Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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#2195374 10-Mar-2019 22:50

Around 40,000 rural households' broadband won't be good enough to stream Rugby World Cup

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12210471

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#2195377 10-Mar-2019 22:54

DarkShadow:
Around 40,000 rural households' broadband won't be good enough to stream Rugby World Cup

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12210471

This was discussed a few pages back when article came out.

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#2195542 11-Mar-2019 09:14

Just received from Spark:

Spark Sport readies for beta launch, expands Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix content partnership with TVNZ

Spark Sport intends to launch later this week in public beta on a limited range of devices and apps*.

“The internet streaming platform is very nearly ready to launch and from a viewer experience perspective is looking great – we are just fine-tuning the last few outstanding issues,” said Jeff Latch, Head of Spark Sport. “We want to ensure New Zealanders have a really positive first impression of the platform, so we’ve been taking a few more days to get things right.”

Spark Sport has expanded its arrangement with TVNZ to ensure all Formula 1 fans can get coverage of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. The practice rounds (Friday 15/ Saturday 16 March) will now be available live via TVNZ OnDemand, in addition to the qualifying session (Saturday 16 March) and the race itself (Sunday 17 March), which are already scheduled to be shown live on TVNZ DUKE.

“As this means Formula 1 fans won’t have much time to set up Spark Sport, and we won’t be live on all mobile devices at launch, we wanted to ensure Formula 1 fans have the option to watch all the key action via our partnership with TVNZ,” Latch said.

Public beta means the core functionality is working, but improvements and additional features are still being added.

*At launch, Spark Sport will be available on:

Web (via popular browsers, Chrome, Firefox, Safari) on laptops and desktop computers
Spark Sport app for iPad and iPhone
To watch on an internet enabled TV, customers will be able to:

AirPlay to Apple TV from an iPhone or iPad
Chromecast to an internet enabled TV from a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer
At launch, Spark Sport will not be available on Android devices – this will follow shortly.

During the months following launch, the Spark Sport app will also become available on a range of content platforms including Apple TV, Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Sony Smart TVs and more.

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#2195545 11-Mar-2019 09:17

Not available on Android..

/me facepalms.

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#2195547 11-Mar-2019 09:19

WTF? Not available on Android devices, and no date given - just shortly!? Also, while the practices are live on TVNZ, if we miss them are they going to be there for catchup?

I'm disappointed by this and it certainly doesn't set a great introduction to Sparks venture in to sport.

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#2195548 11-Mar-2019 09:20

That's probably why they're calling it a beta - test whatever they have, as it comes...

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#2195568 11-Mar-2019 09:26

freitasm:

Just received from Spark:

Spark Sport readies for beta launch, expands Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix content partnership with TVNZ

Spark Sport intends to launch later this week in public beta on a limited range of devices and apps*.

“The internet streaming platform is very nearly ready to launch and from a viewer experience perspective is looking great – we are just finetuning the last few outstanding issues,” said Jeff Latch, Head of Spark Sport. “We want to ensure New Zealanders have a really positive first impression of the platform, so we’ve been taking a few more days to get things right.”

Spark Sport has expanded its arrangement with TVNZ to ensure all Formula 1 fans can get coverage of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. The practice rounds (Friday 15/ Saturday 16 March) will now be available live via TVNZ OnDemand, in addition to the qualifying session (Saturday 16 March) and the race itself (Sunday 17 March), which are already scheduled to be shown live on TVNZ DUKE.

“As this means Formula 1 fans won’t have much time to set up Spark Sport, and we won’t be live on all mobile devices at launch, we wanted to ensure Formula 1 fans have the option to watch all the key action via our partnership with TVNZ,” Latch said.

Public beta means the core functionality is working, but improvements and additional features are still being added.

*At launch, Spark Sport will be available on:

Web (via popular browsers, Chrome, Firefox, Safari) on laptops and desktop computers
Spark Sport app for iPad and iPhone
To watch on an internet enabled TV, customers will be able to:

AirPlay to Apple TV from an iPhone or iPad
Chromecast to an internet enabled TV from a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer
At launch, Spark Sport will not be available on Android devices – this will follow shortly.

During the months following launch, the Spark Sport app will also become available on a range of content platforms including Apple TV, Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Sony Smart TVs and more.

