Tegal
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Head Sleuth
3K
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19K
·
almost 17 years
Yeah I find my phone/ipad + chromecast is the one stop shop for all content. It's just the same as using a TV remote. So not sure the set top box is all that revolutionary, but better than they've previously offered. 
paulm
Is a set top box really the future? 
Collating services into one interface seems like a fantastic idea, but why the box for that?
Starting XI
880
·
2.5K
·
about 12 years
20 Legend
paulm
Is a set top box really the future? 
Collating services into one interface seems like a fantastic idea, but why the box for that?

Because the future is the internet, and Sky has built a PR campaign on "Internet bad ... satellite good" and they need a box to facilitate that.

the new box is capable of being used via IP or satellite. 
First Team Squad
280
·
1.3K
·
almost 17 years
theprof
but this is the thing, why should I as the consumer have to buy yet another piece of technology to make yet another app work on my exiting (not old) TV. This was one of the biggest gripes people had when Spark had the rugby world cup. With Sky they supply the kit to make it all work, its simple plug and play - which it should be across the board. Casting from my phone, or laptop means I cant be using those devices while I'm watching a game. Your app or service should be designed to work on my device, not the other way around.

and I consider myself neither old nor adverse to tech.

for example, if I want to watch the gunners play on my big TV in the lounge I have to stream in through my laptop, currently connected via a cable to the TV, I could invest in a chrome cast or similar but why should I have to? What this means is that I can be using the laptop to chat about the game I'm watching which decreases my enjoyment of the game. I have none of these issues with Sky tv cos their box does all the connectivity work for me and my own devices are free for me to us as I need.
You certainly can use your phone if it's being used to Chromecast, the casting will keep on working no matter what you're doing on it. You can surf the web, text, email, check Twitter, chat on-line, read the news, anything...

App developers have to make calls about what tech they support as technology changes, imagine making an app for Spark Sport, you've got to make one for Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sony, among others, then you've got to make one for say Samsung prior to 2018 as tech changed and the one you've created for the now, doesn't work with older tech.

An Apple TV costs around $250-300 which I agree isn't chump change, but it's not an absolute fortune either, and it will be the simplest piece of tech you use. We have 4 of them in the house, I'd recommend one to anyone.

Sky satellite and set top boxes will die a death, the younger generation don't have them, I'm 50 and haven't had one for at least 3-4 years now, and not that many of my mates have them either.

It's probably the main reason Sky don't put all their energies into Sky Sport Now, they (at this stage) want people using Set top boxes. SSN is inferior to almost all streaming services I've seen on a few fronts, but especially (and IMO the main one) -picture quality.
Legend
8K
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14K
·
over 16 years
fair enough, clearly ive not really investigated it all that much - mainly because I can't be bothered changing and making sure everything works etc. For mine, it wasnt really broken and streaming via an app hasnt really improved anything, so im not sure why the need to change. Spark sport provides me with an inferior experience compared to Sky. Firstly, "live" isnt really live, it's about 2 minutes delayed, classic example with the cricket dismissal occurs at 1:48pm and yet the actual time i'm viewing it at is 1:50pm. Secondly the buffering and lag (yes I've checked by interweb connection it's faster than required, yet Spark fails to deliver as consistent viewing as Sky does. I personally find the sky go app really easy to use, it could be that is because its familiar, but Spark just doesnt feel easy.
First Team Squad
280
·
1.3K
·
almost 17 years
theprof
fair enough, clearly ive not really investigated it all that much - mainly because I can't be bothered changing and making sure everything works etc. For mine, it wasnt really broken and streaming via an app hasnt really improved anything, so im not sure why the need to change. Spark sport provides me with an inferior experience compared to Sky. Firstly, "live" isnt really live, it's about 2 minutes delayed, classic example with the cricket dismissal occurs at 1:48pm and yet the actual time i'm viewing it at is 1:50pm. Secondly the buffering and lag (yes I've checked by interweb connection it's faster than required, yet Spark fails to deliver as consistent viewing as Sky does. I personally find the sky go app really easy to use, it could be that is because its familiar, but Spark just doesnt feel easy.
Sky's streamed offering is delayed too, and having been at the cricket last week and watched some of the wickets at the ground on Spark Sport, I'd say it's more like 30-45 seconds, perhaps a couple of balls behind.

If we're comparing SSN and SS, then in my opinion SS is vastly superior, but if we're comparing SS and a set top SKY box, then again in my opinion I think the picture quality is fairly similar, and I think Sky GO is a good product too, but it's not a specific sport app and so I find it a bit difficult to navigate.

For instance in the search bar I typed in 'Phoenix' and it said 'no results found', but when I went back to the front page, saw the section 'Home of sport', scrolled across, and found the A-League men's section and then found the Nix game.

