Spark Sport possibly to be sold

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Senecio

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#3011233 17-Dec-2022 14:08

tdgeek:
Senecio:

It’s a testament to just how much control they have. The fact that they can maintain their position of control whilst offering an inferior product.

If they improved the video quality of Sky Sport Now, that would sort out the inferior product issue?

Yes, plus on better demand features for full replays and highlights packages. It needs to be 1080p 50FPS and at least 8mb/s bit rate. Then you’ll have a picture quality that’s comparable to the satellite service.

nzkc

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#3011346 17-Dec-2022 15:35

tdgeek:
If they improved the video quality of Sky Sport Now, that would sort out the inferior product issue?

Partially.

Still an inferior UI, on demand still missing, have to use the tv guide to see what's on each channel.

They simply can't get past broadcast medium/approach.

Spark Sport is a far better streaming platform.

Handle9

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#3011361 17-Dec-2022 16:39

MikeB4: @tdgeek "a free market" not really it is heavily centrally controlled by very tight and expensive licence deal process that is not designed to encourage competition.

Here in Aotearoa probably 90% of sport coverage is controlled in some way by Sky. There is a small amount of motorsport on Three, some delayed coverage on Prime (Sky) and a very small amount on TVNZ.

The Spark example demonstrates how difficult a job any new comer has and the control exerted Sky TV is greater than control impact of the grocery duopoly.

Sky TV uses very monopolistic behavior and the rights owners are very complicent in that monopolistic behavior.

If our market was not an effictive monopoly Sky would and could not attain and maintain their very dominant position.

The reason why the market is an effective monopoly is it’s tiny. There isn’t enough money for multiple competitors unless they are leveraging an existing platform.

farcus

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#3011414 17-Dec-2022 17:24

tdgeek:

If they improved the video quality of Sky Sport Now, that would sort out the inferior product issue?

now that TVNZ have the cricket (unless you are watching the freeview terrestrial broadcast) means we are stuck to streaming in 720p?

MikeB4

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#3011418 17-Dec-2022 18:01

@Handle9 that same small market supports multiple streaming services.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Handle9

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#3011434 17-Dec-2022 20:17

MikeB4: @Handle9 that same small market supports multiple streaming services.

Most of which are leveraging overseas platforms.

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tdgeek

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#3011461 18-Dec-2022 07:48

It just seems to me that if Sky has some sports its a monopoly, but if Spark has some sports its ok.

As stated above, we are a very small market. Ive been to many cities that are double the NZ population. Thats not the fault of any operator if they succeed in being a dominant sports outlet. Spark was fine for sports, but F1, MotoGP are not a big buzzwords in NZ. Cricket, was only NZ Blackcaps mainly. They probably needed more core NZ sports, we play many sports here but I never really saw any of them on Spark Sport. I guess if they did invest and it became a $39.95 option to cover the investment, then punters would probably baulk at that. Back in the day Netflix was great, and a "monopoly" Now there are others, and now we moan at fragmentation, you cannot have it both ways

MikeB4

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#3011479 18-Dec-2022 10:48

tdgeek:

It just seems to me that if Sky has some sports its a monopoly, but if Spark has some sports its ok.

As stated above, we are a very small market. Ive been to many cities that are double the NZ population. Thats not the fault of any operator if they succeed in being a dominant sports outlet. Spark was fine for sports, but F1, MotoGP are not a big buzzwords in NZ. Cricket, was only NZ Blackcaps mainly. They probably needed more core NZ sports, we play many sports here but I never really saw any of them on Spark Sport. I guess if they did invest and it became a $39.95 option to cover the investment, then punters would probably baulk at that. Back in the day Netflix was great, and a "monopoly" Now there are others, and now we moan at fragmentation, you cannot have it both ways

Monopolistic behaviour does not need a single entity. The presence of multiple entities does not exclude the existence of a virtual monopoly.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

PolicyGuy

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#3011558 18-Dec-2022 13:58

Handle9:
MikeB4: @Handle9 that same small market supports multiple streaming services.

Most of which are leveraging overseas platforms.

