Watching Spark Sport (including launch and pricing)

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746 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2195829 11-Mar-2019 14:07

PolicyGuy:

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
🤬

Evidence/proof?

The press release states this:

*At launch, Spark Sport will be available on:

- Web (via popular browsers, Chrome, Firefox, Safari) on laptops and desktop computers
- Spark Sport app for iPad and iPhone

To watch on an internet enabled TV, customers will be able to:

- AirPlay to Apple TV from an iPhone or iPad
- Chromecast to an internet enabled TV from a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer

The way I read that is that it could be proper Chromecasting support from a browser. Not Chrome casting the tab, but the website casting to your Chromecast and handing off the stream. It could be either as its not 100% clear, though to my reading and interpretation its true casting.

WyleECoyoteNZ

711 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2195836 11-Mar-2019 14:15

Talkiet:

ockel:

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.

The difference is I am speaking from a position of extensive knowledge about the solution and you're not. I'm going to leave it to everyone else as to who they think has a better understanding of the complexity of the solution.

I take your inference that I am being disingenuous or possibly misleading as an insult. I simply don't post anything knowingly misleading. I'm happy to let my record speak to that.

Cheers - N

[edit: I'm out, until after public beta launch. The signal:noise ratio here is terrible at the moment and with the constraints about what I can say about the service until public beta I can't realistically give the information I would want to]

Another thought..

When this service\platform launches later this week, and for arguments sake, lets say it's Friday, is the Spark helpdesk\call centre manned 24/7 or is it only a 7 till 7 type of arrangement? I don't know, I'm not a Spark customer.

The reason i raise this if the service does launch Friday, I'd expect a spike in the beginning of the "Why Can't I..." and "How do I...." type of calls. Many of these could potentially be outside of normal business hours, once people are home from work etc.

And if it is going to take over and hour for a call to be answered to address the "Why can't I..." and "How do I..." questions (see this thread), there are going to be a lot of irate and annoyed customers

stinger

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 2195837 11-Mar-2019 14:17

nzkc:

The way I read that is that it could be proper Chromecasting support from a browser. Not Chrome casting the tab, but the website casting to your Chromecast and handing off the stream. It could be either as its not 100% clear, though to my reading and interpretation its true casting.

Since mid 2017, if you cast a tab with (non-flash) video full screen, you are given the option to off-load the stream directly to the Chromecast, and thus the Chrome browser isn't having to re-encode the stream. Only found this out last month when watching Te Matatini on Māori TV's website. Doesn't work with Sky Go, since they still use Flash (ugh!)

JPNZ

189 posts

Master Geek

# 2195850 11-Mar-2019 14:21

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.

So, its not ready for this weekend and its on FTA. Will it be up and running in two weeks when the Bahrain GP is on??

JPNZ

189 posts

Master Geek

# 2195859 11-Mar-2019 14:27

Talkiet:

From the very message you quoted: "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."

Cheers - N

Sounds promising........

nzkc

746 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2195905 11-Mar-2019 15:02

One person supports this post

stinger:

Since mid 2017, if you cast a tab with (non-flash) video full screen, you are given the option to off-load the stream directly to the Chromecast, and thus the Chrome browser isn't having to re-encode the stream. Only found this out last month when watching Te Matatini on Māori TV's website. Doesn't work with Sky Go, since they still use Flash (ugh!)

I know this. Have Spark said they're using Flash?

Killerkiwi2005

349 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 2195973 11-Mar-2019 16:08

One person supports this post

nzkc:

stinger:

Since mid 2017, if you cast a tab with (non-flash) video full screen, you are given the option to off-load the stream directly to the Chromecast, and thus the Chrome browser isn't having to re-encode the stream. Only found this out last month when watching Te Matatini on Māori TV's website. Doesn't work with Sky Go, since they still use Flash (ugh!)

I know this. Have Spark said they're using Flash?

I doubt it flash is EOL in 2020 (about a year away) that skygo still uses it really inexcusable at this point....

mentalinc

1771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 2196796 12-Mar-2019 21:37

One person supports this post

From gpforums

Spark Sport iOS app is now available.

It’s just the app, with login fields and three placeholder pages. Currently there’s no where to create an account.

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Shindig

791 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 2196824 12-Mar-2019 22:22

Its gearing up for a Wednesday launch me thinks!!!

The little things make the biggest difference.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
11294 posts

Uber Geek

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Spark

Subscriber

# 2196825 12-Mar-2019 22:23

One person supports this post

mentalinc: From gpforums Spark Sport iOS app is now available. It’s just the app, with login fields and three placeholder pages. Currently there’s no where to create an account.

Yes. the app is on the apple store in preparation for release.

There is no point in rushing to it as until the site is live, you will not be able to create an account.

But i suppose for those who want time to setup.. you can cross downloading the app off the list?

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Shindig

791 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 2196827 12-Mar-2019 22:28

i'm sure there will be an email sent out, when the site is live.

The little things make the biggest difference.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Spark

Subscriber

# 2196828 12-Mar-2019 22:29

2 people support this post

Shindig:

i'm sure there will be an email sent out, when the site is live.

That they will, just like the one earlier in the week :)

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Shindig

791 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 2196830 12-Mar-2019 22:35

midnight launch while peeps are asleep?

The little things make the biggest difference.

GV27

1483 posts

Uber Geek

# 2196929 13-Mar-2019 08:01

Still nothing 🤔

stinger

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 2197217 13-Mar-2019 12:12

GV27:

Still nothing 🤔

Still a bit over 24 hours to get it sorted. Has Spark or TVNZ listed the times that the live stream will be available? I haven't been able to find anything on either website.

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