Spark sold Lightbox to SKY

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Spark sold Lightbox to SKY

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#2379273 20-Dec-2019 17:48

matisyahu:

I hope it is a sign that Sky will finally get their online offerings sorted out - SkyGo still dependent on Flash in 2019 should be criminal at this stage, they've talked about live streaming of channels online but that never got anywhere, and Neon is just a horrible mess. In an ideal world Sky would recognise that their whole set up is a dumpster fire and move everything over to the Lightbox platform but knowing Sky there is a good chance that they'll try to merge the two platforms together.

Ummm, did you miss the release at the begining of the week, SkyGo is now not using flash and can be Cast or Airplayed in HD, times are moving .............................finally.

Cyril

davidcole

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#2379274 20-Dec-2019 17:50

cyril7:
matisyahu:

I hope it is a sign that Sky will finally get their online offerings sorted out - SkyGo still dependent on Flash in 2019 should be criminal at this stage, they've talked about live streaming of channels online but that never got anywhere, and Neon is just a horrible mess. In an ideal world Sky would recognise that their whole set up is a dumpster fire and move everything over to the Lightbox platform but knowing Sky there is a good chance that they'll try to merge the two platforms together.

Ummm, did you miss the release at the begining of the week, SkyGo is now not using flash and can be Cast or Airplayed in HD, times are moving .............................finally.

Cyril

Only on a mobile device. If you’re still tortured by the browser it might still be flash.

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matisyahu

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#2379287 20-Dec-2019 18:25

davidcole:
cyril7:
matisyahu: I hope it is a sign that Sky will finally get their online offerings sorted out - SkyGo still dependent on Flash in 2019 should be criminal at this stage, they've talked about live streaming of channels online but that never got anywhere, and Neon is just a horrible mess. In an ideal world Sky would recognise that their whole set up is a dumpster fire and move everything over to the Lightbox platform but knowing Sky there is a good chance that they'll try to merge the two platforms together.

Ummm, did you miss the release at the begining of the week, SkyGo is now not using flash and can be Cast or Airplayed in HD, times are moving .............................finally.

Cyril

Only on a mobile device. If you’re still tortured by the browser it might still be flash.

Still is:

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

Hammerer

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#2379304 20-Dec-2019 19:29

People keep talking about SkyTV as if it were SkyTV of longstanding issues. I'd say that there is more chance that pundits are wrong about SkyTV than this CEO making a crock out of what he's got. The new CEO is making some good changes and these positive changes are coming much more frequently than they used to. For this reason alone, I doubt that many people can say they know SkyTV now.

catspyjamas

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#2379306 20-Dec-2019 19:32

I signed up for a trial with Neon only the day before the news broke about Lightbox. I have to say I'm less than thrilled it's going to SKY (my experiences with SKY have been far less than stellar). Neon is OK, but no more than that. It's glitchy, requires flashplayer to work (I stream on a browser as I don't have a TV anymore), the picture quality is average, and there are literally only 6 things that appeal to watch. It's missing many features I've come to appreciate on other platforms. On Lightbox I think I have about 40-50 things on my watchlist and it's superior on pretty much every level IMO, esp picture quality and content.

It'll be interesting to see how things pan out, both with Lightbox once SKY have their hands on it, and with Spark's plans. Netflix isn't enough to keep me with Spark, not anymore anyway, I feel like the content has really gone to the dogs on Netflix NZ. I do really value Spotify Premium and Lightbox though.

I'd really like it if Spark partnered with Britbox or BBC iplayer. British TV is my favourite. :)

dafman

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#2379368 20-Dec-2019 20:03

The news that Lightbox has sold to Sky is about as exciting as someone telling me the neighbour down the road has sold a homegrown cabbage to the family over his fence. A non event.

We've had both Lightbox and Neon free, at one time or another, thrown in under one thing or another that we subscribed to, and never watched either.

As far as SVOD goes, the dead have sold to the dying.

matisyahu

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#2379469 21-Dec-2019 02:18

Hammerer: People keep talking about SkyTV as if it were SkyTV of longstanding issues. I'd say that there is more chance that pundits are wrong about SkyTV than this CEO making a crock out of what he's got. The new CEO is making some good changes and these positive changes are coming much more frequently than they used to. For this reason alone, I doubt that many people can say they know SkyTV now.

It has almost been 2 years since they announced their IPTV strategy - if they cannot get something as basic as moving from a Flash based player to an HTML5 based one in a space of 2 years then I don't hold out much hope that they'll get the big issues sorted out. There is always some excuse and I'm sorry but we're in an age of instant gratification - something that should have been delivered yesterday has resulted in Sky being viewed as an out of touch behind the curb 'boomer company' of yesterday when compared to Netflix, Disney+ and others that are fresh and deliver what people want and delivering it today rather than promises of addressing issues that for 2 years have been left unaddressed.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

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tdgeek

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#2379482 21-Dec-2019 07:02

Hammerer:

People keep talking about SkyTV as if it were SkyTV of longstanding issues. I'd say that there is more chance that pundits are wrong about SkyTV than this CEO making a crock out of what he's got. The new CEO is making some good changes and these positive changes are coming much more frequently than they used to. For this reason alone, I doubt that many people can say they know SkyTV now.

