AFL LIVE PASS - WHAT A JOKE!

[rumply]

FYI - received an email from Telstra advising the AFL Live package will be offered free to their mobile customers on $30+ plans this year.

Yeah got the same after getting an email saying I had to start paying to keep it for 2017...left hand right hand...

 

[mikel3030]

is it so friggin hard to have an AFL apple TV app that we can pay $250 for to stream live games FFS. I was so excited the current deal would expire, i was sure they would get rid of this terrible app and allow people to watch on a TV - apparently not.

 

[rumply]

is it so friggin hard to have an AFL apple TV app that we can pay $250 for to stream live games FFS. I was so excited the current deal would expire, i was sure they would get rid of this terrible app and allow people to watch on a TV - apparently not.

Nothing will happen until the next rights deal & even then...

 

[cryptor]

is it so friggin hard to have an AFL apple TV app that we can pay $250 for to stream live games FFS. I was so excited the current deal would expire, i was sure they would get rid of this terrible app and allow people to watch on a TV - apparently not.

It's not hard in a technical sense. It's just Channel 7 and Foxtel are the ones who have the broadcast rights for TV. Part of the deal is that the parties with the mobile broadcast rights (ie. for tablets and phones) can't allow their live broadcast to be natively upscaled to larger screens which would compete with the TV rights. This is why you can watch the replays of games streamed via the AFL website (hosted by Telstra) on a computer monitor or TV, but the same method isn't available for the live feed. This isn't to say it's not possible, it's just not straight forward.

 

[nobbyiscool]

is it so friggin hard to have an AFL apple TV app that we can pay $250 for to stream live games FFS. I was so excited the current deal would expire, i was sure they would get rid of this terrible app and allow people to watch on a TV - apparently not.

Yep, cos Foxtel are going to keep paying $600m over 5 years and then allow a much cheaper and easier option than Foxtels subscription

The people who keep suggesting this don't know how sport or sports broadcasting works.

 

[my name was taken]

A little adapter for my tablet and voila, it's on the tv as if by magic. A lot cheaper than the suggested $250 too.

 

[1990crow]

A little adapter for my tablet and voila, it's on the tv as if by magic. A lot cheaper than the suggested $250 too.

Is it any gòod?

 

[Mningasimisonda]

Good to see that Telstra have made the app buggier and 10 times slower. Like why pay someone to make it worse?

Also, you would think most would put "runs well" higher on the design list than "looks pretty and take a minute to start".

 

[1990crow]

Good to see that Telstra have made the app buggier and 10 times slower. Like why pay someone to make it worse?

Also, you would think most would put "runs well" higher on the design list than "looks pretty and take a minute to start".

Telstra are quite literally the worst company going around.

 

[Newt Hoenikker]

I read somewhere that Fox Footy was going to be broadcast on PCs via Foxtel Go in 2017 (which I imagine would it make it easier to cast onto a TV than an iOS/Android device). Anyone know anything more?

 

[Mningasimisonda]

I read somewhere that Fox Footy was going to be broadcast on PCs via Foxtel Go in 2017 (which I imagine would it make it easier to cast onto a TV than an iOS/Android device). Anyone know anything more?

Think I read about this last year and it required you to have Foxtel too. Let us know what you find though.

 

[basashi]

If you get Samsung Gear VR (150ish) there is a Telstra app in there with an AFL lounge. If your Samsung phone has the Telstra live pass (free for telstra customers) then the games can be watched in the vr headset. They are not 360 but you have the excellent illusion of sitting in a modern apartment watching the game on a massive screen.

There are a handful of actual 360 video experiences in the lounge but I am hoping to get at least one full game. The 25 NBA games covered in full 360 on the Next VR app are awesome... just awesome.

 

[my name was taken]

Is it any gòod?

It's okay, better than a little tablet. It won't change the aspect ratio though so you need to fiddle with adjusting the screen on tv to be bigger if a black trim bothers you. Also you need to get up if the stream freezes.

 

[BoxMatrix]

is it so friggin hard to have an AFL apple TV app that we can pay $250 for to stream live games FFS. I was so excited the current deal would expire, i was sure they would get rid of this terrible app and allow people to watch on a TV - apparently not.

Why would they do that? It's a business. They need to make money. And streaming games for a low price like that won't make them the money they want...

 

[BoxMatrix]

Also, Fox have taken over WatchAFL this year. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/watch-afl/id1192125380?mt=8

Fox Footy live in HD sounds good as well as Airplay. Can't sign up yet though.

