ASS subtitles on Android TV (Sony) doesn't render when italic

Plex Players
1

Server Version#: 1.41.5.9522
Player Version#: 10.28.0.3441

I just noticed that my Sony TV doesn’t show all content from ASS subtitles. Seems like when it has italic styling (and probably other extra styling) ot doesn’t show anything at all. Regular styled content seems to work.

I seem to be running a different app (but the same name, com.plexapp.android) on my android phone (2025.18.0) and on there it renders subtitles properly when direct streaming.

If I select “burn advanced subtitle formats” it does work as intended, but I’m not really understanding why it can render ASS for some of the content, but not all. I would have thought it was all or nothing.

Is this some known error?

2

Even weirder though is that there is no issue with the Plex app om my Google TV stick, nor my FireTV stick. It can render the same ASS subtitles as expected, without burning them.

Even weirder, on FireTV there was both a 10.29.1 version and also a 10.30.0 version which lacks release notes on the forum, and lacks release in Google Play Store. Why is that?

Kind of confused why the underlying platform (Sony, Android 12) would affect ASS rendering like this.

3

I have the same behavior on Sony TV, with plex client version 10.30.4.4092

4

I’m still experiencing this and previously reported it here: Android TV app not displaying any subtitles containing italicised text
I didn’t figure out when I first posted about it that was the subtitles with italics specifically that were affected, but have now confirmed it is the same issue described.

5

Have you guys tried inserting the font file itself into the ASS rather than just relying on the Sony’s native ASS. I think when I specifically put my font in the ASS the ASS works right in this scenario.

Put the font inside the ASS and see if that works. (Note: this can and does make the ASS much larger, granted.)

6

I have identical issue, on same device (Sony TV, Android 12).

I wish Plex devs/support would acknowledge this. It’s very frustrating having to burn subtitles and transcode as a solve for this.

7

Embedding the italic fonts is not a practical solution for 1000+ video files with styled ASS subtitles.

8

When not transcoded, Plex clients support basic ass rendering which depends on the device. Some styles may not work.

Can you post an ass file with this issue? It could be trying to use an italic font versus an italic style. If the tv doesn’t have a built in default italic font, what you see (or don’t see) could be the result.

9

Confirm the same issue here on my Sony TV. Aparrently the tv-specific app was changed to not use the app’s subtitle decoder? Can we get this change reverted?

Edit: Ah nevermind! Clearing the Plex app data, updating all tv apps and restarting the TV solved the issue. Italic ASS subtitles display again without burn in.

10

What do you mean when you say clear Plex app data? On the Sony TV itself?

11

Yep in your sony tv settings

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00202472

12

THANK YOU!!!

this is the only thing that worked for me.

to be clear:

  1. navigate to settings

  2. navigate to apps

  3. clear data AND cache from Plex app

  4. hold power button and click restart to do hard restart

This solved this issue for me. Thanks a ton!