Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2304671 23-Aug-2019 14:39

networkn:

The biggest issue I have with Spark Sport since it's release is the incredibly poor communication that has flowed when there have been issues.

In my view the responsible thing would have been to get in front of the issues, communicate clearly the reasons for specific changes, which devices were affected, what options customers have and stay in communication. Saves the level of angst a lot of people have felt, and people drawing their own (often incorrect) conclusions. In my view this is a part of their business they need to significantly lift their game on.

Letting it leak out a little bit at a time via CSR's on twitter and support chats is amateur hour.

They probably suffer from the Spark (big company) overhead. Legal, comms and PR people to work through all the time.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2304716 23-Aug-2019 14:50

networkn:

I read on twitter from an unofficial source that it's end of next week, I have asked for confirmation.

I dont want this message to be miss contrasted as Troy said this!, so compared to my usual rewording i'll be direct quoting the PR statement.

Spark Sport recently changed our framerate per second from 50/60fps to 25/30fps.

This decision was taken to ensure accessibility on a wider variety of devices.

But we’ve heard the feedback from customers loud and clear that New Zealanders don’t think the quality right now is up to scratch – and we agree.

We will therefore be changing back to a framerate per second of 50/60fps that will see a significant improvement in quality. Unfortunately, it won’t be in time for this weekend’s Premier League matches, but it’s coming very soon.

there isn't a lot more i can share past that unfortunately, Not my space :)

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wratterus

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#2304719 23-Aug-2019 14:58

That's a big relief. 😍

Interesting enough I was at a client's place the other day, this is someone 50+ who is not tech savvy at all, but loves rugby, she had bought a brand new 65" Smart TV & upgraded to Fibre as soon as it was available, bought the Spark Sport RWC pass etc.

They commented on how the Spark Sport picture was so jittery compared to Sky (we could flick between Sky with HD ticket and Spark Sport to compare the two) and knew enough to ask me about the frame rate thing. They then said they saw on breakfast TV that Spark were changing back to 60fps, which was the first time I'd heard that, they said something along the lines of 'what were they thinking, did they think we wouldn't notice?'

Quite amusing and makes me feel better about complaining about it. It's not just a select few of us tech savvy users who noticed.

networkn

Networkn
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#2304742 23-Aug-2019 15:30

hio77:

But we’ve heard the feedback from customers loud and clear that New Zealanders don’t think the quality right now is up to scratch – and we agree.

We will therefore be changing back to a framerate per second of 50/60fps that will see a significant improvement in quality. Unfortunately, it won’t be in time for this weekend’s Premier League matches, but it’s coming very soon.

Thanks, I am happy to hear they have reversed this decision.

Where was this information posted? (If there is a regular place we can check for the latest news then it saves asking for it I guess).

Thank you (again) for providing the information, any comments made are not intended to be a case of shooting the messenger.

networkn

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#2304743 23-Aug-2019 15:31

@hio77 it's fine if you can't answer this for any reason, but was there a list of devices that were the reason behind the original decision to reduce the framerate? Presumably one was the Chromecast original version, were there others? What will happen to those devices as it relates to the SS app?

Benoire

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#2304744 23-Aug-2019 15:35

I'd be interested in this too. Whille I've got nVidia Shields, I'm interested in getting a Smart Vu X for the lounge for access to NZ apps (I can then also update my shields using the APKs extracted from them) and want to ensure that any device I get will actually do the 60FPS correctly.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2304745 23-Aug-2019 15:36

networkn:

hio77 it's fine if you can't answer this for any reason, but was there a list of devices that were the reason behind the original decision to reduce the framerate? Presumably one was the Chromecast original version, were there others? What will happen to those devices as it relates to the SS app?

Chromecast is simply the biggest and most known.

I can't really comment on what the outcome will be though, It's an active piece of work.

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mentalinc

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#2304788 23-Aug-2019 15:50

Grabed an chromecast ultra during the week so will pop in to replace the original chromecast for family tomorrow I think!

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richms

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#2304797 23-Aug-2019 16:26

mentalinc:

Grabed an chromecast ultra during the week so will pop in to replace the original chromecast for family tomorrow I think!

So much faster as a chromecast compared to the dinosaur first gen that its worth it even without the spark sports framerate thing.

Richard rich.ms

Deano004

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Geek

#2304798 23-Aug-2019 16:28

Hio77, thank you very much for passing this on. If Spark follow through on this statement I'll sign up for the rugby pass.

It was a bad decision in the first place to drop the frame rate, but good on them for listening and rectifying it. Soon hopefully.

ALTRON

577 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2304803 23-Aug-2019 16:50

johnno17:

Has there been confirmation when Spark Sports reverts back to 60fps?

I know this was mentioned on the AM Show but not when

Thanks

I asked on twitter and they said it wouldn't be back in time for RWC2019

UPDATE :

Reading the comments and finding theyre reinstating higher FPS is actual great news 👍😉

GG spark sport

wratterus

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Uber Geek

#2304805 23-Aug-2019 16:51

ALTRON:

I asked on twitter and they said it wouldn't be back in time for RWC2019

😮😓

Edit - crisis averted.😅

Deano004

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Geek

#2304806 23-Aug-2019 16:53

Altron, was that answer given to you before or after the statement the hoi77 refers to.

ALTRON

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Ultimate Geek

#2304808 23-Aug-2019 16:54

wratterus:

ALTRON:

I asked on twitter and they said it wouldn't be back in time for RWC2019

😮😓

I asked that question a week plus ago so you can disregard my comment as high fps is coming back by the sounds of things .

tdgeek

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#2304851 23-Aug-2019 17:02

mentalinc:

Grabed an chromecast ultra during the week so will pop in to replace the original chromecast for family tomorrow I think!

They work fine, I got one solely to test, its good. I cant pick between that and Airplay. On F1 which was 10/10, it was , well 10/10

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