The redesigned TV android app doesn't render external subtitles

I updated the app on one of my TVs - got the new UI.

On that TV, external SRT subtitles in my native language are displayed as boxes, not readable text.

On another android TV, with the app running the old UI, same subtitles work fine.

I discovered that an alternative client app to Plex renders the same srt subtitles perfectly.

That reinforces the notion that it’s the app’s fault, not the external srt or anything else.