Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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#2257592 13-Jun-2019 20:00

cb1:
Screenscribe suggests that SS is 4K ready but not for the 2019 Rugby world cup

Is this just Chorus bagging mobile networks?

“But he also warns fixed wireless or using a mobile network for broadband at home won’t allow for full 1080p streaming of the RWC.
“The picture quality will be reduced to 720p so as not to overload the mobile network.””

sdavisnz

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#2257596 13-Jun-2019 20:04

I heard kayo will be streaming the rwc in 4k.

I've been watching games in 1080 and it looks pretty sharp.

I Look forward to see kayo in 4k soon.

Voice gives context

Senecio

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#2257609 13-Jun-2019 20:40

I've responded to this previously, probably on this thread. Kayo will not be streaming the RWC, or any other sport in 4K. Nothing in the foreseeable future anyway. People are getting confused with Foxtel IQ4 customers who will be able to access 4K content.

arnies

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#2257728 13-Jun-2019 22:37

Talkiet:

cb1:

Screenscribe suggests that SS is 4K ready but not for the 2019 Rugby world cup

Where does it say that? My interpretation is that Chorus is characterising part of it's access network as 4K ready. Unfortunately that's only one part of the solution.

Cheers - N

I asked during a NZ Herald live chat with the boss of SS. they said not for RWC, but coming later. We will see..

arnies

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#2257731 13-Jun-2019 22:43

We'd be hard-pressed to see 4k streaming on any live services. It's missing from all the big American players (NFL, NBA, etc.)

NFL is 30 fps, and requires a chromecast or Apple TV to take advantage of the best bitrates.

niallm90

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#2258169 14-Jun-2019 13:37

arnies:

We'd be hard-pressed to see 4k streaming on any live services. It's missing from all the big American players (NFL, NBA, etc.)

NFL is 30 fps, and requires a chromecast or Apple TV to take advantage of the best bitrates.

The BBC have been doing it in the UK but only for a limited number of consumers and I am not sure on the bitrates.

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Benoire

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#2258179 14-Jun-2019 13:51

It was 60K or so in the UK and I recall the streams not being very good and falling over quite a bit... Also remember their netwrok is different to ours and don't offer the bandwidth our fibre network can offer as a default; e.g. my mums basic fibre plan on the Isle of Wight is ~30mbps / ~15mbps up... I beat that on VDSL for the downstream bandwidth!

freitasm

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#2261695 20-Jun-2019 21:40

Received a press release today about Spark Sports in general and the RWC 2019 in particular, so will quote just the part relevant to this thread:

During the time Spark Sport has been operating, the platform technology performance has been superb.

Spark Sport’s live event performance has rapidly improved over the three months it has been up and running (March – 94.5%; April – 98.5%; May – 99.9%). Of the more than 300 sporting events that have now been delivered, all but five have run smoothly. The small number of early issues experienced were production and process issues rather than technical issues. Plus, Spark Sport has streamed nearly 10,000 hours of sports channel content (on NBA TV, Manchester United TV and EDGE TV).

Latch comments, “The last three months have given us the opportunity to hone our event operation skills. We’ve already shown over 300 events on the platform which has allowed us to refine our processes and get the team firing on all cylinders. We’re in the process of automating much of our event operations, which also helps to minimise the risks of human error.

“Although we don’t want customers to experience any hiccups at all, the minor issues that have occurred during these first two phases are not surprising when considered as part of our phased rollout.”

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#2261722 21-Jun-2019 05:13

arnies:

We'd be hard-pressed to see 4k streaming on any live services. It's missing from all the big American players (NFL, NBA, etc.)

NFL is 30 fps, and requires a chromecast or Apple TV to take advantage of the best bitrates.

To be pedantic, Rogers (who own Sportsnet) will broadcast some Bluejays, Raptors and Leafs games in 4K when they are playing at home in Toronto. I am not aware of any US based 4K content though, they're not exactly high on the uptake there.

langi27

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#2261737 21-Jun-2019 08:10

I think Spark Spark have done an excellent job to date, the F1 in particular is buttery smooth in 1080p, and casting from phone to TV just works. I like the Edge TV channel they have lots of odd ball sports that i like (Enduro and Trials riding), my kids also enjoying watching the NZ Hockey games.

My only real criticism is the layout and presentation of the main screen, I don't know how you make it more user friendly but i know i don't like it.

sbiddle

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#2261738 21-Jun-2019 08:18

One thing many people are completely oblivious to is that the vast majority of games that people will care about are available on FTA on TVNZ with either a 1hr delay or live

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/rugby-world-cup-2019/tvnz-1-match-schedule

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Apsattv

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#2261817 21-Jun-2019 10:09

freitasm:

Received a press release today about Spark Sports in general and the RWC 2019 in particular, so will quote just the part relevant to this thread:

During the time Spark Sport has been operating, the platform technology performance has been superb.

Spark Sport’s live event performance has rapidly improved over the three months it has been up and running (March – 94.5%; April – 98.5%; May – 99.9%). Of the more than 300 sporting events that have now been delivered, all but five have run smoothly. The small number of early issues experienced were production and process issues rather than technical issues. Plus, Spark Sport has streamed nearly 10,000 hours of sports channel content (on NBA TV, Manchester United TV and EDGE TV).

Latch comments, “The last three months have given us the opportunity to hone our event operation skills. We’ve already shown over 300 events on the platform which has allowed us to refine our processes and get the team firing on all cylinders. We’re in the process of automating much of our event operations, which also helps to minimise the risks of human error.

“Although we don’t want customers to experience any hiccups at all, the minor issues that have occurred during these first two phases are not surprising when considered as part of our phased rollout.”

notes that 10.09 a.m MU TV is down..

PolicyGuy

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#2261870 21-Jun-2019 11:53

sbiddle:

One thing many people are completely oblivious to is that the vast majority of games that people will care about are available on FTA on TVNZ with either a 1hr delay or live

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/rugby-world-cup-2019/tvnz-1-match-schedule

Which is why I won't be buying a Spark Sport RWC subscription.
I'll just record these games on my MySky and watch them at my leisure at more sociable times
😄

This is an excellent example of an 80% solution being good enough for my non-Rugby-fanatic Use Case

tdgeek

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#2261924 21-Jun-2019 12:29

PolicyGuy:

sbiddle:

One thing many people are completely oblivious to is that the vast majority of games that people will care about are available on FTA on TVNZ with either a 1hr delay or live

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/rugby-world-cup-2019/tvnz-1-match-schedule

Which is why I won't be buying a Spark Sport RWC subscription.
I'll just record these games on my MySky and watch them at my leisure at more sociable times
😄

This is an excellent example of an 80% solution being good enough for my non-Rugby-fanatic Use Case

Fair point. Im not a fanatic either, but watching AB's against minnows isn't a good watch. There are some matches where top tier teams who are dangers, or might be, play non minnows, they will be good watches.

MileHighKiwi

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#2261933 21-Jun-2019 12:59

I'm probably going to record the AB games on FTA and fast forward the ad breaks.

I'm rugby mad and like streaming services, having used NFL Game Pass for several years, EPL etc, but I just cant get excited by Spark streaming it. I think it's going to be a massive fail and I'm not prepared to pay good money for something I have little confidence in.

I appreciate the F1 fans are happy but let's see what happens when hundreds of thousands are trying to stream the ABs.

Add in the fact that many older and rural people are going to miss out, the whole things just annoys me.

I'm being negative but I know I'm not alone, many people I know feel the same way and they are big rugby fans.

Rant over, lol.

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