And of course Sky GO is a compliment product to a SKY set top box, not an alternative.

My concern as I've mentioned before is what does SSN's offering look like...
  • How quickly are games uploaded once they've finished
  • Can you choose 'Watch from start' or 'Watch Live' if the game has started
  • How quickly are the highlights packages up
  • Can you 'fast-forward'. I often skip 10secs when watching a game, as I don't always have 90+ mins to sit down on a Sunday or especially Monday morning to watch a game.
If you have a set top box and have recorded the game, then you'll be sweet, as none of these are an issue, but if you reply on streaming, then this is what Spark have provided for the last few years, so now is the standard.
Starting XI
2.1K
·
4.3K
·
over 11 years
Guess the main thing is the content you want. If there is still lots on Sky Sport that you want to watch then Sky may still be the best option as it sounds like Sky Sport Now is inferior to other streaming services. Works for us as my wife also likes some of the lifestyle type channels you get with Sky Starter.

Going off topic probably but on Apple TV I assume that's only the best option if you have iPhone/iPad and apple accounts/fully integrated with apple. We have been away this week staying in an Air BnB and the TV is non-smart with Freeview not connected and just an Apple TV box provided and with Android phones we've been unable to use it. There is a pre-installed Netflix app but I haven't been able to login as it keeps saying my account is invalid despite logging in and out multiple times on the phone to double check the password was right. Maybe with an iphone I could have casted Netflix to it like a Chromecast? There's also no TVNZ app or app store to download it so can't even watch the news. Again maybe with an iphone I could have casted the app to the TV. I gather it's an older generation and the newer Apple TV has an app store so maybe an updated one might have been usable without iPhone. With a bit of googling I tried to find a way to mirror my phone screen with third party apps but best I managed to do was get my photo gallery on the TV but not cast any streaming so ended up just watching TV off our phones in bed. With Android I expect the much cheaper Chromecast would be a better experience.
First Team Squad
280
·
1.3K
·
almost 17 years
ajc28
Guess the main thing is the content you want. If there is still lots on Sky Sport that you want to watch then Sky may still be the best option as it sounds like Sky Sport Now is inferior to other streaming services. Works for us as my wife also likes some of the lifestyle type channels you get with Sky Starter.

Going off topic probably but on Apple TV I assume that's only the best option if you have iPhone/iPad and apple accounts/fully integrated with apple. We have been away this week staying in an Air BnB and the TV is non-smart with Freeview not connected and just an Apple TV box provided and with Android phones we've been unable to use it. There is a pre-installed Netflix app but I haven't been able to login as it keeps saying my account is invalid despite logging in and out multiple times on the phone to double check the password was right. Maybe with an iphone I could have casted Netflix to it like a Chromecast? There's also no TVNZ app or app store to download it so can't even watch the news. Again maybe with an iphone I could have casted the app to the TV. I gather it's an older generation and the newer Apple TV has an app store so maybe an updated one might have been usable without iPhone. With a bit of googling I tried to find a way to mirror my phone screen with third party apps but best I managed to do was get my photo gallery on the TV but not cast any streaming so ended up just watching TV off our phones in bed. With Android I expect the much cheaper Chromecast would be a better experience.
That sounds like a Gen 3 Apple TV, since then there's been a few iterations of the Gen 4 which features it's own App Store, and is just a great device. 

And yeah simply set up an Apple Account and then download the apps you want. 

We have a Chromecast which I use to cast Sky Sport GO and find it works well, but I just prefer the standalone Apple TV.
WeeNix
42
·
680
·
about 14 years
Sky Sport 8 is turning to Sky Sport Premier league at midnight tonight or maybe midnight tomorrow (it says the 14th…)
This will be the 24/7 channel that was on when bein had the rights. A shame we missed out on this for 3 years when spark had the rights.
Most of the action to be on this channel but will overflow to other channels when concurrent games on… sky sport 7 bein channel to stay the same and home to the other football content.
Just got to wait and see how the on demand stuff shows up on sky go/sky sport now
7D79228F-A651-4532-86C8-F43A024A8EEB.png 693.64 KB
WeeNix
760
·
750
·
over 9 years
I will have no doubt missed the important information so asking here. I dont have SkyTV but will they have a way for us to watch the EPl without having to subscribe to all those other channels I dont want?
WeeNix
42
·
680
·
about 14 years
AlfStamp
I will have no doubt missed the important information so asking here. I dont have SkyTV but will they have a way for us to watch the EPl without having to subscribe to all those other channels I dont want?
 
Only by subscribing to sky sport now ($40 a month I think ??)
First Team Squad
1K
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1.7K
·
over 15 years
What's a "tv channel"???
One in a million
4K
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9.5K
·
about 17 years
20 Legend wrote:

What's a "tv channel"???


