It took 10 months but now it is finally here. A new firmware update makes LG’s UP970 player capable of delivering UHD Blu-ray discs and Netflix in Dolby Vision.

Update 9.2.2018: A fixed version of the firmware (version BD39338.80207.C) has been re-re-released. If you didn't update before, you should see it immediately. If you did update before and live in Europe, you may need to change the area code from US to your local country first, then search for update again.
Update 7.2.2018: LG has once again pulled the firmware update due to an issue relating to the region code for standard Blu-ray playback.

Dolby Vision has arrived
The firmware was actually released in August 2017 but LG quickly pulled it due to various issues. It took another five months to fix those things. The good news is that Dolby Vision now works with Netflix, too.

The firmware update (BD39.338.80123.C) was released yesterday, and users are reporting that it works as advertised. You can now enjoy some 30 UHD Blu-ray discs in Dolby Vision as well as Netflix’ library of TV series and movies when UP970 is connected to a Dolby Vision compatible display such as one of the LG OLED TVs.



The firmware appears to also have added support for YouTube in HDR.

On the other hand, the update does not appear to include the special Dolby Vision profile that is required to make it compatible with Sony’s TV.

There are also some mixed reports on whether the firmware includes a fix for Dolby Vision’s raised blacks. While one owner tells us that it appears to have been fixed via Netflix on UP970, other users are reporting raised blacks during UHD Blu-ray playback. FlatpanelsHD does not currently have the UP970 at hand. If you own the LG UP970, let us know what you see.

Besides Oppo and Cambridge Audio, LG is one of the few brands to offer an UHD Blu-ray player with Dolby Vision. Sony is planning to launch its first Dolby Vision capable player very soon and Panasonic has announced the first combo Dolby Vision / HDR10+ player.