[Feature Request] Add support for MKV HEVC HDR playback using Apple TV (without tone mapping)

[Neminem 1735]

15 minutes ago, zaHrecsohbiw said:

fMP4

What is this format ?

[vdatanet 1620]

1 minute ago, Neminem said:

What is this format ?

https://hlsbook.net/hls-fragmented-mp4/

[Neminem 1735]

@vdatanetThank you for educating me

I was wondering

[steven_pilch 5]

Plus 10000 for this.

[vdatanet 1620]

 

I wanted to share something I've been experimenting with, in case it's useful for this request.

It turns out that delivering the video over HLS with fMP4 (fragmented MP4) segments opens up a really nice path for these MKV HEVC HDR files on the Apple TV. Rather than transcoding (and tone-mapping) the video, the server can simply remux the MKV into fMP4 over HLS and stream-copy the HEVC video untouched — it's essentially just a container rewrite, so it's very light on the server and, importantly, it keeps the HDR intact.

Here's the result on an Apple TV 4K, playing a 4K HEVC Dolby Vision (Profile 8.1) title: (Jellyfin + Custom Jellyfin Apple TV app -developed by myself-)

ffmpeg … -i "….mkv" -map 0:0 -map 0:2 -map -0:s \
  -codec:v:0 copy -tag:v:0 hvc1 -bsf:v hevc_mp4toannexb \
  -codec:a:0 copy -f hls -hls_segment_type fmp4 …
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:2 -> #0:1 (copy)

The -codec:v:0 copy is the key part — the HEVC HDR stream is passed through as-is and plays in HDR on the TV, with no tone mapping and negligible CPU.

One small thing on the client side, in case it's helpful: with a multi-variant HLS playlist (an HDR remux rendition plus an SDR fallback at the same bandwidth), the native AVPlayer tends to pick the SDR one unless the client specifically selects the VIDEO-RANGE=PQ variant. Once the client targets the HDR rendition, it plays great.

So the fMP4/HLS remux route looks like a genuinely useful option here — gentle on the server and it preserves HDR on the Apple TV. Just sharing in case it helps, and happy to go into more detail.

 

FFmpeg.Remux-2026-06-07_17-01-04_32ce8d77902368b0e4edd358b2059492_8848d63c.log