Something you resort to when your ESP isn't working properly
First Team Squad
1K
·
1.7K
·
over 15 years
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
20 Legend wrote:

What's a "tv channel"???


Something you resort to when your ESP isn't working properly
What do you do when you it rains and the sky dish doesn't work?

(This happened to us last time I was watching a game in a pub...)
One in a million
4K
·
9.5K
·
about 17 years
Looks like a very poor crowd in Brisbane to watch the Roar play Leeds United (on Spark)
One in a million
4K
·
9.5K
·
about 17 years
Not a bad game. 2 - 1 Leeds at half time. They made it look easy for a while, but Brisbane hit back.
Legend
8K
·
14K
·
over 16 years
20 Legend
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
20 Legend wrote:

What's a "tv channel"???


Something you resort to when your ESP isn't working properly
What do you do when you it rains and the sky dish doesn't work?

(This happened to us last time I was watching a game in a pub...)

rain fade hasnt been a thing for so long now. Besides its not like Spark never had any issues with connectivity.
First Team Squad
1K
·
1.7K
·
over 15 years
theprof
20 Legend
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
20 Legend wrote:

What's a "tv channel"???


Something you resort to when your ESP isn't working properly
What do you do when you it rains and the sky dish doesn't work?

(This happened to us last time I was watching a game in a pub...)

rain fade hasnt been a thing for so long now. Besides its not like Spark never had any issues with connectivity.
For the most part I am just stirring, but last time I watched a Rugby(?) match in the pub - which was around the time that Spark Sport was having their teething issues - the pub got hit with a bit of rain fade. Was very amusing.
Starting XI
2.1K
·
4.3K
·
over 11 years
Has Sky Sport 8 changed to the Premier League channel for anyone? It's still showing as the Olympics channel for me, although as I have it through Vodafone TV it may take a bit longer to change.
Legend
8K
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14K
·
over 16 years
still olympic channel for me, im a sky subscriber, expect that change wont take place till close to the EPL start date
WeeNix
42
·
680
·
about 14 years
Going back to the email it definitely said 14 July, but clicking through to the website the help article says 19 July https://help.sky.co.nz/s/article/Sky-Sport-Channel-Changes
WeeNix
42
·
680
·
about 14 years
Also there was a paywalled article on the herald that said games will be available for 28 days on demand on sky go, but only for up to 24 hours on sky sport now. And you can obviously record and keep until the sky machine breaks on satellite.
Marquee
1.5K
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5.2K
·
over 16 years
Channel 58 is up and running now. Some good stuff on there.
Starting XI
650
·
4.1K
·
almost 17 years
I've asked a question on Sky's facebook post regarding how they are dealing with the online portion of it. I don't actually want/need a whole channel of football, I just want the games/highlights/replays online like Spark had. Sometimes I would just watch the 3 min (or 10 min) highlights of each game in the morning. 

Sky have yet to respond.
Starting XI
2.1K
·
4.3K
·
over 11 years
Someone over on Geekzone posted that SKY will have on-demand matches up permanently in Sky Go (which you get with a Sky Subscription), but only for 24hrs in their Sky Sport Now offering. Not sure of the source of that info though so would be keen for confirmation from Sky.
Starting XI
650
·
4.1K
·
almost 17 years
ajc28
Someone over on Geekzone posted that SKY will have on-demand matches up permanently in Sky Go (which you get with a Sky Subscription), but only for 24hrs in their Sky Sport Now offering. Not sure of the source of that info though so would be keen for confirmation from Sky.
 Yes Sky have commented the 24 hour rewind live TV thing on their Facebook page, which is different to watching from the start I reckon. Imagine tuning in a few hours late and then just scrolling back through video in the hope of finding the kickoff time in the match you want. That's not user friendly. 
Legend
3.6K
·
15K
·
almost 17 years
Dammit I was used to the way it worked on Spark, not looking forward to learning yet another system. I had just cancelled my SkySportsNow sub and kept Spark, forgetting about this changeover, bugger. Will have to reverse that now, and SkySportsNow is twice the price
Starting XI
2.1K
·
4.3K
·
over 11 years
Not to mention you still need Spark Sport if you want to watch the European games (I'm still keeping it for cricket too). 
Legend
3.6K
·
15K
·
almost 17 years
Is there a way you can purchase the premier league only, direct? I guess not, since they've sold the rights to Sky. I wish you could. 
I like the way the NFL and other american sports do it. They sell limited packages of games to various networks, but then for the committed fan you can just buy access to all matches/highlights etc direct from their website. The premier league is big enough to be doing this, they could cut out the middle man and rake in that revenue, and sell mini-packages of certain games to networks around the world separately.
Legend
8K
·
14K
·
over 16 years
ajc28
Not to mention you still need Spark Sport if you want to watch the European games (I'm still keeping it for cricket too). 