That release confirms the add I saw on Duke on Saturday afternoon

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#2195569 11-Mar-2019 09:27

Grrr the worse thing is that Sky NZs Duke feed is distributed in SD so I've got to watch the first race not in good quality... meh. I understood that Spark would be using F1 fans as guinea pigs for the system but seriously it does suck that they haven't got it sorted at all. To me it seems that they where interested in RWC and perhaps EPL only and used the others as potential churn to reduce sky numbers and to sign people up to test in advance on the RWC.

I like how the head of sports states that he wants the subs to have a good first experience of the platform... But doesn't appear care about the experience of those wanting to watch the sport via Sparks rights coverage by the fact they haven't got the platform ready.

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#2195579 11-Mar-2019 09:47

No Android at launch.....are they serious? It's 2019.

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#2195580 11-Mar-2019 09:47

Good enough for me! Its all go this week... w00t

The little things make the biggest difference.

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#2195583 11-Mar-2019 09:51

The lack of Android is a worry. People still have that mentality that the Apple ecosystem is where things are, but the volume is low compared to the Android platform...

Where are they living?

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#2195597 11-Mar-2019 09:53

TBH I think they are handling it well

There is obviously a bug or some issue around the android app that is going to take a bit of fixing - I doubt they would have intentionally set out to not have the app ready for launch date

They have transferred all the coverage they would have had to an alternate platform that already has the ability to replace this functionality - and which is free, so no extra cost to anyone that would be a subscriber.

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#2195600 11-Mar-2019 09:57

I get that but its not the full release, its a beta release, for the public to play with for free and give feedback, that's how I see it

Spark Sport intends to launch later this week in public beta on a limited range of devices and apps*.

“The internet streaming platform is very nearly ready to launch and from a viewer experience perspective is looking great – we are just finetuning the last few outstanding issues,

As to Apple, its easier to write Apple apps, as they have a consistent base level, whereas Android you have to cater for many variables, devices, versions and so on. Thats why iOS often seems to be first off the block. End of the day Android must not be ready

Should they have not released a public beta?

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#2195604 11-Mar-2019 10:05

tdgeek:

I get that but its not the full release, its a beta release, for the public to play with for free and give feedback, that's how I see it

Spark Sport intends to launch later this week in public beta on a limited range of devices and apps*.

“The internet streaming platform is very nearly ready to launch and from a viewer experience perspective is looking great – we are just finetuning the last few outstanding issues,

As to Apple, its easier to write Apple apps, as they have a consistent base level, whereas Android you have to cater for many variables, devices, versions and so on. Thats why iOS often seems to be first off the block. End of the day Android must not be ready

Should they have not released a public beta?

Do bear in mind that 1 year after F1TV launched there is still only a limited range of devices available - and some of the Apple devices are via Safari rather than a native app. AFAIK Apple TV is still not supported for F1TV - despite assurances that it would be available in 2018.

And remember that SparkSport is using F1TV's provider for its content. How hard can it be to use your own front end that integrates with an existing backend provided by the host streaming broadcaster???

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#2195608 11-Mar-2019 10:09

ockel:

tdgeek:

I get that but its not the full release, its a beta release, for the public to play with for free and give feedback, that's how I see it

Spark Sport intends to launch later this week in public beta on a limited range of devices and apps*.

“The internet streaming platform is very nearly ready to launch and from a viewer experience perspective is looking great – we are just finetuning the last few outstanding issues,

As to Apple, its easier to write Apple apps, as they have a consistent base level, whereas Android you have to cater for many variables, devices, versions and so on. Thats why iOS often seems to be first off the block. End of the day Android must not be ready

Should they have not released a public beta?

Do bear in mind that 1 year after F1TV launched there is still only a limited range of devices available - and some of the Apple devices are via Safari rather than a native app. AFAIK Apple TV is still not supported for F1TV - despite assurances that it would be available in 2018.

And remember that SparkSport is using F1TV's provider for its content. How hard can it be to use your own front end that integrates with an existing backend provided by the host streaming broadcaster???

No idea. SS states that Apple TV and others will be available shortly after release, I'd take that as months. ATV4 support would be awesome

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