F1 2023

[Joe-Bow]

Channel totally froze on me a moment ago on the Glass TV and never recovered.  

Am not convinced at all by this channel.  Actually have my suspicions it isn't actually a channel stream in the background but is being presented via a hidden app and masquerading as a channel.  No evidence at all to back that up, just a gut feel, as it seems different to all other UHD sources I watch without issue via the Glass OS.  Can't put my finger on it.

[Tim+Adams]

Agree with you @Joe-Bow  something isn't right. 

Still seeing picture freezing and audio continues then back to normal. 

Thanks,

Tim

[Joe-Bow]

@Tim+Adams  Obviously there's not been a live race in it yet, and it looks lovely and bright, but from what I've seen so far the picture quality isn't as good as last season; doesn't seem as sharp even on what appear to be the UHD replays.  

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought the F1 UHD was spectacular last season, however it seems a little bitrate starved so far, even on my OLED with puck showing UHD.

Proof will be in the race broadcast.

[CardiffMan1992]

@Joe-Bow 

In fairness it should be ready for qualifying never mind the race i can understand practice maybe upscaled HD but Qualifying should be real 4K HDR.

[Rankrotten]

All live sessions: FP1, FP2, FP3, Quali and Race will be in 4K HDR supplied by the FOM world feed.

[CardiffMan1992]

So realistically tomorrow morning.

[Melancholic]

How Stream handles the F1 season, could be make or break for the Melancholic household and our relationship with the product. The one thing the wife and I share in in common from a sporting perspective is F1. She is already hinting at a Q return. If we can't playlist then succesfully playback races, then it could be goodnight Vienna for Stream.

[CardiffMan1992]

@Melancholic 

That's the case with me as well giving it this coming month and if it's not good i will be going Virgin.

[Tim+Adams]

@Melancholic 

Same situation here, I've tolerated the terrible experience with Cricket the past couple of months but this weekend is make or break. 

Thanks,

Tim

[Melancholic]

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@CardiffMan1992 wrote:

@Melancholic 

That's the case with me as well giving it this coming month and if it's not good i will be going Virgin.

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I have had Virgin in the past, and whilst their broadband has always been spot on, I had their TV service for 12 months (before 18 month contracts) and went back to Sky. Trust me, it has its issues too. 

[Melancholic]

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@Tim+Adams wrote:

@Melancholic 

Same situation here, I've tolerated the terrible experience with Cricket the past couple of months but this weekend is make or break. 

Thanks,

Tim

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@Tim+Adams 

I love the concept of Stream, and to be honest, I'm more tolerant of things not always working straight away in tech and understand its an evolving process (hence why we get updates). The wife on the other hand, not so much and let's face it, it's the wife that needs to be kept happy.

[Rankrotten]

Just left Virgin and gone the CityFibre / Sky Stream route so this weekend will be the litmus test.

[CardiffMan1992]

Sky certainly have a lot to gain or lose with Sky Stream with the rise of ALTNETS.

[Rankrotten]

I'm starting off with the expectation that live 4K HDR F1 on the Sky Stream will present no issues.  Hoping with fingers crossed that playlist and catch up (all in UHD) after the session has played out will be available and seamless.

[Melancholic]

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@CardiffMan1992 wrote:

Sky certainly have a lot to gain or lose with Sky Stream with the rise of ALTNETS.

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I have said it in another thread this evening, but Sky/Comcast need to now be seen to innovate beyond anything they have done previously.

Sky were the tech leaders once upon at time, with everybody else playing catch-up, but with Apple spending heavily on sport and original content, Amazon taking a piece of the Premier League pie and even the introduction of ViaPlaly and growth of DAZN, Sky's original monopoly is becoming more threadbare each year. They need to keep F1 rights as they are probably the last remaining exclusive jewel in their sporting crown. I fully expect Apple to throw their $65 billion bank balance into the hat once rights come up again for the EPL. Sky/Comcast need to try and diversify their offer, but also need to create a stable and easy to use product for everybody.

It's okay for those of us a bit more tech minded, but Apple's whole success was built on the simplicity of their products. With the amount of varied issues consumers seem to be having with Glass/Stream, how is anybody truly meant to feel confident in the premium product currently being sold by Sky. Streaming is the future, but if Sky is to be at the forefront again, they need to get back to getting the basics correct.