Most TV's will not pass DD surround from an optical port. They will typically pass stereo only.

If you read the *notes in the User Manual, it will likely say something like "DD audio support for broadcast channels only". In other words, the TV will only output DD audio from channels tuned by the TV tuner.

EDIT: Maybe I missed it, but I only see an optical port on the side of the TV. If so, that port is labeled: Audio Out L/R — display synchronised (optical)

 

It's supposed to be digital. The only label I have on the port is "Audio out optical".
Here's the part regarding the optical connection on the manual :

" Audio Out - Optical
Audio Out - Optical is a high quality sound connection. This optical connection can carry 5.1 audio channels. If your audio device, typically a Home Theatre System (HTS), has no HDMI ARC connection, you can connect this sound cable to an Audio In - Optical connection on the HTS. This Audio cable will send the sound of the TV to the HTS.

"

Which is exactly what I did, and it didn't work.
Do you think a HDMI to optical converter could do the trick?

I also saw that there are some unofficial firmwares out there, supposedly improving the optical out multichannel audio (PHILIPS TELEVISION (9xx7) - Unofficial Firmware Mirror). Should I try that?

Thanks!

 

. This Audio cable will send the sound of the TV to the HTS. [/FONT]
!

As noted in the manual, "the sound of the TV". Which I'm sure means the audio decoded by the TV (ie: tuner).

As noted, most TV's do not pass through digital audio. They receive it and decode it for playback.

 

It's probably that your amp cannot decode the type signal that the TV is currently sending. From the manual:

You can set the type of the audio out signal to fit the audio
capabilities of your Home Theatre System.
In Help, press * List and look up Audio Out settings for
more information.

If the sound does not match the video on screen, you can
adjust the audio to video synchronization.
In Help, press * List and look up Audio to video sync for
more information.

Go through them one at a time until you find one that works.

 

It was quick, there are only two settings : multichannel (the one I selected) and stereo. I already tried stereo just to be sure, and it was... stereo.
So I'm actually doing everything I'm supposed to and the TV doesn't output the digital signal.

 

Since there was a new firmware update available 6 days ago, I installed it. It didn't fix the problem
I ordered some more optical cables and a 3 to 1 optical switch, I'll end up connecting everything directly through optical cables to the amplifier. Too bad about the optical output on the TV, it was really supposed to convey a digital signal and it didn't deliver. I don't know if it affects only my TV or if owners of the same model have experienced the same thing. I guess most people just plug the hdmi cable into their amplifier...
Maybe it is indeed that my amplifier can't decode the output signal. It does decode the signal from the DVD player, though. I'm getting a bluray player later this week, I hope I won't face the problem of my amplifier not recognizing it either Then, I would really have to buy a new amplifier, but the one I have is just awesome and I can connect my hifi speakers and my home theater speakers at the same time, so it's good for music AND for movies.

 

I ended up doing a few tweaks on the media player (western digital tv live) and I think the TV actually DOES output a digital signal, but yustr was right, it's a format my amplifier can't decode.
After some thoughts, I'm getting a new amplifier. I ended up not buying the blu-ray player but borrowing my neighbor's playstation. I connected it directly to the optical input of my amplifier and I got the awful prologic sound and no dolby digital or anything.
I'm dropping the blu-ray idea for the moment (especially since I don't own any BR and I wanted to get it only to have a way to read my DVDs that would provide good upscaling) and buying an amplifier instead.
I'm getting it on Monday. I'll test the optical output of the TV with the new amplifier just to provide an answer for people who might have the same question about it and I'll come back here with my answer!
Thanks a lot!

 

typically DD on optical out on a tv is only available from tv tuner sources but the signal is not being passed through from another source. also you have to set the ouput correctly so the tv will allow the DD signal as standard (not PCM). hope you did not buy another receiver just because of this as it should really work. DD is a defined format and having S/PDIF optical out (TOSLINK9 without DD/5.1 simply makes no sense for a manufacturer.

I have connected my 60pfl9607 via hdmi but I can test optical out for you if you want.