Will try and find a workaround to get us Australians to use the service. Looks like it could be a winner.

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

Ei

Also, Fox have taken over WatchAFL this year. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/watch-afl/id1192125380?mt=8

Fox Footy live in HD sounds good as well as Airplay. Can't sign up yet though.

Will try and find a workaround to get us Australians to use the service. Looks like it could be a winner.

With 360 and on the couch... even tho im a telstra customer, i may cancel foxtell and just get a vpn and go with that

 

[nobbyiscool]

Ei

With 360 and on the couch... even tho im a telstra customer, i may cancel foxtell and just get a vpn and go with that

I'm really considering doing the same once the A-League season finishes. I'll miss being able to watch the Canberra Raiders, but I'd love to just be able to watch Fox Footy's shows and save a shitload of money.

 

[Newt Hoenikker]

Also, Fox have taken over WatchAFL this year. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/watch-afl/id1192125380?mt=8

Fox Footy live in HD sounds good as well as Airplay. Can't sign up yet though.

Will try and find a workaround to get us Australians to use the service. Looks like it could be a winner.

Surely a decent VPN would do the trick?

 

[funk44]

Also, Fox have taken over WatchAFL this year. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/watch-afl/id1192125380?mt=8

Fox Footy live in HD sounds good as well as Airplay. Can't sign up yet though.

Will try and find a workaround to get us Australians to use the service. Looks like it could be a winner.

Righto so I have given this a crack and got it working without problem

A quick note about my setup. I use Private Internet Access as my VPN running directly through my router flashed with dd-wrt so I can use my smart TV for international content as well. I also have a 100/40 internet connection. I had this set up for ages and works without problem. The player on the site is also HTML5 which is a vast improvement over the piece of shit flash player used last year

Presently the 2010 Grand Final is being replayed and the quality is nothing short of atrocious. It's far, far below SD quality and everything about it is simply appalling to the point where I am unable to make out the ball on my TV

The more recent on demand stuff is better. The resolution is 720p however the bitrate maxes out at 2.5mbps which is way below par for that resolution however the website states that a max of 7mbps will be available which is more than acceptable so i'll reserve my judgement until I see it in action

As an additional I have noticed an annoying problem where the video stream will slow down for a few frames then speed up to realign itself with the audio. This happens constantly (every few seconds), is quite distracting and takes away from the viewing experience

Overall it is looking positive, having access to the actual fox footy channel to watch 360 and such is a bloody nice addition. Hopefully tonight during the womens game they have the full bitrate available so I can give it a proper test then report back

 

[Newt Hoenikker]

Righto so I have given this a crack and got it working without problem

A quick note about my setup. I use Private Internet Access as my VPN running directly through my router flashed with dd-wrt so I can use my smart TV for international content as well. I also have a 100/40 internet connection. I had this set up for ages and works without problem. The player on the site is also HTML5 which is a vast improvement over the piece of shit flash player used last year

Presently the 2010 Grand Final is being replayed and the quality is nothing short of atrocious. It's far, far below SD quality and everything about it is simply appalling to the point where I am unable to make out the ball on my TV

The more recent on demand stuff is better. The resolution is 720p however the bitrate maxes out at 2.5mbps which is way below par for that resolution however the website states that a max of 7mbps will be available which is more than acceptable so i'll reserve my judgement until I see it in action

As an additional I have noticed an annoying problem where the video stream will slow down for a few frames then speed up to realign itself with the audio. This happens constantly (every few seconds), is quite distracting and takes away from the viewing experience

Overall it is looking positive, having access to the actual fox footy channel to watch 360 and such is a bloody nice addition. Hopefully tonight during the womens game they have the full bitrate available so I can give it a proper test then report back

Thanks for the report. Looking forward to hearing how it handles tonight's game.

 

[BoxMatrix]

Surely a decent VPN would do the trick?

I used getflix, a smartDNS service last year. Worked a treat. However, they've changed the URL, so the workaround doesn't work as of yet. Here's hoping they fix that. I prefer smartDNS over VPN as speed isn't affected...

