Rugby World Cup 2019 (Spark Sports)

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Banana?
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Reply # 2217886 16-Apr-2019 08:46

davidcole:

If you can find the times I'd be interested as well. I too are weighing up those options.

I found them here: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/fixtures?lang=en

All evening games, between 5ish and midnight (I think the latest ABs game starts at 11.15pm NZT V Canada Weds 2nd Oct). The rest of the pool games are on the weekend, 2 at 5.45pm and one (South Africa) at 9.45pm

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Reply # 2217889 16-Apr-2019 08:50

BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

Normal subscription won't include World Cup games as far as I can tell.

the $59.99 is the whole world cup (all games, not just NZ games), including previous world cups on demand, On Demand for 30 days after games have played and 'extra' programming (gab fests I assume).

As for streaming issues. Who knows? I'd like to think Spark have got their ducks in a row, but Optus probably thought they did for the Football WC last year in Australia too.

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Reply # 2217890 16-Apr-2019 08:50

hio77:

BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

The RWC package will include SS for the short period that it runs. It will include ALL RWC Content not just AB Games.

The beta will be well in truly over by the time of RWC and i'd expect it to be a relatively stable platform.

Past that, the sports folk will have to comment :)

Thanks for that. Does anybody know if there will be RWC coverage on Kayo sports? I'm trying to decide between Kayo and Spark Sports.

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Reply # 2217915 16-Apr-2019 08:53

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BoerieGalore:

Thanks for that. Does anybody know if there will be RWC coverage on Kayo sports? I'm trying to decide between Kayo and Spark Sports.

Best to do your own research (or post another thread with the same question), this one they're trying to keep to Spark Sport + RWC specifics.

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Reply # 2217930 16-Apr-2019 08:53

Is there a Vodafone TV app?

Would make life easier for those that have SKY through Vodafone fibre.

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PolicyGuy

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Reply # 2217931 16-Apr-2019 08:55

freitasm:
I think Spark is overestimating the baby boomers' capacity to use Chromecast

I'm a boomer and have managed to figure out Chromecast without too much pain - but then I'm on GZ so perhaps not entirely typical 😀
But it's a bigger problem the older you get, IME.
I have a seventy-something close family friend who was, back in the day, an F1 team mechanic, and who is therefore vitally interested in F1, even though all his generation have now retired either from F1 or from life itself. He hasn't watched any F1 since the Aussie GP because he just can't be bothered with the technology. That's a bit sad, actually.

freitasm:
Not having a Smart TV app is going to be a deal breaker for many.

Not so sure about that, as it would require you to have a supported "Smart" TV. And 'supported' will mean 'recent', or even 'almost brand new'
Us boomers are in or edging towards retirement, and many of us don't see the need to throw away a perfectly good TV just to get one with flashy new "Smart" features that will be out of date and unsupported in a year or two, three years at the most.

When I watch a rugby game, I have it recorded on my MySky, and tend not to start watching until the game is twenty minutes in, so I can skip through the half-time break at 30x speed, and sometime run the boring bits (while a kicker lines up his shot, or the forwards faff around deciding where to throw the ball at a line-out) at 6x.
Other times, I'll think (or say if there's someone else watching) "Whaaat! How did he do that?" or "Hey, did he throw a punch there?", and pause/rewind/replay until I/we see what actually happened.
So, to be attractive to me, the Spark Sport app would have to support at least most of that kind of functionality. The way it is at the moment, it's tolerable, but that's all. I use it because that's the only way I can watch F1, but may well decide that's not worth $20/month and give up on it.

As far as the RWC goes, I think Spark may have shot themselves in the foot with their increased broadcast coverage. I think there just might be enough on TVNZ (through Sky and therefore on my MySky) to satisfy my need. I don't think I'll be paying Spark Sport for RWC.

It's not about the money, it's about the UX.

If the whole RWC was on "Duke+" or "Sky Sport RWC" and it would cost me the same to subscribe as Spark are proposing, I'd pony up the cash in a flash, confident that I'd be able to enjoy the UX with which I'm familiar and with which I'm entirely happy.

