Spark Sport: Rugby World Cup 2019

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1542 posts

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#2327225 30-Sep-2019 17:42

dfnt:
Other than the AB's game I've had a flawless* experience across Chromecast on the Shield TV, Kodi with the Spark Sport plugin, Apple TV with the native App and Apple TV via airplay. So I don't have my head in the sand thanks.

*Other than jitter when using 60hz on the Apple TV 4K

I don’t know how to make this any clearer but just because you have a good experience does not mean the service is faultless.

If the service was so good there would be no story, it was confirmed by Spark last nights Wales v Australia game had issues so the media have case to report it.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

tdgeek

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#2327238 30-Sep-2019 18:05

Batman:

arnies:
dfnt:

I reckon of a commentator sneezed on air stuff would make a story out of it https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/116120054/rugby-world-cup-2019-audio-issues-plague-australia-v-wales-match

Getting a bit boring now

Have a read of the SS FB page. I’m a SS truther but it’s embarrassing now. Won’t be surprised if they pull the pin tomorrow.

i'm reading a lot of issues with the apps. nobody complains from the webpage feeds.

Or the ATV4 and CCu.The comments of this that and everything else are mirrored by it was all good

kiwiharry

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#2327276 30-Sep-2019 19:39

kiwiharry:
kiwiharry:
I cancelled my RWC Tournament pass on Sept 12. I'm still waiting to see the refund appear on my CC. I'm sure they said 3-5 businesses days, but am giving them 10 business days.

Contacted Spark Sport again today, as refund still not showing. Got told there was a transaction error, so need to wait another 3-5 business days.

Original request for refund was made via email support on 28 August and I responded to their request for ID and credit card verification the same day. I had no further response so I responded again on Sept 9.

No reponse or refund received and account was still active on Sep 12 so used online chat to cancel.

This shouldn't be this hard.

Finally got my refund, 1 month after my first request.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

old3eyes

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#2327279 30-Sep-2019 19:50

langi27:
As expected, when you point out (in stuff comments) the pointless articles about Spark Sport are based on a few negative comments, they don't allow it. Maybe already mentioned, why does Stuff want to hate on Spark?

Maybe Stuff wants to bid on the next RWC and stream it themselves. Yeah that will work well.

Regards,

Old3eyes

eracode

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#2327327 30-Sep-2019 21:37

Yabanize:

Yeah, from reading the complaints it sounds like most of them come from the smart TV apps, the ones using Chromecast or Apple TV seem to be having a much better experience.

I don’t think it’s that simple. Last night I watched the first half of WAL v AUS via iPad Pro app > Chromecast on 2008 LG C8 Smart TV. It was continually pixelating, freezing, buffering and flicking in and out of HD. About half the time it was not in HD. Not a pleasant watching experience - chunks of it weren’t even visible.

At half time I went downstairs and watched the rest of the game using the Spark RWC app on 2009 LG C9 running via WiFi - i.e. no intermediate box/dongle. It was pretty much flawless - not one instance of pixelating, freezing or buffering. Very occasionally it would drop out of HD briefly but overall it was a pleasure to watch.

My experience is the opposite of what you’re saying.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

tdgeek

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#2327339 30-Sep-2019 21:52

eracode:

Yabanize:

Yeah, from reading the complaints it sounds like most of them come from the smart TV apps, the ones using Chromecast or Apple TV seem to be having a much better experience.

I don’t think it’s that simple. Last night I watched the first half of WAL v AUS via iPad Pro app > Chromecast on 2008 LG C8 OLED. It was continually pixelating, freezing, buffering and flicking in and out of HD. About half the time it was not in HD. Not a pleasant watching experience - chunks of it weren’t even visible.

At half time I went downstairs and watched the rest of the game using the Spark RWC app on 2009 LG C9 OLED running via WiFi. It was pretty much flawless - not one instance of pixelating, freezing or buffering. Very occasionally it would drop out of HD briefly but overall it was a pleasure to watch.

My experience is the opposite of what you’re saying.

