Stream the action to your TV
David Court shares some easy ways to watch Spark Sport events, including the Rugby World Cup, on your television.
Spark Sport passed its first big test this weekend. It managed to stream all 10 English Premier League fixtures without a major hitch.
There was a minor hitch though. For me, anyway.
The Spark Sport Panasonic TV app failed to update its EPG when the Liverpool v Norwich game kicked off on Saturday morning, which meant I couldn’t stream the game on my TV.
I resolved the problem by doing what any good techo would do. I researched what to do online. More specifically, I asked for help via the Spark Sport Twitter account. And the solution was simple enough in the end.
But it still created a level of stress I wasn’t expecting at 7am on a Saturday. And if I hadn’t quickly connected a laptop to my TV, my family would have missed the first goal of the 2019-2020 EPL season.
Should Spark Sport serve up similar problems during an important Rugby World Cup match, and All Black fans miss a try, Spark will have a national emergency on its hands.
This scenario got me thinking. Connecting a laptop to a TV (or an alternative device to stream Spark Sport on) is second nature to me. But many people won’t know where to start regarding streaming live sport on a TV.
If that is you, don’t panic. Here are some of the best (and easiest) ways to watch Spark Sport on your TV.
How to watch Spark Sport on a TV
1. Use the Spark Sport TV app
Spark Sport has done a good job of rolling out apps for Smart TVs. If you own a 2017+ Sony, Samsung or Panasonic Smart TV, you can download the Spark Sport app for free – straight from your TV’s app store.
Note: Spark says it is working on bringing the app to 2017+ LG Smart TV models too. But has yet to confirm when this will happen.
2. Connect laptop to your TV
The quickest, and probably most reliable way to watch Spark Sport and the 2019 Rugby World Cup is to connect your laptop to your TV.
This method is straightforward too, all you need is an HDMI lead.
Connect one end of the HDMI lead to your TV and the other to your laptop, and you’re halfway there. Your HDMI-connected TV will now mirror your laptop screen or act as a second screen.
All you need to do now is open your web browser, sign in to Spark Sport, and start streaming.
Note: Some laptops, such as the new MacBook Air or Dell XPS, no longer have HDMI ports. If you own one of these, you might need to buy a brand-specific HDMI port dongle.
3. Get the app on Freeview SmartVU
You can also download the Spark Sport app on your Freeview SmartVU streaming device. Simply go to the app store and search for Spark Sport, then download the official app.
That’s it. All you need to do now is open the app and sign in.
4. Watch Spark Sport via Chromecast
Chromecast can be a tricky one to get your head around. That’s because you have to stream content from a mobile device first, then ‘‘cast’’ the stream to a Chromecast device.
However, if you have a Chromecast device, it offers an elegant way to steam content on your TV.
To watch Spark Sport via Chromecast, you first need to make sure your mobile device is connected to the same wi-fi network as your Chromecast device.
Next, open the Spark Sport app on your smartphone or tablet (or use Google Chrome on a laptop) and click on the Cast icon when you’re ready to stream to your TV.
Your Chromecast dongle will then take over streaming Spark Sport to your TV, leaving your mobile device free to run other apps.
5. Apple TV (Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K)
Watching Spark Sport on an Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K device couldn’t be more straightforward.
Download and install the Spark Sport app via the App Store. Sign in. And stream. It’s as simple as that.