If the Spark Sport app doen't sharply improve the UX, I'm likely not buying their coverage of the RWC

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Reply # 2217935 16-Apr-2019 09:01

hio77:

BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

The RWC package will include SS for the short period that it runs. It will include ALL RWC Content not just AB Games.

The beta will be well in truly over by the time of RWC and i'd expect it to be a relatively stable platform.

Past that, the sports folk will have to comment :)

Relatively!?!?!

freitasm

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Reply # 2217937 16-Apr-2019 09:02

@BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

Asked Spark Sport and got this: "Yes the RWC pass cost is in addition to the monthly Spark Sport subscription. Both purchased separately. The super early bird will definitely include all matches live and on demand."

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freitasm

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Reply # 2217939 16-Apr-2019 09:04

PolicyGuy:

freitasm:

Not having a Smart TV app is going to be a deal breaker for many.

Not so sure about that, as it would require you to have a supported "Smart" TV. And 'supported' will mean 'recent', or even 'almost brand new'

Not necessarily "Smart TV" app as there are many flavours but at least Android TV - this would cover some Sony devices and other high end brands plus the new Freeview devices that are available in retail now.

But, yes back to RWC only - use the other thread to discuss the apps as mentioned.

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networkn

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Reply # 2217940 16-Apr-2019 09:04

Whilst I want to trust that Spark will deliver the RWC "properly" I'll probably be having a second subscription to another service lined up (Kayo most likely). This event is too important to me to risk it. I have used Kayo a fair bit in the past few months and my experience with Chromecasting has been flawless. Whilst it's "early" days for Spark Sport, my Chromecast experience has been far from impressive.

Also, I do have a native and working app for Kayo on my Shield. Presumably, there will be one for Spark Sport soon and perhaps that will be better than the Chromecast.

FFWD and RWD functions remain poor compared to Sky.

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Reply # 2217944 16-Apr-2019 09:07

freitasm:

@BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

Asked Spark Sport and got this: "Yes the RWC pass cost is in addition to the monthly Spark Sport subscription. Both purchased separately. The super early bird will definitely include all matches live and on demand."

Thanks, so I guess its a good deal then if you just want to watch rugby. Quiet expensive if you want to watch other sports too and factor in the additional $19.99

freitasm

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Reply # 2217945 16-Apr-2019 09:10

"Hey guys, thanks for your comments, all feedback is appreciated! Our Smart TV apps and our Apple TV app will be ready for the RWC later this year. Cheers, ^CH"

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Reply # 2217946 16-Apr-2019 09:11

BoerieGalore:

freitasm:

@BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

Asked Spark Sport and got this: "Yes the RWC pass cost is in addition to the monthly Spark Sport subscription. Both purchased separately. The super early bird will definitely include all matches live and on demand."

Thanks, so I guess its a good deal then if you just want to watch rugby. Quiet expensive if you want to watch other sports too and factor in the additional $19.99

It's probably not a coincidence it would be about the same price as a Sky subscription for a month :-)

davidcole

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Reply # 2217947 16-Apr-2019 09:12

BoerieGalore:

freitasm:

@BoerieGalore:

This does sounds good but I am a little confused and have a lot of questions before I buy a pass.

Will the $59.99 include all games, and not just AB games? What about the normal Spark Sport subscription? I have been thinking of subscribing to Spark Sport ($19.99) anyway, will the normal subscription also include some RWC games? Also I see that Spark Sport is still Beta. Does this mean that we may expect some problems with streaming etc?

Asked Spark Sport and got this: "Yes the RWC pass cost is in addition to the monthly Spark Sport subscription. Both purchased separately. The super early bird will definitely include all matches live and on demand."

Thanks, so I guess its a good deal then if you just want to watch rugby. Quiet expensive if you want to watch other sports too and factor in the additional $19.99

At $59 + $19....it's pretty comparable to a month of Sky + Sky Sport subscription.

tdgeek

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Reply # 2217948 16-Apr-2019 09:15

networkn:

FFWD and RWD functions remain poor compared to Sky.

Poor on SS or poor on Chromecast?

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