Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 180

6099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1465

Trusted

#2184100 20-Feb-2019 09:05

Interesting to finally have some pricing.

I see a lot of people giving Spark grief because testing is starting ,and some of the other F1 services are broadcasting that, and it can't be watched officially in NZ.

Previously known as psycik

Home Assistant: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, Home Assistant with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Shelly Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Server Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using MergerFS, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Proxmox Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 22.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com fastmail.com Sharesies Trakt.TV Sharesight

nzkc

1634 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1041

#2184104 20-Feb-2019 09:11

$20 seems a very good price. Colour me impressed with that. The herald article does hint the RWC may be extra (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12205395).

I'll certainly give it a go and if there are even just a couple of sports I can regularly watch I'd keep it at that price.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41064

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2184109 20-Feb-2019 09:14

Here is the full release:

Spark Sport launching in early March with a free trial month for New Zealanders

Spark Sport priced at just $19.99 a month
One-month free trial available at launch
Spark Sport to launch in early March, in time for Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix to be simulcast on TVNZ DUKE
Spark Sport launching in ‘beta’ to obtain feedback from Kiwis
Spark Sport is launching in early March with a one-month free trial for those who sign up to the service, to give sports fans the opportunity to check out the new way of enjoying sport in New Zealand for free. Following a free trial, access to Spark Sport will be priced at just $19.99 a month for all-you-can-eat sport.

Jeff Latch, Head of Spark Sport says that the team is excited to bring this new way of watching sport to New Zealanders. “Spark Sport offers a modern and convenient way to watch sport: no long-term contract, the ability to purchase a single standalone sports package, and an affordable monthly price. We think Kiwis will love being able to stream sport in high definition on a range of devices, at the time they want, with access to a range of live and on demand coverage, for an affordable price.”

The free trial will be available to take up in March and will allow New Zealanders to get a taste of the sport that will be available, including the first two Grand Prix of the Formula 1 season, the FIH Pro League, live NBA matches, Heineken Cup games, Premier League and Champions League content and the World Rally Championships. Latch says, “We’re confident that they will really like what they see – and agree with us that all this sport for under $20 a month with no long-term contract is a great deal.”

The service will initially launch in beta to allow the Spark Sport team to test the platform in real conditions. Latch explains, “The Spark Sport app is looking great. As we are launching in beta, we would welcome feedback from the first customers to jump onboard. We will continually be developing the platform and rolling out new functionality in the weeks and months after launch.”

The service will be live in time for the first Formula 1 race, the Australian Grand Prix. As the launch of Spark Sport is close to the start of the Formula 1 season, Spark Sport has partnered with TVNZ for the Australian Grand Prix to be simulcast on Spark Sport and TVNZ DUKE.

Spark Sport coverage of Formula 1 will use the extended Sky UK feed, which includes comprehensive commentary, race data and graphics for each F1 practice session, race qualifying session and the Formula 1 main race. The Spark Sport coverage will also include the Sky Grid Walk and post-race review show. TVNZ DUKE will broadcast and livestream the qualifying session and the main race.

In March, Spark Sport will be available via popular web browsers, Apple iPhone and iPad, Apple AirPlay, Android phones and tablets and Google Chromecast, with selected Samsung TVs following shortly. During the first six months following launch, the Spark Sport app will gradually become available on a range of content platforms including Apple TV, Panasonic, LG and Sony Smart TVs and more.

Spark Sport will make announcements about plans for the Rugby World Cup, including pricing and packaging details in April, once the Spark Sport platform has been fully launched. “We are well on track with our planning for September and look forward to releasing more information about how Kiwis will watch the Rugby World Cup, as we expect many New Zealanders will want to sign up early,” said Latch.

Sports featuring in March include:

FIH Hockey Pro League
NBA matches, highlights and analysis
FIA World Rally Championships
Formula 1 Championships
Heineken Cup Rugby
Manchester United TV
Liverpool FC matches and ancillary content
Spark’s full sports line up so far

Rugby

Rugby World Cup 2019
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021
World Rugby U20 Championships 2019
Heineken Champions Cup
Football

Premier League
Manchester United TV
Liverpool TV
Motorsport

Formula 1 World Championships
Formula 2 Championship
GP3 Series
2019 Porsche Super Cup Series
FIA World Rally Championships
Basketball

National Basketball Association (NBA) TV
Hockey

Hockey World Cup
FIH Hockey Pro League
Olympic Qualification
National Hockey League

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.

davidcole

6099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1465

Trusted

#2184110 20-Feb-2019 09:14

nzkc: $20 seems a very good price. Colour me impressed with that. The herald article does hint the RWC may be extra (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12205395).

