Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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1701 posts

Uber Geek

# 2195721 11-Mar-2019 11:29

One person supports this post

tdgeek:

Benoire:

Dratsab:

Benoire: Will those with Android devices, stuck trying to cast to the TV from a laptop again?

Android devices are more than capable of running web browsers so you *can* use them. It's a bit of a work around and casting from an Android phone or tablet is not an ideal world solution but it'll work. You don't have to use a laptop.

All the hand-wringing posts I'm seeing are similar to other threads regarding other streaming services launching and the initial lack of compatible devices. Those services have improved their offerings, Spark Sport will too.

Yes and it bugs me a lot. Lets get the content and then do a 1/2 arsed job of getting it out the door for people to use and gradually add support later... Oh but android, sorry cant have you on all devices, selected partners only... Its frustrating and why Sky etc. still have a market space as they're generally not partnering up with Samsung or Sony for example.

I assume the idea to have SS and the start of 2019 sport season didn't match. Clearly unavoidable, and they couldn't flag SS till Jan 2020. Some here post that Android is not supported, it is. Its not ready yet for some reason. All I can see is that the desire was to get it out, its behind, but lets get it out anyway so they can have a looksee in a limited form.

Ill be watching F1 so I'm happy

Spark Sport and the start of WRC didnt match.

Spark Sport and the start of FIH Pro League didnt match

Spark Sport and the Rugby 7's World Cup didnt match.

Spark Sport and the Rugby U20's didnt match.

See a trend here. Spark Sport announced entry into Sport in April 2018. Announced EPL in August 2018. And "New content will be offered via a subscription model on Spark’s sport platform to launch early 2019; details of pricing and packages will be announced closer to launch date."

The first quarter of 2019 is almost finished. The platform was selected in November 2018.

What exactly was clearly unavoidable for a company crowing about being AGILE? Its a joke. Nothing more.

tdgeek

18492 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 2195726 11-Mar-2019 11:34

One person supports this post

ockel:

Spark Sport and the start of WRC didnt match.

Spark Sport and the start of FIH Pro League didnt match

Spark Sport and the Rugby 7's World Cup didnt match.

Spark Sport and the Rugby U20's didnt match.

See a trend here. Spark Sport announced entry into Sport in April 2018. Announced EPL in August 2018. And "New content will be offered via a subscription model on Spark’s sport platform to launch early 2019; details of pricing and packages will be announced closer to launch date."

The first quarter of 2019 is almost finished. The platform was selected in November 2018.

What exactly was clearly unavoidable for a company crowing about being AGILE? Its a joke. Nothing more.

Ok, so Aug 2018 to 31 Dec and it should all have been done. Ok. I wasn't aware it was that easy to whip up

WyleECoyoteNZ

711 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2195736 11-Mar-2019 11:43

tdgeek:

ockel:

Spark Sport and the start of WRC didnt match.

Spark Sport and the start of FIH Pro League didnt match

Spark Sport and the Rugby 7's World Cup didnt match.

Spark Sport and the Rugby U20's didnt match.

See a trend here. Spark Sport announced entry into Sport in April 2018. Announced EPL in August 2018. And "New content will be offered via a subscription model on Spark’s sport platform to launch early 2019; details of pricing and packages will be announced closer to launch date."

The first quarter of 2019 is almost finished. The platform was selected in November 2018.

What exactly was clearly unavoidable for a company crowing about being AGILE? Its a joke. Nothing more.

Ok, so Aug 2018 to 31 Dec and it should all have been done. Ok. I wasn't aware it was that easy to whip up

Sure wouldn't want to be the Project Manager on the launch of this platform.

Ockel has a fair point, assuming the 'Go Live' for the platform is Friday's 1st practice session, you shouldn't be still testing the platform. Surely. Just my thoughts.

tdgeek

18492 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 2195742 11-Mar-2019 11:53

WyleECoyoteNZ:

Sure wouldn't want to be the Project Manager on the launch of this platform.

Ockel has a fair point, assuming the 'Go Live' for the platform is Friday's 1st practice session, you shouldn't be still testing the platform. Surely. Just my thoughts.

I agree. It's late. But F1 is not, its free on TVNZ. I don't really see this is at all unusual with project management.

ockel

1701 posts

Uber Geek

# 2195743 11-Mar-2019 11:53

Talkiet:

ockel:

Spark Sport and the start of WRC didnt match.

Spark Sport and the start of FIH Pro League didnt match

Spark Sport and the Rugby 7's World Cup didnt match.

Spark Sport and the Rugby U20's didnt match.

See a trend here. Spark Sport announced entry into Sport in April 2018. Announced EPL in August 2018. And "New content will be offered via a subscription model on Spark’s sport platform to launch early 2019; details of pricing and packages will be announced closer to launch date."

The first quarter of 2019 is almost finished. The platform was selected in November 2018.