It does though, show it to be user CPE. Half of something was not happening in your upstairs example, but it was functioning downstairs. The iOS apps rock. Was your Chromecast Gen 1, 2 or U? 1 is not great, 2 doesn't do well on 60fps I recall, U is great. The two TV's will be similar, maybe identical CPU and OS wise? Or not? I know almost only use ATV4, thats great too.

EDIT

Yes, I agree its not thats simple. TV's are probably more variable as new model every year, they won't all be equal but some may be more equal than others

eracode

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#2327341 30-Sep-2019 21:57

tdgeek:

eracode:

Yabanize:

Yeah, from reading the complaints it sounds like most of them come from the smart TV apps, the ones using Chromecast or Apple TV seem to be having a much better experience.

I don’t think it’s that simple. Last night I watched the first half of WAL v AUS via iPad Pro app > Chromecast on 2008 LG C8 OLED. It was continually pixelating, freezing, buffering and flicking in and out of HD. About half the time it was not in HD. Not a pleasant watching experience - chunks of it weren’t even visible.

At half time I went downstairs and watched the rest of the game using the Spark RWC app on 2009 LG C9 OLED running via WiFi. It was pretty much flawless - not one instance of pixelating, freezing or buffering. Very occasionally it would drop out of HD briefly but overall it was a pleasure to watch.

My experience is the opposite of what you’re saying.

It does though, show it to be user CPE. Half of something was not happening in your upstairs example, but it was functioning downstairs. The iOS apps rock. Was your Chromecast Gen 1, 2 or U? 1 is not great, 2 doesn't do well on 60fps I recall, U is great. The two TV's will be similar, maybe identical CPU and OS wise? Or not? I now only use ATV4, thats great too.

I don’t really want to get into techs and specs. Can’t be bothered TBH - I’m over all this. My point is that people draw generalised conclusions that are not accurate.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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msparkus4378

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#2327621 1-Oct-2019 12:09

tdgeek:

eracode:

Yabanize:

Yeah, from reading the complaints it sounds like most of them come from the smart TV apps, the ones using Chromecast or Apple TV seem to be having a much better experience.

I don’t think it’s that simple. Last night I watched the first half of WAL v AUS via iPad Pro app > Chromecast on 2008 LG C8 OLED. It was continually pixelating, freezing, buffering and flicking in and out of HD. About half the time it was not in HD. Not a pleasant watching experience - chunks of it weren’t even visible.

At half time I went downstairs and watched the rest of the game using the Spark RWC app on 2009 LG C9 OLED running via WiFi. It was pretty much flawless - not one instance of pixelating, freezing or buffering. Very occasionally it would drop out of HD briefly but overall it was a pleasure to watch.

My experience is the opposite of what you’re saying.

It does though, show it to be user CPE. Half of something was not happening in your upstairs example, but it was functioning downstairs. The iOS apps rock. Was your Chromecast Gen 1, 2 or U? 1 is not great, 2 doesn't do well on 60fps I recall, U is great. The two TV's will be similar, maybe identical CPU and OS wise? Or not? I know almost only use ATV4, thats great too.

EDIT

Yes, I agree its not thats simple. TV's are probably more variable as new model every year, they won't all be equal but some may be more equal than others

Assume you mean 2018 and 2019 model TV's.

tdgeek

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#2327626 1-Oct-2019 12:16

msparkus4378:

Assume you mean 2018 and 2019 model TV's.

I sad "TV's are probably more variable as new models every year"

msparkus4378

17 posts

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#2327639 1-Oct-2019 13:05

Sorry, quoted multiple posters by mistake. Was refering to eracode's post saying 2008 and 2009. Read it as they were using a 10 year old TV at first.

richrdh18

210 posts

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#2327685 1-Oct-2019 13:22

tdgeek:

richrdh18:

Last night I started the Georgian game with the Samsung TV Spark Sports app and then onto the Aus - Wales, there was no issue until 5 mins into the Aus game when the screen started to lag, fade, etc. I immediately switch to my backup plan of a Google Chromecast Ultra from my Sony android phone for the rest of the game it it was perfect.

