Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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#2307270 28-Aug-2019 14:06

evilonenz:

Absolutely horrible video and audio quality for majority of the ABs squad announcement. I really hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

I was getting a full 1080p stream the whole announcement other than a period of about 10 seconds where the quality dropped to about this level. Was it like this for the whole announcement for you?

evilonenz

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#2307272 28-Aug-2019 14:11

jasonsweetbix:

evilonenz:

Absolutely horrible video and audio quality for majority of the ABs squad announcement. I really hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

I was getting a full 1080p stream the whole announcement other than a period of about 10 seconds where the quality dropped to about this level. Was it like this for the whole announcement for you?

Essentially, yeah. As soon as Brent Impey began reading the names out, the quality dropped to this level, so I switched to my phone, same deal. Back to PC, and it continued like this until about half way down the righthand side of names.

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kharris

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#2307273 28-Aug-2019 14:12

I see an article on Stuff that is calling the stream a success.

I had 2 short video drop outs and an audio issue... and I presume they haven't gone back to 60fps yet?

Not sure I would call that a success. it's no wonder there was no comment section available on the article.

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#2307430 28-Aug-2019 18:09

Catch 3 news later.

2nd story is a spark sport focus.

from what I got from it in short, most major TV brands 2018/2019 should be good. If it's a 2017 or prior likely out of luck.

As for LG. Unless it's a 2019 model, seems you can kiss that idea too

And hinted at changes this week to improve quality again (guess that is the fps)

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#2307432 28-Aug-2019 18:11

Oblivian: Catch 3 news later.

2nd story is a spark sport focus.

In short, most major brands 2018/2019 should be good. If it's a 2017 or prior likely out of luck.

As for LG. Unless it's a 2019 model, seems you can kiss that idea too

And hinted at changes this week to improve quality again (guess that is the fps)

Yes, PR to follow.. Stand by :)

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ALTRON

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#2307435 28-Aug-2019 18:25

Spark tweet 19min ago

“We’re excited to announce that we are adding a new capability to the Spark Sport platform that means viewers get the best possible video quality for their device, of up to 60 frames per second.”

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Benoire

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#2307436 28-Aug-2019 18:28

Does anybody know if an android tv app update is required to achieve the playback choice? If so, would someone be kind enough to upload the version when its available?

Cheers

Chris

demeter23

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#2307437 28-Aug-2019 18:31

60fps amendment due to go live within the next week according to Twitter support.

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#2307443 28-Aug-2019 18:37

Just received:

Spark Sport viewers will soon notice an increase in picture quality while watching live and on demand sport, thanks to improvements in the way the platform streams video content to devices.

Head of Spark Sport, Jeff Latch, says his team is adding a feature to the Spark Sport platform to ensure viewers receive the best possible video quality rendition that works for their device. The highest rendition on compatible devices will be High Definition (1080p), 60 frames per second and a bit rate of up to 7Mb/s (an increase from the previous top bit rate of 6Mb/s).

“Spark Sport is dedicated to delivering our customers a high-quality viewing experience. We have listened to customer feedback over the past few weeks and want to deliver a higher quality picture for our customers.

Latch explains the solution optimises the video quality for each device type, “Within the next week, Spark Sport will provide the highest video quality that each device supports. This means we will be offering the best possible viewing experience across Spark Sport compatible devices in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.

“For context, when we launched in beta in March 2018, we offered a framerate of 60 frames per second. As we launched a range of Spark Sport apps to ensure that we were available on an increased range of devices, it was necessary to lower the default framerate to 30 frames per second, as some of the new devices didn’t offer a good viewing experience at 60 frames per second. In the meantime, we’ve developed a framerate selector, which will launch soon and will allow us to offer 60 frames per second to devices that are equipped to deal with it, while still offering 30 frames per second to devices that are better off at that level.

“All our existing Spark Sport customers will benefit from this and we think sports lovers will be pleased with how Spark Sport will soon show up on their screens.”

Spark Sport will launch shortly on 2019 LG TVs. However, despite extensive collaboration between Spark Sport app development and the device manufacturer, the Spark Sport app experiences significant issues playing on 2017 and 2018 LG TVs, so the app will not be made available on these devices before the Rugby World Cup.