What exactly was clearly unavoidable for a company crowing about being AGILE? Its a joke. Nothing more.

No. The only commitment has been the platform should be ready for the first F1 race. Nowhere has it ever been stated it would be ready for the start of the WRC, or the FIH pro hockey or anything else. You're making that up.

I'm highly restricted by the internal trial NDA about what I can say which is why I have been quiet, but the vacuum of information here has led to some wildly unreasonable, insulting and frankly dead wrong statements.

I am not sitting in on the launch meetings so I have no current information on the launch schedule worth sharing, and I'm unlike many people here, I really don't like making unfounded guesses.

One thing I can share that's not a guess is that the video quality is stunning. It's the best sports streaming content I have ever seen on the Internet. It's not 4k so it is not as good as some Netflix material, but in my case, casting from an ipad to a chromecast (actually Nvidia Shield) on a 55" QLED TV, you wouldn't pick it from a Sky Sports broadcast.

N.

You're missing the point. This should be a core competency for Spark. Its not a tech startup like CSM was for PLP. Its not a broadcaster like TVNZ moving into the streaming space. Spark is a well resourced telco that should have the core competency of delivering data down big dumb pipes in time for the events to which it has acquired rights. Its not like Spark is even in the production end of the process - its just delivering the content.

Not since TVNZ bought TV rights for shows in the 1990's and warehoused them has there been anything like acquiring rights and not having them ready for the marketplace. That is not AGILE. That is a core incompetency from a telco.

Benoire

1927 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

# 2195745 11-Mar-2019 11:55

One person supports this post

Talkiet:

No. The only commitment has been the platform should be ready for the first F1 race. Nowhere has it ever been stated it would be ready for the start of the WRC, or the FIH pro hockey or anything else. You're making that up.

I'm highly restricted by the internal trial NDA about what I can say which is why I have been quiet, but the vacuum of information here has led to some wildly unreasonable, insulting and frankly dead wrong statements.

I am not sitting in on the launch meetings so I have no current information on the launch schedule worth sharing, and I'm unlike many people here, I really don't like making unfounded guesses.

One thing I can share that's not a guess is that the video quality is stunning. It's the best sports streaming content I have ever seen on the Internet. It's not 4k so it is not as good as some Netflix material, but in my case, casting from an ipad to a chromecast (actually Nvidia Shield) on a 55" QLED TV, you wouldn't pick it from a Sky Sports broadcast.

N.

I'm interested to know which elements of this topic (probably more recently) are unreasonable, insulting and dead wrong... No accusations here but given the lack of transparency and launch material now changed demonstrates that things are not quite as they seem. I'm happy to hear about the actual content performance and quality, as that was an area of concern but the platform effectively being beta tested when it was supposed to be ready is not a good situation.

PolicyGuy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 2195780 11-Mar-2019 12:27

nzkc:

Whilst I am a little disappointed there is no Android App yet, there is Chromecast support:

"Chromecast to an internet enabled TV from a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer"

So that'll work for me and I suspect most people. I think we need to relax a little on the lack of Android App. If it were no Chromecast support then that would be terrible.

But there is no actual Chromecast support 😞

What is supported is just your Chrome browser casting on your Chromecast device getting the data from TVNZ On Demand, we are limited to whatever features TVNZ On Demand provides - which I guess I'll find out on Friday.

Spark Sport are providing those of us who haven't drunk the Apple iKool-Aid with absolutely nothing, they are just making the data stream available to TVNZ for them to pass on to the great unwashed masses of Android
🤬

smcc

147 posts

Master Geek

# 2195787 11-Mar-2019 12:35

Benoire:

Talkiet:

No. The only commitment has been the platform should be ready for the first F1 race. Nowhere has it ever been stated it would be ready for the start of the WRC, or the FIH pro hockey or anything else. You're making that up.

I'm highly restricted by the internal trial NDA about what I can say which is why I have been quiet, but the vacuum of information here has led to some wildly unreasonable, insulting and frankly dead wrong statements.

I am not sitting in on the launch meetings so I have no current information on the launch schedule worth sharing, and I'm unlike many people here, I really don't like making unfounded guesses.

One thing I can share that's not a guess is that the video quality is stunning. It's the best sports streaming content I have ever seen on the Internet. It's not 4k so it is not as good as some Netflix material, but in my case, casting from an ipad to a chromecast (actually Nvidia Shield) on a 55" QLED TV, you wouldn't pick it from a Sky Sports broadcast.

N.

I'm interested to know which elements of this topic (probably more recently) are unreasonable, insulting and dead wrong... No accusations here but given the lack of transparency and launch material now changed demonstrates that things are not quite as they seem. I'm happy to hear about the actual content performance and quality, as that was an area of concern but the platform effectively being beta tested when it was supposed to be ready is not a good situation.

