# Roku OS 15.3 (build 4.832-JW) fails to play HLS live streams without an audio track (H.264 video-only, MPEG-TS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Roku Developer Program\ **Tags:** bug-report\ **Created:** [July 29, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.developer.roku.com/t/roku-os-15-3-build-4-832-jw-fails-to-play-hls-live-streams-without-an-audio-track-h-264-video-only-mpeg-ts/11532 "2026-07-29T16:07:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drodine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@drodine](https://forum.developer.roku.com/u/drodine)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.developer.roku.com/t/roku-os-15-3-build-4-832-jw-fails-to-play-hls-live-streams-without-an-audio-track-h-264-video-only-mpeg-ts/11532/1 "2026-07-29T16:07:05Z")
Device(s) affected: Model: 3840X — OS 15.3, build 4.832-JW Model: 3820R2 — reported by end user, OS 15.3, build 832 Note: The issue was independently observed on two different Roku hardware models (3840X and 3820R2) both running OS 15.3, suggesting this is not device-specific but tied to the OS version itself. Summary: Live HLS streams containing video-only MPEG-TS segments (no audio elementary stream) fail to play on Roku OS 15.3. These same streams have played correctly on all prior Roku OS versions for approximately 6 years. The issue reproduces consistently and appears tied specifically to the absence of an audio track in the transport stream. Stream technical details: Master playlist: #EXTM3U #EXT-X-VERSION:3 #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=1831120,CODECS=“avc1.4d0029”,RESOLUTION=1280x720 chunklist.m3u8 Media playlist (chunklist): #EXTM3U #EXT-X-VERSION:3 #EXT-X-TARGETDURATION:18 #EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE:3051 #EXT-X-DISCONTINUITY-SEQUENCE:0 #EXTINF:10.001, media-ugoktlbu7\_3051.ts #EXTINF:10.0, media-ugoktlbu7\_3052.ts #EXTINF:10.003, media-ugoktlbu7\_3053.ts Container: MPEG-TS Segment duration: ~10 seconds Video codec: H.264 (avc1.4d0029), Main profile, level 41 Resolution: 1280x720, 30 fps, progressive Pixel format: yuvj420p, color space bt709 No audio elementary stream present — confirmed via ffprobe ffprobe output (segment media-ugoktlbu7\_3053.ts): Stream 0: codec\_type=data, codec\_name=timed\_id3 (timed ID3 metadata only) Stream 1: codec\_type=video, codec\_name=h264, mime\_codec\_string=avc1.4d0029, 1280x720, 30fps Total streams in container: 2 (video + timed ID3 metadata) — zero audio streams Format: mpegts, bitrate ~1.55 Mbps, probe\_score=50 Expected behavior: Stream should play normally with video only and no audio, as it has done on all Roku OS versions prior to 15.3. Actual behavior: Playback fails on Roku OS 15.3. The subscriber’s device is otherwise functioning normally and can play other (audio+video) HLS streams without issue. Suspected cause: This appears to be a regression or a newly introduced requirement in Roku OS 15.3 around HLS/audio track handling — possibly requiring at least one audio elementary stream (even silent/null) to be present in the transport stream for playback to succeed. This was not previously a requirement. Reproduction steps: On a device running Roku OS 15.3, attempt to play the HLS stream referenced above (video-only H.264, MPEG-TS, no audio track). Playback fails / does not start. Confirm the same stream plays correctly on a device running Roku OS 15.2.x or earlier. Request: Please confirm whether Roku OS 15.3 has introduced a new requirement for an audio track in HLS live streams, and if so, whether this is intentional (matching other platforms like YouTube’s null-audio requirement) or a bug to be fixed before general release. ---
**Author:** ![RokuBen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/roku/user_avatar/forum.developer.roku.com/rokuben/32/61_2.png) [@RokuBen](https://forum.developer.roku.com/u/RokuBen)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.developer.roku.com/t/roku-os-15-3-build-4-832-jw-fails-to-play-hls-live-streams-without-an-audio-track-h-264-video-only-mpeg-ts/11532/3 "2026-07-29T16:27:58Z")
I’ve converted this into an internal issue and sent over to our media player team to evaluate.