Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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#2184539 20-Feb-2019 21:48

It's been a while since I last posted anything, but like many, I've been watching and waiting for further details of Spark Sport with interest, particularly in relation to the F1 coverage.

A couple of questions I've got are:

Will TVNZ Duke coverage be used for any subsequent races, or is it only limited to the Aus GP while any initial issues (if there are any) are ironed out?
How long, realistically, is it likely to be before native apps for other TVs/smart devices are available (particularly Panasonic in my case)? I really don't want to have to watch races on a tablet, or on the PC if I can avoid it (but will I have to in the short term!) - much better to watch it on the TV.

On the second point, getting a Chromecast isn't an option, as there's not enough inputs on the TV, and while one could be made available by removing our Sky box, that may not disappear completely just yet. I'd also just generally prefer to use a native app instead, rather than having to trigger a stream via phone/tablet. Also, as the other streaming services we use are already available via native apps, a Chromecast would only be for this one, and even then only short term, which seems a waste.

Great to have had the information released today though, as having watched almost every race since around 1989 (granted most not live since 2001), I was starting to get concerned this might be my first year of missing them entirely! Price-wise, it's a done-deal here, so at least I know I'll be able to continue to watch and follow them all.

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#2184540 20-Feb-2019 21:49

stinger:

I'm I the only one finding it odd - but not unexpected - that Spark Sport are offering RWC for a premium price? If Sky tried to do that, there would be rioting in streets! (yes rugby channel is a premium channel but all major rugby events are on Sky Sports)

how true!

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#2184568 20-Feb-2019 23:50

stinger:

I'm I the only one finding it odd - but not unexpected - that Spark Sport are offering RWC for a premium price? If Sky tried to do that, there would be rioting in streets! (yes rugby channel is a premium channel but all major rugby events are on Sky Sports)

RWC costs a bunch. Sky absorbed it. Same reasoning when they stopped a sport, they dont refund you, when they add a sport, they don't bill you.

Sky Sport is a bundle, that what they do. Why add the Rugby Channel as a pay channel? Makes a bit of sense I suppose, its probably just a means to help subsidise the sport's overall rights costs. When Spark bought RWC, it naturally cost a bundle, they need to recover that, so its a separate business venture for 6 weeks. Had Spark had a sport bundle the size of Sky's they might have absorbed it, to let the public know that Spark Sport is the premium sports service. Possibly. But ts new and small right now, thats my opinion.

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#2184569 20-Feb-2019 23:54

smarsden:

It's been a while since I last posted anything, but like many, I've been watching and waiting for further details of Spark Sport with interest, particularly in relation to the F1 coverage.

A couple of questions I've got are:

Will TVNZ Duke coverage be used for any subsequent races, or is it only limited to the Aus GP while any initial issues (if there are any) are ironed out?
How long, realistically, is it likely to be before native apps for other TVs/smart devices are available (particularly Panasonic in my case)? I really don't want to have to watch races on a tablet, or on the PC if I can avoid it (but will I have to in the short term!) - much better to watch it on the TV.
On the second point, getting a Chromecast isn't an option, as there's not enough inputs on the TV, and while one could be made available by removing our Sky box, that may not disappear completely just yet. I'd also just generally prefer to use a native app instead, rather than having to trigger a stream via phone/tablet. Also, as the other streaming services we use are already available via native apps, a Chromecast would only be for this one, and even then only short term, which seems a waste.

Great to have had the information released today though, as having watched almost every race since around 1989 (granted most not live since 2001), I was starting to get concerned this might be my first year of missing them entirely! Price-wise, it's a done-deal here, so at least I know I'll be able to continue to watch and follow them all.

Only answer is what Spark have released.

Latch says support for certain brands of Samsung smart TV will be added shortly after the initial launch. Support for LG, Sony and Panasonic TVs will be added down track, along with a version of the Spark Sport app for Apple TV.

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#2184571 21-Feb-2019 00:05

If the .apk can be side-loaded onto my FireTv gen1 then I'll be very happy. If it doesn't, I guess I'll need to but another toy.

This is all win-win for me as a non sky subscriber.

ockel

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#2184585 21-Feb-2019 07:54

stinger:

I'm I the only one finding it odd - but not unexpected - that Spark Sport are offering RWC for a premium price? If Sky tried to do that, there would be rioting in streets! (yes rugby channel is a premium channel but all major rugby events are on Sky Sports)

Should Sky have bid for the RWC rights and offered it as a separate product via FanPass purely for the RWC? $100 for a month of rugby games - crikey thats like charging a FanPass monthly price just for one sporting code! That would have gone down like a cup of cold sick.

Will we see other sporting events (eg Cricket World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Olympics, TriNations, Lions tours, Northern Hemisphere tours) being offered as PPV events in future years? Spark have created the model - others will surely follow. Its going to be an interesting ride to see how things evolve.

