Having acquired the rights to the Rugby World Cup 2019 and with an active program to acquire a raft of other premium sporting rights, Spark Sport needed to rapidly build and launch a new sport streaming platform. As part of delivering this new platform, Spark Sport needed a partner who could deliver stable yet engaging consumer applications for a range of big screen TV platforms and who could then continue to evolve these in order to surpass customer needs.
- Development Project
- Management
- Quality Assurance
- Automated Testing
Spark, which is the largest Digital Services Provider in New Zealand, has a history of innovation dating back to the 1800’s. In 2019 the company expanded into the online sport streaming market with the launch of Spark Sport. This service is now available across multiple devices and offers live and on demand access to a broad range of top-tier sporting content including New Zealand Cricket, Premier League, Formula 1, MotoGP, English Cricket and selected NFL games. Spark Sport also delivers channels such as NBA TV, MUTV, LFCTV, EDGE TV & TAB Trackside.
Spark Sport knew that Accedo had extensive knowledge and experience delivering multi-platform video experiences on a global stage. This, coupled with local presence and understanding of the local market made it a perfect fit. Accedo was engaged by Spark Sport in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup 2019. Given the tight timelines and ambitious device rollout plan, Accedo co-located its team with the Spark Sport team to maximize collaboration and speed to market. The rollout included developing consumer applications for Smart TV devices, as well as Freeview New Zealand devices. Launching across multiple devices meant Accedo needed to consider the impact of varying certification and submission processes and timelines.
“Accedo’s professionalism and extensive experience were critical in ensuring our readiness for the largest event in the 2019 New Zealand sporting calendar. Accedo continues to be a highly valued partner to Spark Sport, helping us evolve our offering to meet the future needs of our customers.”
“Accedo’s professionalism and extensive experience were critical in ensuring our readiness for the largest event in the 2019 New Zealand sporting calendar. Accedo continues to be a highly valued partner to Spark Sport, helping us evolve our offering to meet the future needs of our customers.”
Thanks to Accedo’s collaborative approach and expertise, coupled with its close relationships with the device manufacturers, Spark Sport’s key big screen TV applications were delivered on time and with an engaging UX that showcased the Spark Sport content portfolio. Beyond the initial launch, the organisations have continued to collaborate on the evolution of the big screen TV user experience. This working relationship involves Accedo operating as a tightly integrated extension to the core Spark Sport team.