And almost certainly their NZ revenues only make a 'profit' if they take only the marginal cost of delivery into account.
The ability of a tiny market like NZ to make any contribution to the network's (overseas) overheads & capital costs is IMO almost non-existent.

mudguard

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#3011563 18-Dec-2022 14:48

afe66: I'm in the opposite camp as I liked cricket and F1 on spark and not rugby league, afl, netball soccer, rugby on sky. So I think I'll still cancell sky sport and pay for F1

That's where I'm at. I watch MotoGP and F1 and thought the image quality was great on my TV. That said I was almost always watching a replay and not live. Yes the app was a a little annoying. I didn't like avoiding the qualifying results all day, and then try pick where the coverage started and go too far and see the result.

I'm worried the image quality on Sky Sports Now won't be as good but who knows. I don't want a box or a dish on the house either.

dougierydal

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#3011577 18-Dec-2022 16:24

tdgeek:

dougierydal:

I think Spark Sport is a considerably better option than Sky's streaming alternative SkySportNow. Image quality is better, UI is better, replays up quicker etc etc.

Sky's set-top Box is where they are putting most of their energy, not into streaming.

Revenue.

If you don't have that you do not have a service.

Of course Sky need to do what works for them first and foremost, my point was Spark were 100% streaming focused and it showed, Sky pay only passing interest to their streaming option and it shows...

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tdgeek

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#3011874 19-Dec-2022 07:13

dougierydal:

Of course Sky need to do what works for them first and foremost, my point was Spark were 100% streaming focused and it showed, Sky pay only passing interest to their streaming option and it shows...

I don't get what the deal is with needing to be streaming focused. I.e. the 1980's option and the 2022 option. What difference does it really make?

I have both, both are easy, both have pros and cons, which in both cases are less than minor. Image quality is great on both

Now, if you happened to be stuck on ADSL or wireless broadband, being reliant on streaming may be a problem, due to speed and/or cap

If you lived rurally, you may not get FTA terrestrial as well. Sky is the solution in those scenarios. For me I don't care if my potatoes are delivered in a bag or a box, the end result is the same, same for TV. Now, if Sky was awkward to use, the image quality was pretty average, then I may think differently, but if I see what I want to see on a screen, thats all that matters to me. Both work great for me

dougierydal

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#3011877 19-Dec-2022 07:50

tdgeek:

dougierydal:

Of course Sky need to do what works for them first and foremost, my point was Spark were 100% streaming focused and it showed, Sky pay only passing interest to their streaming option and it shows...

I don't get what the deal is with needing to be streaming focused. I.e. the 1980's option and the 2022 option. What difference does it really make?

I have both, both are easy, both have pros and cons, which in both cases are less than minor. Image quality is great on both

Now, if you happened to be stuck on ADSL or wireless broadband, being reliant on streaming may be a problem, due to speed and/or cap

If you lived rurally, you may not get FTA terrestrial as well. Sky is the solution in those scenarios. For me I don't care if my potatoes are delivered in a bag or a box, the end result is the same, same for TV. Now, if Sky was awkward to use, the image quality was pretty average, then I may think differently, but if I see what I want to see on a screen, thats all that matters to me. Both work great for me

You have both a set top box and Sky Sport Now?

I'd also disagree that image quality is 'great', it's adequate sure, decent even, but not great.

Spark have set the standard with streaming in terms of service (replays up quickly), image quality, UI, ease of navigation, so SSN will always be compared to them.

But if you're a subscriber and happy, then all good.

tdgeek

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#3011878 19-Dec-2022 07:55

dougierydal:

You have both a set top box and Sky Sport Now?

I'd also disagree that image quality is 'great', it's adequate sure, decent even, but not great.

Spark have set the standard with streaming in terms of service (replays up quickly), image quality, UI, ease of navigation, so SSN will always be compared to them.

But if you're a subscriber and happy, then all good.

No, I have Sky STB and Spark Sport streaming. I thought the commentary here, generally is Sky is old fashioned, and Spark have streaming.

Yes, SSN is basically rubbish, image quality wise. Although on some sports on Spark Sport it was too (LET as one example and some UK rugger they played) Jerky.

quickymart

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#3014936 29-Dec-2022 08:58

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/has-sky-regained-its-monopoly-how-much-money-did-it-lose-a-qa-on-the-rise-and-fall-of-spark-sport/GN75J36BEVCSVOERDVIFDI5BVM/ (paywalled)

Q&A about Spark Sport.

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