap opera" effect with ATV 4k and LG OLED TV?

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How to turn off the "soap opera" effect with ATV 4k and LG OLED TV?

I have an LG OLED TV (55B7A). Prior to buying an ATV 4k, we were using the built-in Netflix and Amazon Prime apps to watch shows with no complaints.

Once we connected the ATV, however, we started getting what I've since learned is called the "soap opera" effect. It looks like we're watching a B-movie, or like we're watching a cheap video recording of people on a set.

I did some research and found articles explaining how to disable this effect in the LG TV settings. I turned off "TruMotion", noise reduction, and all other "features" that could contribute to this.

However, we're still seeing the effect. And we didn't have it prior to hooking up the ATV. This tells me that there must be a setting or settings in ATV that are contributing. What can I do to turn it off?

At this point, my wife and I actually prefer to watch Netflix or Amazon Prime on my MacBook Pro or iPad Pro because we HATE the soap opera effect so much. I'm really hoping there's some way to turn it off!

Thanks for your help.

Posted on Jan 4, 2020 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Badlydrawnboy Author

Level 2

376 points

Jan 7, 2020 6:01 AM in response to public7

I'm still testing this out, but think I may have found a solution. In my LG TV settings, after I turned off TruMotion and noise reduction, I then chose "Apply to all inputs". Without that step, I think it was just applying those settings to content watched through the LG TV apps. Now it is also applying those settings to the HDMI input that the Apple TV is connected to. Maybe your TV has a similar setting?

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Answer 2

public7

Level 1

4 points

Jan 6, 2020 2:55 PM in response to Badlydrawnboy

Yes I'm returning my ATV tonight as I've had the same experience. Match frame is ON. It's really pronounced and unwatchable for me. Same content looks great on my 2018 Samsung using internal system instead of ATV.

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Answer 3

Badlydrawnboy Author

Level 2

376 points

Jan 4, 2020 2:58 PM in response to vazandrew

Thank you. Match frame rate is on.

I just disconnected the ATV from the TV again. I went to the picture settings in the TV, and made sure that TruMotion and noise reduction are off. Then I opened the Netflix app on the TV and pulled up some programs. No soap opera effect.

Then I connected the ATV, ensured that the TV settings are the same, ensured that match frame rate is on, and played the same program. I see the soap opera effect.

Clearly, there's some issue with how the ATV is affecting the LG TV. But I don't know what.

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Answer 4

vazandrew

Level 8

40,462 points

Jan 7, 2020 8:34 AM in response to Badlydrawnboy

Yes, it will require those settings be set for the specific input the device is connected to. I did not think otherwise because it sounded as if that had already been done based on your description. The 'apply to all inputs' may be something specific to LG, others may require each input to be set individually. Referring to the manual is always a good step when troubleshooting as well.

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Answer 5

vazandrew

Level 8

40,462 points

Jan 4, 2020 8:52 AM in response to Badlydrawnboy

Go into the settings and make sure you have match frame rate enabled

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Answer 6

vazandrew

Level 8

40,462 points

Jan 4, 2020 4:46 PM in response to Badlydrawnboy

I’m not seeing that on my system, and have not seen any specific reports to this effect. I would reach out to LG and Apple support to help identify what is happening.

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Answer 7

vazandrew

Level 8

40,462 points

Jan 6, 2020 3:47 PM in response to public7

Have you tried contacting support?

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How to turn off the "soap opera" effect with ATV 4k and LG OLED TV?

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