Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

Forums › Online streaming services › Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

1 | ... | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | ... | 180

1467 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 429
Inactive user

#2282364 23-Jul-2019 19:32

freitasm:

ajobbins:

frednz:

Oh well, perhaps it is time to buy that new TV

For my last few "TVs" i've really just considered them a monitor/panel and made a deliberate decision to separate the 'smarts' out from the panel. While I'd love a new 4K OLED panel, my 7 year old 1080P Sony LED TV is doing perfectly fine, and has used a Raspberry Pi, then an Apple TV and now an Android TV box (Nvidia Shield) to provide the smarts. Unless you want to be upgrading your TV every 1-2 years, this is the only sensible option, plus it gives me a lot more flexibility than whatever the TV manufacturer decides to do (or not to do).

"Smart" TV's are a convenience to a degree, but quickly lose relevance (and convenience). Something like an Apple TV is a great platform that pretty much anyone can use, is cost effective and can make even a 10+ year old panel just as 'smart', or often smarter, than the latest TV released.

Adding smarts to a dumb TV is way cheaper than buying a smart TV that won't have timely updates...

Thanks, yes adding smarts is a very good idea. The only thing is that your "smarts" need to stay smart by way of regular updates, and the "smart" Panasonic Freeview recorder I bought a while ago hasn't been updated to include an app for Sky Sport. However, it does have the more common apps, such as Netflix and YouTube etc.

So, if I were to buy Apple TV, I can see from the Spark Sport site that they have provided an app, but can you pause and record Spark Sports broadcasts using Apple TV?

networkn

Networkn
32884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15483

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282374 23-Jul-2019 19:54

Why would you want to record anything? It's streaming. Its' recorded at the source and you can play it back over and over, as often as you wish (well until they archive the content).

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282375 23-Jul-2019 19:56

frednz:

freitasm:

ajobbins:

frednz:

Oh well, perhaps it is time to buy that new TV

For my last few "TVs" i've really just considered them a monitor/panel and made a deliberate decision to separate the 'smarts' out from the panel. While I'd love a new 4K OLED panel, my 7 year old 1080P Sony LED TV is doing perfectly fine, and has used a Raspberry Pi, then an Apple TV and now an Android TV box (Nvidia Shield) to provide the smarts. Unless you want to be upgrading your TV every 1-2 years, this is the only sensible option, plus it gives me a lot more flexibility than whatever the TV manufacturer decides to do (or not to do).

"Smart" TV's are a convenience to a degree, but quickly lose relevance (and convenience). Something like an Apple TV is a great platform that pretty much anyone can use, is cost effective and can make even a 10+ year old panel just as 'smart', or often smarter, than the latest TV released.

Adding smarts to a dumb TV is way cheaper than buying a smart TV that won't have timely updates...

Thanks, yes adding smarts is a very good idea. The only thing is that your "smarts" need to stay smart by way of regular updates, and the "smart" Panasonic Freeview recorder I bought a while ago hasn't been updated to include an app for Sky Sport. However, it does have the more common apps, such as Netflix and YouTube etc.

So, if I were to buy Apple TV, I can see from the Spark Sport site that they have provided an app, but can you pause and record Spark Sports broadcasts using Apple TV?

You can use the remote to pause, play, skip 10 seconds back or forth. Or click and slide for long FFW or rewinds. I like the remote, some dont.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 429
Inactive user

#2282440 23-Jul-2019 20:25

networkn:

Why would you want to record anything? It's streaming. Its' recorded at the source and you can play it back over and over, as often as you wish (well until they archive the content).

True, but as you say, this depends on how long it's archived. I still occasionally watch some previous rugby world cup games that have been on my SKY hard drive for many years.

So, I guess the archived copy is made available by Spark Sport immediately after the finish of each game, is that correct (it's not always the case with some streaming services)?

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282546 24-Jul-2019 07:09

frednz:

So, I guess the archived copy is made available by Spark Sport immediately after the finish of each game, is that correct (it's not always the case with some streaming services)?

The official number was 2 hours or 4 hours, but its generally been 30 minutes or less. If you connected to the stream just before it ended, it will stay up for you until you exit it

trig42

5893 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2100

ID Verified

#2282577 24-Jul-2019 08:48

frednz:

networkn:

Why would you want to record anything? It's streaming. Its' recorded at the source and you can play it back over and over, as often as you wish (well until they archive the content).

True, but as you say, this depends on how long it's archived. I still occasionally watch some previous rugby world cup games that have been on my SKY hard drive for many years.

So, I guess the archived copy is made available by Spark Sport immediately after the finish of each game, is that correct (it's not always the case with some streaming services)?

I think the archived copy is made available about 20 minutes into the live 'broadcast' so you can chase the broadcast (or if you sleep in and miss the start).

For the RWC - I think Spark Sport has all the old games available currently (I watched the 1987 NZ v Italy game a couple of weeks ago).

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

networkn

Networkn
32884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15483

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282755 24-Jul-2019 11:53

Is the old RWC games available only to pay monthly customers, or part of their freebies section (I am at work and can't easily check).

Did anyone have any luck getting the Sony Android TV APK to their FireTV? I got mine loaded but it starts to open and then closes down.

trig42

5893 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2100

ID Verified

#2282763 24-Jul-2019 12:12

networkn:

Is the old RWC games available only to pay monthly customers, or part of their freebies section (I am at work and can't easily check).

Did anyone have any luck getting the Sony Android TV APK to their FireTV? I got mine loaded but it starts to open and then closes down.

It's available if you have the RWC pass.

networkn

Networkn
32884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15483

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282765 24-Jul-2019 12:13

Hmm interesting, I'll need to take a look! That's a good perk.

hairy1

3352 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 644

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282941 24-Jul-2019 16:22

@networkn Did you have any luck sideloading the Android TV app? I did find a site to sideload the actual app but the Android TV app would be better.

https://www.ki-wi.co.nz/how-to-side-load-spark-sports-app/

Cheers, Matt.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80682 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41137

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2282945 24-Jul-2019 16:25

@hairy1:

@networkn Did you have any luck sideloading the Android TV app? I did find a site to sideload the actual app but the Android TV app would be better.

https://www.ki-wi.co.nz/how-to-side-load-spark-sports-app/

Cheers, Matt.

Why not sideload the Android TV version? This was already explained a couple of pages back.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

networkn

Networkn
32884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15483

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282951 24-Jul-2019 16:31

Because I tried it and it didn't work. Hence I was asking about it. I'll have another go tonight.

The issue was that I couldn't use the same exact method listed here as it wanted me to root my phone.

The utility I used would allow me to copy an app loaded on my phone. So somewhere down the process perhaps the wrong apk got loaded.

I'll check more into it tonight.

hairy1

3352 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 644

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282952 24-Jul-2019 16:31

From what I gather networkn couldn't get it going.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

networkn

Networkn
32884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15483

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2282953 24-Jul-2019 16:34

From what read, loading the non touch screen version is important. I am not 100% certain which APK it uploaded, so once I can confirm, I'll check back in and let people know.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80682 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41137

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2282954 24-Jul-2019 16:37

The post a couple of pages ago had the APK for Android TV - not the Android phone/tablet. So check what you want/need and use one or another.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

1 | ... | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | ... | 180