I'll certainly give it a go and if there are even just a couple of sports I can regularly watch I'd keep it at that price.

I'm really, really, crossing my fingers for an event pass/day pass type deal. Hopefully down the track once their subscription numbers stablise. Surely a bit of extra money is better than none, if most of the sports don't interest all the time (something sky screwed up with fanpass)

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

#2184145 20-Feb-2019 09:15

Yeehar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2184153 20-Feb-2019 09:24

davidcole:

nzkc: $20 seems a very good price. Colour me impressed with that. The herald article does hint the RWC may be extra (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12205395).

I'll certainly give it a go and if there are even just a couple of sports I can regularly watch I'd keep it at that price.

I'm really, really, crossing my fingers for an event pass/day pass type deal. Hopefully down the track once their subscription numbers stablise. Surely a bit of extra money is better than none, if most of the sports don't interest all the time (something sky screwed up with fanpass)

I cannot really see that. Sports cost a lot to buy, $5 a week is not much, they might get a few more paying $4 a month average with passes, but then some people who are happy with $20 (everyone here) will reduce the cost as well.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

davidcole

6099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1465

Trusted

#2184167 20-Feb-2019 09:29

tdgeek:

davidcole:

nzkc: $20 seems a very good price. Colour me impressed with that. The herald article does hint the RWC may be extra (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12205395).

I'll certainly give it a go and if there are even just a couple of sports I can regularly watch I'd keep it at that price.

I'm really, really, crossing my fingers for an event pass/day pass type deal. Hopefully down the track once their subscription numbers stablise. Surely a bit of extra money is better than none, if most of the sports don't interest all the time (something sky screwed up with fanpass)

I cannot really see that. Sports cost a lot to buy, $5 a week is not much, they might get a few more paying $4 a month average with passes, but then some people who are happy with $20 (everyone here) will reduce the cost as well.

Yeah I know, and I need a lot of users to subsidise that simple use case. At $20 a month, and if it's easy enough to cancel, then that's sufficient for say an event (think a world championship, maybe they'll get the olympics of something down the track

Hopefully the RWC can purchased separate? and not require the base subscription first.

invisibleman18

1420 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 427

#2184168 20-Feb-2019 09:30

Happy with the pricing for EPL as long as that allows me to watch every game of my team as the current offering does. Annoyingly looks like I'm going to have to buy a Chromecast to watch on my TV though. Currently use PlayStation for all streaming with apps for Netflix, Lightbox, TVNZ, Neon so don't really have the need to be paying out for another device.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2184172 20-Feb-2019 09:33

invisibleman18: Happy with the pricing for EPL as long as that allows me to watch every game of my team as the current offering does. Annoyingly looks like I'm going to have to buy a Chromecast to watch on my TV though. Currently use PlayStation for all streaming with apps for Netflix, Lightbox, TVNZ, Neon so don't really have the need to be paying out for another device.

I bought a ChromeCast Ultra the other day for this, now I see its supports Airplay, that was not mentioned earlier. No matter, a CC here has other uses

D.W

747 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 91

#2184176 20-Feb-2019 09:39

Has it been clarified how the on-demand will work? Can we watch anything on demand? For example specific football matches or NBA games?

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2184180 20-Feb-2019 09:48

Benoire:

Great, I'll have to use the android app as I don't have access to Freeview|HD as I don't have an aerial just a sky dish! Just means no pausing or anything if the app fails.

Its been stated that OD works with live. So if you missed the start you can watch via OD even though its still live streaming, so that's likely to be pseudo pause

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
1935 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 640

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#2184181 20-Feb-2019 09:49

Must be lots of panicky people in the SkyTV board room today.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2184186 20-Feb-2019 09:58

Sounddude:

Must be lots of panicky people in the SkyTV board room today.

Maybe. Many though will be forced to keep Sky for other sports, wife, kids, etc. At $20 its not much to just add SS (Spark Sport)

But yes, some will bail,

invisibleman18

1420 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 427

#2184190 20-Feb-2019 10:08

Wondered if there might be some discount for existing Spark customers (ie, currently Spark phone contracts include free Lightbox and Spotify), but no mention of that yet.

Oblivian

7345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2117

ID Verified

#2184191 20-Feb-2019 10:08

tdgeek:

Sounddude:

Must be lots of panicky people in the SkyTV board room today.

Maybe. Many though will be forced to keep Sky for other sports, wife, kids, etc. At $20 its not much to just add SS (Spark Sport)

But yes, some will bail,

(theres a headline with their own announcement today hidden away on NZH page too..)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 180