I Agree, I don't think any of us think this is an easy thing to do, there are plenty of examples of much bigger organisations (including F1tv) struggling to launch reliable live sport online. Spark sport are obviously striking some issues also, this was to be expected, and they have put contingencies in place (WRC+ and TVNZ). However, as a Fan of motorsport, I do feel like they let me down with the public assurances around availability and devices, and making the latest announcements only 4 days before an event. I now have little time to configure my devices to use the product. I don't think many will have an issue with the fact that the launch is not how it was intended, but the lack of access to content up to this point has annoyed many. I have expressed my concerns before about the lack of transparency, and how that changes my view of spark sport as a potential customer. Let's hope these issues are temporary and the service performs.

stinger

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 2195789 11-Mar-2019 12:37

PolicyGuy:

But there is no actual Chromecast support 😞

What is supported is just your Chrome browser casting on your Chromecast device getting the data from TVNZ On Demand, we are limited to whatever features TVNZ On Demand provides - which I guess I'll find out on Friday.

TVNZ offer native Chromecast support in their Android app. If SS don't use Flash (which I really hope they don't), then you can also offload your Chrome browser stream directly to the Chromecast as well.

stinger

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 2195801 11-Mar-2019 13:21

Here's something that I found interesting. It's was from a third source (NZ Herald), but quotes Spark. "The Spark Sport boss [Jeff Latch] says iStreamPlanet was chosen because of its solid track record streaming A-list sports for major broadcasters and online services in the US and around the world, and because it could offer Spark all the tech it needed without having to build anything in house."

So if Spark aren't doing anything in house and iSP have a "sold track record" how did Spark get to the point where they aren't keeping to their promises (Android app by F1 this weekend) and missing out on weeks of other content?

ockel

1701 posts

Uber Geek

# 2195814 11-Mar-2019 13:36

Talkiet:

stinger:

Here's something that I found interesting. It's was from a third source (NZ Herald), but quotes Spark. "The Spark Sport boss [Jeff Latch] says iStreamPlanet was chosen because of its solid track record streaming A-list sports for major broadcasters and online services in the US and around the world, and because it could offer Spark all the tech it needed without having to build anything in house."

So if Spark aren't doing anything in house and iSP have a "sold track record" how did Spark get to the point where they aren't keeping to their promises (Android app by F1 this weekend) and missing out on weeks of other content?

Short version: iStreamPlanet are providing lots of the infrastructure. There's still lots of OTHER pieces of work to be done and capability to be developed and made to talk to each other. Then there's the registration/assure/billing etc that all has to be built and work together.

It's shocking that for a 'tech' site like this so many people think this should have been able to be figuratively knocked together in a weekend.

N.

No, its shocking that it should take Spark 12 months to develop registration/assure/billing etc. And more shocking that it would take 5 months to make its registration/assure/billing work with the chosen technology partner that provides so much of the back end infrastructure.

To claim Spark has to take multiple sources of content from around the world when its the streaming provider thats doing all the heavy lifting seems disingenuous and possible misleading.

tdgeek

18492 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 2195815 11-Mar-2019 13:36

I agree. I'm pretty much out of this discussion.

Its late. That's a pity but its not surprising for something complex apparently

F1 is free, live this weekend.

Sky hate threads talk about get with the times, but someone here is concerned he only has 4 days to configure his devices for TVNZ OnDemand????

I guess I can see where this is going

Baldrick

16 posts

Geek

# 2195821 11-Mar-2019 13:55

Does anyone know if the TVNZ on demand feed of Duke is in HD?

It might be a better idea to watch all the live content this weekend on TVNZ on demand rather than the Sky version of Duke.

I checked out the TVNZ app on my PS4 and it looks like their normal channels stream live ok, I just don't know if the practice will be available on it or will I need to watch through my laptop connected to my TV.

darthmeow

88 posts

Master Geek

# 2195824 11-Mar-2019 14:00

Baldrick:

Does anyone know if the TVNZ on demand feed of Duke is in HD?

It might be a better idea to watch all the live content this weekend on TVNZ on demand rather than the Sky version of Duke.

I checked out the TVNZ app on my PS4 and it looks like their normal channels stream live ok, I just don't know if the practice will be available on it or will I need to watch through my laptop connected to my TV.

Yes. 720P.

tdgeek

18492 posts

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Trusted

# 2195827 11-Mar-2019 14:06

Baldrick:

Does anyone know if the TVNZ on demand feed of Duke is in HD?

It might be a better idea to watch all the live content this weekend on TVNZ on demand rather than the Sky version of Duke.

I checked out the TVNZ app on my PS4 and it looks like their normal channels stream live ok, I just don't know if the practice will be available on it or will I need to watch through my laptop connected to my TV.

I just turned Duke OD on, the Jaguar race is on, its looks fine to me, it doesn't look SD. on that I'll check Freeview Duke tonight and compare that to Sky Duke

TVNZ OD isn't a normal channel. As I see it, F1 FP won't be on a normal channel, it will only be on the TVNZ app, in the OD section

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