Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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#2281881 23-Jul-2019 07:32

Jase2985:

@tdgeek & @networkn we get it and we appreciate your passion for this topic, but you really need to stop you are derailing this thread now.

We are and yes, fair enough

frednz

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#2282112 23-Jul-2019 11:54

Haven't had time to read much of this thread, so my issue has probably been dealt with already.

The issue is that my Samsung TV is 4 years old and Spark have told me that they cannot produce an app for Spark Sport and that I need a TV that's less than 2 years old.

I have know seen a few advertisements for new Samsung TVs which say in effect that nows a good time to buy a new TV because the Spark Sport App is present.

So, I've paid $60 for the rugby world cup coverage and am being told I need to buy a new TV to get the best picture! How did Spark get accreditation to put on such an event when their app only works on newish TVs?

Sure I can receive coverage on my phone or laptop, but when connected to the TV, the picture isn't in high definition, which makes viewing so much better.

frednz

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#2282119 23-Jul-2019 12:00

Talkiet:
frednz: Haven't had time to read much of this thread, so my issue has probably been dealt with already.

The issue is that my Samsung TV is 4 years old and Spark have told me that they cannot produce an app for Spark Sport and that I need a TV that's less than 2 years old.

I have know seen a few advertisements for new Samsung TVs which say in effect that nows a good time to buy a new TV because the Spark Sport App is present.

So, I've paid $60 for the rugby world cup coverage and am being told I need to buy a new TV to get the best picture! How did Spark get accreditation to put on such an event when their app only works on newish 5Vs.

There are several other (relatively low cost) ways to get the picture to an existing TV. Probably the easiest is a Freeview puck or a Chromecast.

The ways are described here. You DO NOT need a new TV.

https://help.sparksport.co.nz/getting-started/what-devices-can-i-watch-spark-sport-on

Cheers - N

But is the picture in high definition when you connect a laptop or phone to your TV? It doesn't look like it to me?

networkn

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#2282123 23-Jul-2019 12:05

@frednz for me it took around 2 minutes for the picture to "settle". It will probably start with a low grade picture and then depending on how stable and fast your internet connection is, improve.

Having said that, I watched some of the free content via the Sony Android App on my new TV and it didn't look great. BEcause the App is so basic, it's not possible to tell what resolution it's providing at any given time.

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#2282124 23-Jul-2019 12:07

frednz:
The issue is that my Samsung TV is 4 years old and Spark have told me that they cannot produce an app for Spark Sport and that I need a TV that's less than 2 years old.

I have know seen a few advertisements for new Samsung TVs which say in effect that nows a good time to buy a new TV because the Spark Sport App is present.

Isn't this potentially a CGA issue? You could argue that a smartTV should be fit for purpose for more than 4 years. Not supporting new services after two years is not what many would consider fit for purpose.

Puts more credence to the argument that the TV should just be the best quality image etc, and put the smarts in a set-top box or similar to allow that part to be upgraded more easily and cheaper.

freitasm

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#2282125 23-Jul-2019 12:08

@frednz: But is the picture in high definition when you connect a laptop or phone to your TV? It doesn't look like it to me?

You can use a Chromecast device (or a Freeview streaming device). Both are low cost.

The Chromecast device can be managed from your phone. The Freeview streaming device have a TV-like remote control. Both connect to your TV via HDMI. Both have HD and both support 4K (even if Spark Sport itself is HD only, but you can use the devices for other sources such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc).

Your TV is recent enough to have at least one HDMI input, if not more.

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#2282126 23-Jul-2019 12:09

@Varkk:

frednz:
The issue is that my Samsung TV is 4 years old and Spark have told me that they cannot produce an app for Spark Sport and that I need a TV that's less than 2 years old.

I have know seen a few advertisements for new Samsung TVs which say in effect that nows a good time to buy a new TV because the Spark Sport App is present.

Isn't this potentially a CGA issue? You could argue that a smartTV should be fit for purpose for more than 4 years. Not supporting new services after two years is not what many would consider fit for purpose.

Puts more credence to the argument that the TV should just be the best quality image etc, and put the smarts in a set-top box or similar to allow that part to be upgraded more easily and cheaper.

No, it's not a CGA issue. The TV manufacturers can not guarantee which apps will be available in four years time. The TV is still working as intended.

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#2282127 23-Jul-2019 12:11

networkn:

@frednz for me it took around 2 minutes for the picture to "settle". It will probably start with a low grade picture and then depending on how stable and fast your internet connection is, improve.

Having said that, I watched some of the free content via the Sony Android App on my new TV and it didn't look great. BEcause the App is so basic, it's not possible to tell what resolution it's providing at any given time.

There has been feedback on that and from me, the frame rate has been reduced, someone said here from 60 to 30. Im still trying to chase that up internally. It looks "ok" on single frame, but there is judder, and not the smoothness it was before on F1. Same with Wimbledon

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#2282128 23-Jul-2019 12:12

@vvark It's not Sony who have refused to do the App, it's Spark Sport. The platform is still available, but Spark has opted to limit the devices it develops for, understandably, to limit it's development costs and ongoing support costs.

At best as part of a CGA claim you could potentially get a refund from Spark, though at the time you purchased, were you aware of the devices they would support would be the key question. I couldn't imagine Spark giving you any grief in getting a refund.

There are other options, but they would cost you something, like buying one of the supported devices.

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#2282130 23-Jul-2019 12:17

@Frednz

I use an ATV4, thats a bit of a cost, but it works great. No Chromecasty type stuff, plug into TV, get the app (and it has all the NZ apps now) Remote

Its Apple, just in case you don't like them :-)

networkn

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#2282131 23-Jul-2019 12:21

My issue isn't smoothness, it's resolution I believe. Would be easier to tell if the app had some indication of the resolution and or frame rate some how.

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#2282137 23-Jul-2019 12:26

Is there any infromation on the quality of the EPL feeds? Are they going to be like the cup games and the poor framerate?

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#2282139 23-Jul-2019 12:27

networkn:

My issue isn't smoothness, it's resolution I believe.

Understood.

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#2282150 23-Jul-2019 12:53

I guess I've been spoiled over the years by enjoying HD TV pictures from Sky for all the major sporting events I watch. Now, it seems that competing companies don't worry too much if the picture isn't in HD. For example, the Wimbledon tennis wasn't broadcast in HD by TV1 and this is disappointing.

The other thing is that with SKY you have a decent remote control to use and you can pause the picture and record it.

With Spark Sport received on my laptop, it's just not as good as watching SKY TV on a decent 60 inch TV. And Samsung are hoping to benefit from all this by advertising that their new TVs can use the Spark Sport app! Why can't Spark produce an app that works on a 4-year old top of the line smart TV?

networkn

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#2282152 23-Jul-2019 12:55

frednz: I guess I've been spoiled over the years by enjoying HD TV pictures from Sky for all the major sporting events I watch. Now, it seems that competing companies don't worry too much if the picture isn't in HD. For example, the Wimbledon tennis wasn't broadcast in HD by TV1 and this is disappointing.

The other thing is that with SKY you have a decent remote control to use and you can pause the picture and record it.

With Spark Sport received on my laptop, it's just not as good as watching SKY TV on a decent 60 inch TV. And Samsung are hoping to benefit from all this by advertising that their new TVs can use the Spark Sport app! Why can't Spark produce an app that works on a 4-year old top of the line smart TV?

Development costs, support costs at a guess.

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