Righto so I have given this a crack and got it working without problem

A quick note about my setup. I use Private Internet Access as my VPN running directly through my router flashed with dd-wrt so I can use my smart TV for international content as well. I also have a 100/40 internet connection. I had this set up for ages and works without problem. The player on the site is also HTML5 which is a vast improvement over the piece of shit flash player used last year

Presently the 2010 Grand Final is being replayed and the quality is nothing short of atrocious. It's far, far below SD quality and everything about it is simply appalling to the point where I am unable to make out the ball on my TV

The more recent on demand stuff is better. The resolution is 720p however the bitrate maxes out at 2.5mbps which is way below par for that resolution however the website states that a max of 7mbps will be available which is more than acceptable so i'll reserve my judgement until I see it in action

As an additional I have noticed an annoying problem where the video stream will slow down for a few frames then speed up to realign itself with the audio. This happens constantly (every few seconds), is quite distracting and takes away from the viewing experience

Overall it is looking positive, having access to the actual fox footy channel to watch 360 and such is a bloody nice addition. Hopefully tonight during the womens game they have the full bitrate available so I can give it a proper test then report back

Hmmm... Some good points made here. I used my shitty VPN and could max out the Fox Footy channel at 7 mbps. Although it did buffer a hell of a lot.

Mind posting a screenshot of what Fox Footy maxes out at for you?

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

Righto so I have given this a crack and got it working without problem

A quick note about my setup. I use Private Internet Access as my VPN running directly through my router flashed with dd-wrt so I can use my smart TV for international content as well. I also have a 100/40 internet connection. I had this set up for ages and works without problem. The player on the site is also HTML5 which is a vast improvement over the piece of shit flash player used last year

Presently the 2010 Grand Final is being replayed and the quality is nothing short of atrocious. It's far, far below SD quality and everything about it is simply appalling to the point where I am unable to make out the ball on my TV

The more recent on demand stuff is better. The resolution is 720p however the bitrate maxes out at 2.5mbps which is way below par for that resolution however the website states that a max of 7mbps will be available which is more than acceptable so i'll reserve my judgement until I see it in action

As an additional I have noticed an annoying problem where the video stream will slow down for a few frames then speed up to realign itself with the audio. This happens constantly (every few seconds), is quite distracting and takes away from the viewing experience

Overall it is looking positive, having access to the actual fox footy channel to watch 360 and such is a bloody nice addition. Hopefully tonight during the womens game they have the full bitrate available so I can give it a proper test then report back

I consider myself fairly tech savvy.. but u sound like a wizard.

 

[funk44]

I used getflix, a smartDNS service last year. Worked a treat. However, they've changed the URL, so the workaround doesn't work as of yet. Here's hoping they fix that. I prefer smartDNS over VPN as speed isn't affected...


Hmmm... Some good points made here. I used my shitty VPN and could max out the Fox Footy channel at 7 mbps. Although it did buffer a hell of a lot.

Mind posting a screenshot of what Fox Footy maxes out at for you?

I intend to this evening

Edit: To your first point, if a smartDNS service works it will be much more user friendly to set up for those who want to stream this on their Smart TV as it will just require manual DNS setting changes rather than a full configuration at the router. I'd be interested to know if it works

 

[mwillliams613]

Dns service working will definitely be the best result, speed wise and easier for most people to use. hopefully one of them gets around it. Has anyone had it working via airplay? ive tried airplaying to apple tv 4, and casting to chromecast and cant get the feed working on either. streams fine on the iphone though

 

[braddsey]

I'm using watchafl from Germany. Quality for me is awesome, looks like a big step-up compared to the garbage from Rightster in previous years. For people in Australia, if you can find a smartDNS service (or VPN) it looks like you can pretty much get fox footy, without subscribing to Fox.
Cost in Euros is €149. Cost in GBP is £149. I'll get USD and update this post.

Fox Footy looks like a big step in the right direction for me:
- The app looks sleek, and actually works (as compared to the Rightster garbage we got for the previous few years), with Airplay.
- It looks like we get access to Fox Footy programming. On the Couch, AFL Tonight, AFL 360, Bounce, Open Mike, League Teams, whatever other crap they put on. Sure, it was possible previously thanks to some great footy fans who made it available, but it's much easier to watch it on demand! Big plus from me!
- So far, streaming quality looks great on iPad, and would trust Fox to deliver better overall quality than Rightster did, with less glitches and dropouts. And hopefully no more of the crap the used to put on repeat between each goal and each quarter because they didn't take the advertising.
- Likely it will be a bit more expensive. The subscription cost has gone up online (€149 for me). The global lion membership is not yet available - last years was $155.

you can sign up for a trial subscription now until March 22: https://www.watchafl.com.au/offer
enter voucher code PRESEASON17

Looks like a lot of positives for my footy consumption this season!

(A bit of a cross-post from here: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/2017-membership-all-for-one.1151356/page-12#post-48637640)