100% right. Given the frequency of positive changes, lets wait 6 months and see what pans out

kharris

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#2379550 21-Dec-2019 10:57

I hope this means a new platform for Neon and an app for AppleTV. Although I won’t hold too much hope. I noticed there was a new version of Sky Sport Now for iOS a few days ago, but no update for AppleTV, which lags behind horribly on functionality and branding.

Kirk

loceff13

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#2379984 22-Dec-2019 14:30

matisyahu:

Hammerer: People keep talking about SkyTV as if it were SkyTV of longstanding issues. I'd say that there is more chance that pundits are wrong about SkyTV than this CEO making a crock out of what he's got. The new CEO is making some good changes and these positive changes are coming much more frequently than they used to. For this reason alone, I doubt that many people can say they know SkyTV now.

It has almost been 2 years since they announced their IPTV strategy - if they cannot get something as basic as moving from a Flash based player to an HTML5 based one in a space of 2 years then I don't hold out much hope that they'll get the big issues sorted out. There is always some excuse and I'm sorry but we're in an age of instant gratification - something that should have been delivered yesterday has resulted in Sky being viewed as an out of touch behind the curb 'boomer company' of yesterday when compared to Netflix, Disney+ and others that are fresh and deliver what people want and delivering it today rather than promises of addressing issues that for 2 years have been left unaddressed.

I wonder what the hell went wrong with the cisco deal, overpromised on tech but under delivered?

farcus

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#2380208 22-Dec-2019 19:17

kharris: I hope this means a new platform for Neon and an app for AppleTV. Although I won’t hold too much hope. I noticed there was a new version of Sky Sport Now for iOS a few days ago, but no update for AppleTV, which lags behind horribly on functionality and branding.

Perhaps one of the advantages to sky from the lightbox acquisition is that they can just flick everything over to the lightbox platfrom.

LeatheryHawkeye

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#2380320 23-Dec-2019 11:05

trig42:

Consolidation is probably good.

Depends on how much Sky are going to want us to pay for the service, and how many people will abandon it when it no longer comes as part of their Spark broadband plan.

If they start to want, say $20 for the new 'Neonbox', I will probably quit it, and probably quit Spark at the same time, as I will be able to get my internet cheaper elsewhere (I switched to Spark Unplan Entertainment to get Lightbox and Netflix as part of the plan, if they aren't there, I will probably migrate away again).

I'm thinking similar to you. I actually really enjoy lightbox though - have some great TV series on - even if they are older. Mr Robot, Mr Mercedes, The Americans.

Neon as an app has been horrible, I actually tried to use it as a bona fide customer and gave up and used alternate viewing methods. It doesn't even have an app for many devices!

If Neon suddenly bundle all of Lightbox content, and all iof the Rialto + SoHo channels, I may subscribe - but it would have to be at the right price-point i.e. the same as Neon now.

Netflix is becoming too expensive, but I would probably keep it over sky territorial if/when it comes to it.

LeatheryHawkeye

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#2380321 23-Dec-2019 11:11

BarTender:

Nothing has been mentioned about Spark Sports.... As there is a lot of overlap between the two platforms from my understanding does that mean Spark Sport is also going to be sold to Sky? Or Spark plans to keep that as a separate going concern.

Really interested to know how much it was sold for, as all Spark are buying is the customer base unless Sky plan to kill the Neon product it is only assumed they will merge onto a single platform.

what's with all the speed test pics? We were getting these speeds over 10 years ago.

jonathan18

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#2380342 23-Dec-2019 12:03

LeatheryHawkeye:

what's with all the speed test pics? We were getting these speeds over 10 years ago.

What’s with the ‘tude?

New members usually take a bit of time to suss out the lie of the land before expressing their inner b!tch, but I see you’re taking no time at all to reach that point on more than one thread, and that’s with a history of six posts!

LeatheryHawkeye

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#2380534 23-Dec-2019 17:20

jonathan18:

LeatheryHawkeye:

what's with all the speed test pics? We were getting these speeds over 10 years ago.

What’s with the ‘tude?

New members usually take a bit of time to suss out the lie of the land before expressing their inner b!tch, but I see you’re taking no time at all to reach that point on more than one thread, and that’s with a history of six posts!

Legitimate query - why do people post speed tests? Is it to help when they post for help with applications/connectivity?

Inner b!tch - E channel subscriber I see

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