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#2184591 21-Feb-2019 08:04

ockel:

stinger:

I'm I the only one finding it odd - but not unexpected - that Spark Sport are offering RWC for a premium price? If Sky tried to do that, there would be rioting in streets! (yes rugby channel is a premium channel but all major rugby events are on Sky Sports)

Should Sky have bid for the RWC rights and offered it as a separate product via FanPass purely for the RWC? $100 for a month of rugby games - crikey thats like charging a FanPass monthly price just for one sporting code! That would have gone down like a cup of cold sick.

Will we see other sporting events (eg Cricket World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Olympics, TriNations, Lions tours, Northern Hemisphere tours) being offered as PPV events in future years? Spark have created the model - others will surely follow. Its going to be an interesting ride to see how things evolve.

There's good and bad for this model. If you're an avid sports fan, that - MUST WATCH ALL SPORT - it will really suck. But for those that say couldn't give a squit for the full ABs season, but think, yeah I'll watch the Bledisloe, or just this game, or just a lions tour, or the summer olympics, it's great. The point is for this model is that each thing is independent, you you buy the service for a month or shorter period.

Where people start sky bashing (and other pay tv services) if that to get sport you have to already had a basic package. If they'd unbundled sport years ago, I doubt there'd be so much hate. Sure the price of sport might have had to increase, $30 when with basic, but $40-50 in isolation (an overall net saving on both) would have sated many complainers.

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ockel

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#2184596 21-Feb-2019 08:15

davidcole:

ockel:

stinger:

I'm I the only one finding it odd - but not unexpected - that Spark Sport are offering RWC for a premium price? If Sky tried to do that, there would be rioting in streets! (yes rugby channel is a premium channel but all major rugby events are on Sky Sports)

Should Sky have bid for the RWC rights and offered it as a separate product via FanPass purely for the RWC? $100 for a month of rugby games - crikey thats like charging a FanPass monthly price just for one sporting code! That would have gone down like a cup of cold sick.

Will we see other sporting events (eg Cricket World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Olympics, TriNations, Lions tours, Northern Hemisphere tours) being offered as PPV events in future years? Spark have created the model - others will surely follow. Its going to be an interesting ride to see how things evolve.

There's good and bad for this model. If you're an avid sports fan, that - MUST WATCH ALL SPORT - it will really suck. But for those that say couldn't give a squit for the full ABs season, but think, yeah I'll watch the Bledisloe, or just this game, or just a lions tour, or the summer olympics, it's great. The point is for this model is that each thing is independent, you you buy the service for a month or shorter period.

Where people start sky bashing (and other pay tv services) if that to get sport you have to already had a basic package. If they'd unbundled sport years ago, I doubt there'd be so much hate. Sure the price of sport might have had to increase, $30 when with basic, but $40-50 in isolation (an overall net saving on both) would have sated many complainers.

But Sport has been unbundled - has been for years its called FanPass. And costs $55/mth. Thanks to the subsidy by Spark its $30/mth for Spark broadband subscribers but even then the needle doesnt seemed to have moved much by the potential 650,000 Spark broadband subscribers that could take this offer. Why?

For a long while complainers have been calling for the breadth of Skys sport at the [now announced] Spark Sport price. So it kinda makes Spark Sport farcial for value. Five minor sports for $20/mth. The value comparison must look sickening unless you only want to watch 1 or 2 sports - and dont care about the rest. But even then if one puts subjectivity aside and actually does the analysis it really makes me disappointed in Sparks offering. How many events do you get per month for your $20? How many live hours of sport for that $20? How does that compare to the competition? Do the math - its not very flattering. Spark need to add a swag more sports for the same price to make it reasonable.

Spark had every opportunity to be innovative with a sports product offering but has elected to offer a bundle of sports for a monthly price. Its just the same old, same old but with less (and lesser) sports for a lower price. Disappointing.

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#2184598 21-Feb-2019 08:17

davidcole:

ockel:

stinger:

I'm I the only one finding it odd - but not unexpected - that Spark Sport are offering RWC for a premium price? If Sky tried to do that, there would be rioting in streets! (yes rugby channel is a premium channel but all major rugby events are on Sky Sports)

Should Sky have bid for the RWC rights and offered it as a separate product via FanPass purely for the RWC? $100 for a month of rugby games - crikey thats like charging a FanPass monthly price just for one sporting code! That would have gone down like a cup of cold sick.

Will we see other sporting events (eg Cricket World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Olympics, TriNations, Lions tours, Northern Hemisphere tours) being offered as PPV events in future years? Spark have created the model - others will surely follow. Its going to be an interesting ride to see how things evolve.

There's good and bad for this model. If you're an avid sports fan, that - MUST WATCH ALL SPORT - it will really suck. But for those that say couldn't give a squit for the full ABs season, but think, yeah I'll watch the Bledisloe, or just this game, or just a lions tour, or the summer olympics, it's great. The point is for this model is that each thing is independent, you you buy the service for a month or shorter period.

Where people start sky bashing (and other pay tv services) if that to get sport you have to already had a basic package. If they'd unbundled sport years ago, I doubt there'd be so much hate. Sure the price of sport might have had to increase, $30 when with basic, but $40-50 in isolation (an overall net saving on both) would have sated many complainers.