So in my opinion that the issue lie with the TV app for when the stream is heavy demand for these bigger games.

I only have VDSL 30 - 50 MB down and 20 up.

TV app or the TV? When the TV app is running and its under heavy demand, where is the CPU located?

If there was heavy demand for this bigger games (when they have stated many times thats not the case, internationally or domestically) how can you CCu and Android home help? If too many users is the issue the entire feed will be affected.

You got it working well, so your VDSL, and CCu and Android and too many users inst the issue

Its your SS TV app or its the TV CPU, thats how I see it.

I have the latest Samsung q9 65" TV, 2018. I'd expect the CPU on the TV to be capable. I still think it is the SS TV App is some weird way or form. I wouldn't expect it to be the TV itself as all other streaming it is fine, I can run Red Bull TV App watching other major world wide online events live and have no issue at all. Anyway just my 5 cents worth, Chrome cast is awesome, no issues whatsoever.

tdgeek

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#2327686 1-Oct-2019 13:23

msparkus4378:

Sorry, quoted multiple posters by mistake. Was refering to eracode's post saying 2008 and 2009. Read it as they were using a 10 year old TV at first.

All good. Reading the news where there was an issue, say the audio the other day, then you read there were no other issues they saw. Then you read here there were issues for some, and sweet as for others. When its sweet as, its well, sweet as. Its not that Im getting a great feed to my house and your getting a bung feed to yours, it doesn't work that way. The apps all work.The apps AFAIK don't do any number crunching. With this mass variability, and when Spark says there are no issues they are seeing, means it has to be some hardware that is struggling. And definitely some less than ideal home setups, wifi etc (unsurprising as there will be many non IT literate homes out there)

I know the Sony has been mentioned here a lot as low CPU capability. Same possibly applies to some others. Dont seem to see much from ATV4, CCu, and some others I assume too in the Android world.

tdgeek

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#2327688 1-Oct-2019 13:29

richrdh18:

I have the latest Samsung q9 65" TV, 2018. I'd expect the CPU on the TV to be capable. I still think it is the SS TV App is some weird way or form. I wouldn't expect it to be the TV itself as all other streaming it is fine, I can run Red Bull TV App watching other major world wide online events live and have no issue at all. Anyway just my 5 cents worth, Chrome cast is awesome, no issues whatsoever.

Streaming at 60fps isn't Netflix. Yes, CC is great. If CC works better than your TV, then if we assume its not the app, its the TV? If its the app how does that happen? Does the app do any number crunching? I wouldn't think so. Hope we find out the details in time

damo99

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#2327706 1-Oct-2019 13:40

djtOtago:

If this post https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=151&topicid=243611&page_no=160 is to be believed, Spark Sport are not competent enough to write an app that can do video at 1080p 60fps on Sony TVs

Other apps on my Sony Youtube, Plex, Primevideo have no problem paying 4k 60 fps

The Spark Sport app just looks like a low res pile of ???.
Streaming via the built in chromecast, the quality is good, but there is some micro stutter in the frames. More so in some games than others.

If I didn't also have a Samsung TV, I would have ask for my money back by now.

I have had exactly the same experience. I did a live chat with spark sport this morning and discovered that the Sony TV is not supported for 60fps, which I hadn't realised. Also doing some bandwidth monitoring I can see that the spark sport app is definitely not getting the best stream. Built-in chromecast is apparently not supported and I have the same issue as you, picture looks great, but it pauses and freezes multiple times per minute!

I've just installed Kodi and am using Matt H's add-on. Now I'm getting the best quality stream with 60fps and it looks pretty good.

kiwifidget

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#2327716 1-Oct-2019 13:47

I was using the Kodi+Matt combo last night and got a video freeze at 65:16 in the Scotland v Samoa game. The audio continued uninterrupted. I had to restart the stream to get the video back, lost about 3 minutes of play all up.

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