plus the formula 1
WeeNix
42
·
680
·
about 14 years
VimFuego
ajc28
Someone over on Geekzone posted that SKY will have on-demand matches up permanently in Sky Go (which you get with a Sky Subscription), but only for 24hrs in their Sky Sport Now offering. Not sure of the source of that info though so would be keen for confirmation from Sky.
 Yes Sky have commented the 24 hour rewind live TV thing on their Facebook page, which is different to watching from the start I reckon. Imagine tuning in a few hours late and then just scrolling back through video in the hope of finding the kickoff time in the match you want. That's not user friendly. 

I believe you can scroll back through the guide 24 hours on sky sport now and select the program you want to watch and it starts from that point. It’s not like you have to manual scroll back 6 hours 33 minutes when you wake up at 9:33 to watch a 3am kick off.

Looks like on sky go they have already set up some on demand categories for different teams with some short videos currently on there. Plus similar for the world and review shows. I get the feeling people still think sky go is some useless after thought (which it was only a couple of years ago). It really is quite good these days with casting ability plus the dubious unsupported ability to add to kodi. 

Guess the only thing left to answer is how quick they can get replays up on demand to sky go, never really worried me before on the speed of on demand loading. They do load new episodes of some hbo shows on day of release quite promptly (like neon) so I have some hope there. You can scroll back on sky go but only 2 hours, and no ability to do a play from start. This would be good to have, but also I expect there will be new features launched with their delayed box, which I believe will be based off the app. So would expect the on demand features of the box to translate to the app when the box is launched. 
WeeNix
960
·
630
·
almost 2 years
Looking forward to Fulham vs Liverpool tonight, hope Nunez starts or is at least on the bench and Mitrovic this season can finally be the 20-40 goal machine he has been in the Championship. Really glad Sky added a separate channel for the EPL rather than possibly creating a bit of a mess by trying to put matches in with all the others on Sky Sport 7. 
Marquee
3.1K
·
6.7K
·
over 16 years
Already miss spark. For some reason whenever I chrome cast anything from sky sport the quality is average. Never had this issue with spark and the epl. Boo. 
WeeNix
960
·
630
·
almost 2 years
kwlap
Already miss spark. For some reason whenever I chrome cast anything from sky sport the quality is average. Never had this issue with spark and the epl. Boo. 

I have never used Spark Sport just because my family has had Sky since I was little but I respect your opinion. Are you using Sky Go to chrome cast? It can be a problem at times.
Legend
8K
·
14K
·
over 16 years
kwlap
Already miss spark. For some reason whenever I chrome cast anything from sky sport the quality is average. Never had this issue with spark and the epl. Boo. 

funny, I had the exact same experience but when I cast spark to the TV.
Lawyerish
1.7K
·
4.8K
·
about 13 years
The old sky dish got reinstalled today
LG
Legend
5.5K
·
23K
·
over 16 years
What a night to be on nightshift. Fulham V Liverpool, Norwich v Wigan, Spuds v Saints, Geordies v Trees, Cherries v Villa, Toffees V Yankski. Talk about spoiled for choice.
Starting XI
6.7K
·
4.5K
·
over 9 years
LG
What a night to be on nightshift. Fulham V Liverpool, Norwich v Wigan, Spuds v Saints, Geordies v Trees, Cherries v Villa, Toffees V Yankski. Talk about spoiled for choice.

I've just tested positive for Covid and was due at work at 6am tomorrow. Might get some football in over the next 7 days 🙃
Legend
3.6K
·
15K
·
almost 17 years
I was pleasantly surprised by my casting experience on Saturday morning.
But trying to watch anything on the skysportsnow app on my phone is awful. I've always had this problem, just constantly stutters, I think it is my phone, but it drives me crazy. For some reason my phone just doesnt seem to go well with that app unless I cast it. 
LG
Legend
5.5K
·
23K
·
over 16 years
I had 2 monitors (A game on each) running full screen in the background whilst doing my work. I had a good night. Oddly enough, the Norwich V Wigan game was the pick of the bunch, then Newcastle V Forest.
First Team Squad
280
·
1.3K
·
almost 17 years
Not a great start for SKY for SkySport Now subscribers. I wanted to watch Spurs v Saints, which ran from 2am to just before 4am NZT, and the replay wasn't available until just after 8am. I don't think 4hrs after the finish is acceptable. 

I hear you can watch from the Live TV menu, but all seems far removed from what Spark offered, and that's before I start on the picture quality...

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