They would need to maintain the ARPU. It doesnt matter if sport was $3 and Basic $70, they still need to maintain the ARPU. Plus its hard to have a model that suits everybody, all of the time. Sky's profit per customer per month is low, used to be $15, then $12, haven't worked it out lately, not much room to move there. They couldn't manage a price drop of much, or you paying $80 this month, $3 next month, $27 the month after.

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#2184601 21-Feb-2019 08:20

ockel:

But Sport has been unbundled - has been for years its called FanPass. And costs $55/mth. Thanks to the subsidy by Spark its $30/mth for Spark broadband subscribers but even then the needle doesnt seemed to have moved much by the potential 650,000 Spark broadband subscribers that could take this offer. Why?

It costs $330 for fanpass. You have to commit to 6 months if you want to chuck out that price. Or $99 for a single month. That's no unbundling. As for $99 you can have a decoder and the basic package I believe. So it a false economy....and it's only the 4 main channels, where on the subscriber package there are pop ups.

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#2184609 21-Feb-2019 08:31

davidcole:

ockel:

But Sport has been unbundled - has been for years its called FanPass. And costs $55/mth. Thanks to the subsidy by Spark its $30/mth for Spark broadband subscribers but even then the needle doesnt seemed to have moved much by the potential 650,000 Spark broadband subscribers that could take this offer. Why?

It costs $330 for fanpass. You have to commit to 6 months if you want to chuck out that price. Or $99 for a single month. That's no unbundling. As for $99 you can have a decoder and the basic package I believe. So it a false economy....and it's only the 4 main channels, where on the subscriber package there are pop ups.

Here is my opinion on Fanpass, that I posted elsewhere

Fanpass pricing is not based on it being a standard product. When people ditch Sky, Fanpass is there to recover some revenue. It is priced at $100 so you wont buy it, as they want you to buy it for 6 months at $60. Its not full Sky Sport as that encourages more to churn. Remember, Sport is the Crown jewel of Sky. If Fanpass was full Sky Sport, more will churn, so the diluted Fanpass will garner some lost revenue, and not cannibalise Basics + Sport. People will pay $60

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#2184612 21-Feb-2019 08:42

tdgeek:

davidcole:

ockel:

But Sport has been unbundled - has been for years its called FanPass. And costs $55/mth. Thanks to the subsidy by Spark its $30/mth for Spark broadband subscribers but even then the needle doesnt seemed to have moved much by the potential 650,000 Spark broadband subscribers that could take this offer. Why?

It costs $330 for fanpass. You have to commit to 6 months if you want to chuck out that price. Or $99 for a single month. That's no unbundling. As for $99 you can have a decoder and the basic package I believe. So it a false economy....and it's only the 4 main channels, where on the subscriber package there are pop ups.

Here is my opinion on Fanpass, that I posted elsewhere

Fanpass pricing is not based on it being a standard product. When people ditch Sky, Fanpass is there to recover some revenue. It is priced at $100 so you wont buy it, as they want you to buy it for 6 months at $60. Its not full Sky Sport as that encourages more to churn. Remember, Sport is the Crown jewel of Sky. If Fanpass was full Sky Sport, more will churn, so the diluted Fanpass will garner some lost revenue, and not cannibalise Basics + Sport. People will pay $60

Yes exactly. Fanpass is not sport unbundled as was suggested above.

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#2184626 21-Feb-2019 08:48

I've talked to some co workers about this, and made some observations.

I'm totally comfortable with streaming, and purchasing sports programming as different model (pay per tournament etc), however a lot of people haven't come around to this way of thinking and are stuck in the "over the air" broadcast era.

There is confusion over what equipment they need. Some people were asking if Spark were providing a 'box' because they want something to plug in and go. It would made sense for Spark to offer a couple of tiers of equipment and bundle it with a contract, or subsidize it slightly. A Samsung tablet & Chrome Cast or Apple TV etc.

I realize most streaming companies don't do this, but I see this as a watershed type of moment for TV in NZ.

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#2184643 21-Feb-2019 09:04

Dairyxox: I've talked to some co workers about this, and made some observations. I'm totally comfortable with streaming, and purchasing sports programming as different model (pay per tournament etc), however a lot of people haven't come around to this way of thinking and are stuck in the "over the air" broadcast era. There is confusion over what equipment they need. Some people were asking if Spark were providing a 'box' because they want something to plug in and go. It would made sense for Spark to offer a couple of tiers of equipment and bundle it with a contract, or subsidize it slightly. A Samsung tablet & Chrome Cast or Apple TV etc. I realize most streaming companies don't do this, but I see this as a watershed type of moment for TV in NZ.

Its not "stuck in the "over the air" broadcast era" Its stuck in the "Netflix is $15, why isn't everything else?"

The equipment point is right. While we can say, if its no issue for Netflix subscribers, its no issue. But there is a subset of sports viewers who have no interest in VOD, but will get scooped up here. There is bound to be equipment support

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#2184647 21-Feb-2019 09:19

tdgeek:

Its not "stuck in the "over the air" broadcast era" Its stuck in the "Netflix is $15, why isn't everything else?"

So So SOOOO much this.

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