UVerse Video OnDemand & DVR sound issue

I am having an issue with sound cutting out on BOTH my DVR shows and on VOD. 

We just rented Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, but cannot watch it due to the sound muting a couple of times a minute for 15-30 seconds per incident--so on top of being annoyed, I had to pay for a movie that we couldn't watch.  The video has also started to stutter while playing. When trying to watch a TV show on VOD, it was muting and stuttering to the point that it could not be watched either.

The same thing is happening on shows that I have DVRd and am trying to watch later.  With DVR I am also having issues fast-forwarding through commercials (or past a part I had watched live).  I try to skip a commercial (either multiple presses to FF4x or using the 30-sec skip), but the timer doesn't change even though the visual cue on screen "moves".  After this happens on DVRd shows, it then tends to trigger the issues with the sound and stuttering.

I would love some input on how to fix this!!