Bladesplayer picture quality

[Thaddeus]

Hi,

I've been subscribing to this for the past seven months or so and the quality of the picture is really blurry. I thought it would improve this year when it was relaunched as Bladesplayer HD but I can't see any improvement.

I've checked with them and they thought it might be an issue with my internet streaming rate but having done the tests, it doesn't look likely and I can happily stream from Netflix, iPlayer etc in HD.

So I'm wondering if I'm expecting too much, and if other people here who do subscribe are happy with the quality. I can just about identify the players from their position, shape etc. but beyond that, it's a very very long way from Sky Sports.

 

[Bladebri]

Anything you pay for or subscribe to should be of a quality to satisfy customers, if what you are receiving is not fit for purpose you have a right for a refund, unless of course the problem lies at your end, maybe other forum members are having the same problem.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Hi,

I've been subscribing to this for the past seven months or so and the quality of the picture is really blurry. I thought it would improve this year when it was relaunched as Bladesplayer HD but I can't see any improvement.

I've checked with them and they thought it might be an issue with my internet streaming rate but having done the tests, it doesn't look likely and I can happily stream from Netflix, iPlayer etc in HD.

So I'm wondering if I'm expecting too much, and if other people here who do subscribe are happy with the quality. I can just about identify the players from their position, shape etc. but beyond that, it's a very very long way from Sky Sports.

For the full games they reduce the quality of the stream. It's still a bit better than it used to be, but I guess they don't want it to be excellent. The BP highlights seem to be at least 10 minutes so far and the quality is better, although not quite as good as the youtube highlights.

 

[SwissBlade]

The quality is shite, the commentary is always delayed massively. It's a rip off and the customer service is awful.

But it's the only way we can watch/ listen to our team

 

[stringjunior]

I think the quality has definitely improved. I have super mega bad boy fibre speeds and I'm quite happy.

Mind you I don't pay for it - I use my dad's login details ;-)

 

[Northyorksblade]

The quality is shite, the commentary is always delayed massively. It's a rip off and the customer service is awful.

But it's the only way we can watch/ listen to our team

My sentiments exactly. So bloody annoying when the shoutbox gets the goal before BP. So I now don't watch shoutbox, but that's quite boring.

 

[Bergen Blade]

The quality is shite, the commentary is always delayed massively. It's a rip off and the customer service is awful.

But it's the only way we can watch/ listen to our team

I've been very frustrated with the excess zooming (e.g. close up of corner taker, but showing nothing of the marking in the box until the ball is whipped in), but I'm afraid to criticise as I know most clubs don't offer full games on their Player sites.

I would pay quite a bit for live streams, and would also like to watch the odd U18 or U21 game. If this would mean they had too do less of something else, they could skip interviews with players.

 

[Foxy]

I've been very frustrated with the excess zooming (e.g. close up of corner taker, but showing nothing of the marking in the box until the ball is whipped in), but I'm afraid to criticise as I know most clubs don't offer full games on their Player sites.

I would pay quite a bit for live streams, and would also like to watch the odd U18 or U21 game. If this would mean they had too do less of something else, they could skip interviews with players.

Tell them to give me the facilities, budget and permission be a nice project.

 

[Ben_1982]

Always been very high quality for me, I use iPad or iPhone tho

 

[Thaddeus]

Thanks for all this. I didn't think I was the only one but wondered how bad it was for me compared to others. It might have improved a little (I think I can now see the shirt numbers which I couldn't before) but I'd rather they didn't badge it as "high definition" as it definitely raised my expectations. Although I am curious about stringjunior's experience, but not curious enough to get fibre optic broadband.

I think overall I'm somewhere between:

Anything you pay for or subscribe to should be of a quality to satisfy customers

and

The quality is shite, the commentary is always delayed massively. It's a rip off and the customer service is awful.

But it's the only way we can watch/ listen to our team

and I definitely agree with this:

I've been very frustrated with the excess zooming (e.g. close up of corner taker, but showing nothing of the marking in the box until the ball is whipped in), but I'm afraid to criticise as I know most clubs don't offer full games on their Player sites.

So I'm glad the service exists as I can't get to many games at all but would rather pay a bit more if they could improve the quality a bit.

Although I did like the Peterborough audio commentary over the footage (not quite Dave Higson* but still fun) which was probably a one off but would help me engage if it became more regular.

*Incidentally, I've just spotted this which I didn't know: http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news...to_commentary_legend_Dave_Higson_10_years_on/

 

[Bladeaway]

Quality for me is fairly average. The 10min Highlight reels this season seem to be an improvement on shorter versions previously.
The commentary is absolutely awful, I don't know why they bother. Would be much better if they just used the blades player (/BBC Radio Sheffield) actual live commentary rather than rubbish they add on afterwards at the moment. The poor lad can't even pronounce half the names.

+1 for lives games, but can't ever see this happening. Would also be good to have the highlights go up on blades player sooner, there seems to be a 24 hour or so delay, which I guess is to do with rights.

Also +1 for the excessive amount of zoom used by the cameraman. its terrible!

 

[stringjunior]

The delayed broadcast will be contractual

 

[blade too long]

any stream on a delay can break up , syncing problems occur and picture quality is suspect, was asking a bbc engineer about it a year or so ago and he said live pictures are always better than instant replays , he said they still couldnt understand why it happens this way

 

[Paqamaq]

The new HD is way better than it was previously. I can watch it full screen now, whereas I could only do that before when I was pissed. Totally agree with the comments re commentary and the ridiculous zoomy shit, but their customer service has been top notch for me. I had difficulty connecting on my mobile,which they sorted inside 24 hours. More recently, I had playback issues for the HD videos. Again, guided me through a solve inside 24 hours. No complaints at all.

Being on the other side of the planet, I would also love to be able to access a live stream for matches, but it's not a deal-breaker. And, considering what you get, it really is incredibly cheap, isn't it?

 

[blade too long]

not related but had to post it

 

[Benji]

Can anyone of you lovely people who subscribe to this service tell me exactly what is included and available to subscribers... I've been curious for a while but under £5 a month seems incredibly cheap to be able to watch full game coverage of every blades game...