VLC on Android TV does not find media on USB device

Imported from https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/17852

Media on /dev/sdbX is not found and cannot be browsed inside VLC on my Philips Android TV. In settings -> Directories it can be found and is selected, but media is still not shown. Playing media from sdbX works, when being invoked by an external file browser.

Version: VLC-Android-2.1.0-20170105-0236-ARMv7.apk Android: 5.1 LMY47D