People with older LG TVs can still watch Spark Sport on their existing TV, by using a streaming device such as an Apple TV, a Google Chromecast or a Freeview Smart VU. This is the same situation as pre-2017 models of Samsung TVs, Sony TVs and Panasonic TVs and any model of smart TV that are not one of the four brands that Spark Sport supports.

The Spark Sport team has a range of options in place to help customers who have purchased a 2017 or 2018 LG TV since 20 December 2018 (the date Spark Sport announced that LG TVs would support Spark Sport) and who also hold a Spark Sport subscription or RWC Tournament Pass. These customers should head to https://help.sparksport.co.nz/device-support/watching-on-lg-tv for more information.

With Rugby World Cup 2019 getting underway in just under a month, excitement is quickly building around Rugby’s most anticipated event.

Latch says the All Blacks are not the only NZ team being tested this RWC, “we know the New Zealand public will be watching our performance closely and we’re confident we’re going to deliver a strong performance off the back of our extensive preparations and pre-tournament testing.

“We’re well into our final preparations for RWC 2019. Our teams are strengthening our app and website, we’re running stress tests to ensure our platform hold ups throughout the tournament and we’re getting the team organised for game day.

“There’s a huge sense of excitement in the office at this point and the team is looking forward to bringing this event to Kiwis through a strong streaming performance.”

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#2307445 28-Aug-2019 18:40

kharris:

I see an article on Stuff that is calling the stream a success.

I had 2 short video drop outs and an audio issue... and I presume they haven't gone back to 60fps yet?

Not sure I would call that a success. it's no wonder there was no comment section available on the article.

What I asking is if iStreamPlanet ran this or not? AS its NZ I'd assume TVNZ did?

sm1ff

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#2307446 28-Aug-2019 18:44

Spark sports is not providing the highest quality when select events are broadcast in 4k when they themselves are not... so its incorrect for only a few events. And they are missing 5.1 surround sound. Is this going to happen for the RWC?

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#2307449 28-Aug-2019 18:53

So is it safe to say this isn’t coming to the Nvidia Shield TV? Without the need to side load

hio77

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#2307451 28-Aug-2019 18:56

sm1ff: Spark sports is not providing the highest quality when select events are broadcast in 4k when they themselves are not... so its incorrect for only a few events. And they are missing 5.1 surround sound. Is this going to happen for the RWC?

Sky didnt do 1080P even, nevermind 5.1 on previous RWC.

if you go back to the video that was done at nznog it details it pretty well. Through be told Spark sport could go straight to 4K however, being the first major streamed event networks, the call was made to sit at 1080P for this one.

It's already been a big thing for many providers, upgrading their handovers, cdns etc. if we were to say actually you should expect to support 4K 20mbit streams rather than 1080P 6(now 7) mbit streams..

While yes, not all users would view in 4K etc, the math would still assume a decent quality of customers would land on that profile as they are already on fibre, using an Chromecast ultra etc.

me being someone who likes to poke around, i'd love to have seen 4K done! those in networks across providers possibly not ;)

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Deano004

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#2307452 28-Aug-2019 18:57

Bloody brilliant! I must admit I didn't think they'd do a 180 on the frame rate thing so quickly. I actually find that quite impressive, and they've earned some loyalty from me for it. And instantly, people want more...

4k to me is asking too much at this early stage, so happy to forgo that.

5.1 would be cool, but certainly isn't a show stopper for sport content in my mind.

For now, I think Spark deserves a thanks. 30 frames per second was a show super for me.

ockel

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#2307456 28-Aug-2019 19:15

Oblivian: Catch 3 news later.

2nd story is a spark sport focus.

from what I got from it in short, most major TV brands 2018/2019 should be good. If it's a 2017 or prior likely out of luck.

As for LG. Unless it's a 2019 model, seems you can kiss that idea too

And hinted at changes this week to improve quality again (guess that is the fps)

So how do you "troubleshoot" the 70yr rugby fan whose rural broadband isnt up to scratch and doesnt want to go to the pub to watch it at 11pm?

Or the 2017/2018 LG TV owners? Provide them with free CPE - or make them buy an additional device [at least] doubling the cost of their watching experience.

Those fans have legitimate grievances.

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