1
New Zealand fans incensed as RWC broadcast provider Spark Sports struggles in first New Zealand Test
New Zealand’s broadcasting world received somewhat of a shake-up last year when it was announced that Spark, one of the country’s major telecommunications providers, had won the rights to the Rugby World Cup.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sky Sport, who owned the New Zealand rights to most of the major rugby competitions around the world, had been the key broadcast partners for the previous two tournaments and the switch to Spark for the World Cup was seen as a relative coup for the ‘little man’.
There was, however, some trepidation – given that Spark have never previously been tasked with broadcasting a live experience on such a major scale. There were also concerns that many rugby fans would not get to view the World Cup as they either lacked highspeed internet (in the more rural areas) or lacked internet access at all, as is the case with many older viewers.
Still, fans have remained hopeful that come the hour, Spark Sports would stand up to the intense pressure it would be placed under.
Continue reading below…
When the tournament kicked off on Friday night, a number of users took to Twitter to vent their frustrations. Broadcast quality was choppy at times for some viewers, whilst others found they weren’t able to access the broadcast at all.
Naturally, it’s the unhappy few that are most likely to vent their issues on social media and Friday night’s issues were apportioned to just a vocal minority of users.
Come Saturday night, however, when the All Blacks played their first Test of the World Cup, things took a turn for the worse.
ADVERTISEMENT
Spark Sports users took to Twitter to showcase the range of issues they were facing:
Man this All Blacks game is going great huh? @SparkNZ #sparksport #NZLvRSA #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/S4H55kc4fk
— Aimuk (@OmgGir) September 21, 2019
Well that was disappointing #sparksport. After only a couple of small buffering moments last night and two games today, the #NZLvRSA (the one that really mattered) was an all you can eat buffer. Looked great on Duke!
— Matt (@mattssmithnz) September 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/MoztashioGaming/status/1175366315957084163
Spark Sport has you almost wanting to watch the RWC delayed ???? #thatqualitytho #RWC #SparkSport #theonlythingskyhadgoingforthem
— Morgan Carroll (@Morgz121) September 21, 2019
As was announced prior to the tournament’s kick-off, Spark had a back-up plan in place should the service not be up to the required standard. Twenty minutes into the match, the game was made available on free-to-air TV for all.
https://twitter.com/sparknzsport/status/1175358454485024768
Whilst viewers appreciated the alternative option, they were also quick to chastise Spark’s suggestion that it was just a “small percentage” of customers who were affected.
ADVERTISEMENT
Judging by social media, a “small percentage” is a LOT of people!
— Brendon Trass (@brendontrass) September 21, 2019
Small percentage my ass! What a disaster!! ???????????????
— Dave Nicholas (@davenicholasnz) September 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sarah_8128/status/1175359005532680193
The next All Blacks match won’t take place for another week and a half, and there’s likely to be far fewer viewers tuning into the match against Canada than there were against New Zealand’s highest-ranked pool opposition, the Springboks.
Chances are that the next massive workload that Spark will face won’t eventuate until the quarter-finals, which gives the company plenty of time to sort out their issues – whether it’s an easy fix, however, remains unknown.
Last night, Spark released a statement indicating that they were “uncomfortable at the quality” of their service and would be doing all they could to alleviate the issues.
Regardless, Spark’s reputation will have taken a massive hit thanks to the problems faced by so many customers, and trust will be at an all-time low.
Spark gaining the rights to the World Cup was considered a huge boon for the company, but it looks like the win may come back to bite them.
Comments on RugbyPass
I totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
2 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
11 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
10 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
11 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
11 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
11 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
119 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
11 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
10 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
2 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
11 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
10 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
11 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
10 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to comments