diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index da4a978..c40130f 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -160,9 +160,8 @@ function showSelectChannelBox() {
 }
 
 function channelOverlayBg(color) {
-  // Fully opaque so the player underneath never shows through while loading.
-  // A subtle radial lightening keeps it from looking like a flat block.
-  return `radial-gradient(circle at 50% 45%, ${color} 0%, ${color} 60%, ${color} 100%)`;
+  // Exactly the channel colour (same value the sidebar button uses), flat fill.
+  return color;
 }
 
 function showVideoPlayer(ch) {