Hawaii IPTV UH Sports coverage not without start up issues

September 20th, 2008

Filed Under Hawaii TV |

Sigh. I’m SO pulling for IPTV, you don’t know. I really am but as a customer, I’m getting rather irritated. If you’ve been keeping track, you’ll see I was very excited about UH Sports coming to our Hawaii IPTV subscription. Today we just caught the first two games. Double sigh. Here are the notes I took while watching.

Florida vs. Hawaii

About the first 10 minutes or so are nothing but static so screeching it almost induces an ear bleed. 11:42 left on the clock in the 2nd QUARTER is when the commentary for the beginning of the game kicks in. We’re talking like the “hello everybody and welcome…” kind of stuff. The audio never synchs and you might as well mute it and put on some Hawaiian music to take the edge off of the irritation that you can’t actually enjoy this big match up.

Hawaii vs. Weber State

This ones a doozy. I mean I’m surprised they didn’t get calls if people had kids in the room. Let’s start by saying that the first few minutes are like they had a microphone in the parking lot and you’re listening to the songs they’re playing in the stadium. I suppose if you’re an avid tailgater this could give you the feeling like you’re there. Missing the game but there…in the parking lot. Then you hear the studio mics come on and you have Jim Leahey and Russell Yamanoha doing not commentary but pick up lines as though they’re practicing. Yes, you’re hearing mic check in addition to some woman yelling in the background. Here’s where you hear colorful things by the announcers like how one is “Nervous like a bastard”, “I can’t see da frickin’ numbers”, “She doesn’t know what the hell is going on” and “What the hell is this?” When they messed up their lines, you knew it. There were some close moments I was just waiting to hear the F bomb. I have to admit, I laughed a bit but was shocked that this was not caught. Again the audio never synchs with the game and another broadcast ruined.

I can only pray the game on the 27th is markedly better or there is little hope for this great idea.

Update: The game on the 27th against San Jose had the audio issues fixed. A mass email was sent out to subscribers saying this issue was resolved. You know I’ll be keeping you up to date as to whether or not the fix is permanent. Let’s hope so!

Comments

3 Comments so far

Pele on September 21, 2008 1:43 am
Got this comment on my original review of IPTV regarding the sports so thought I’d post it over here as well.

“I got this service to watch UH sports. I’ve had numerous problems. Tonight, instead of the volleyball game, I’m seeing NBC programming — that horrible Chuck show.”
Keli'i Martin on September 22, 2008 3:32 pm
I haven’t really watched any of the recorded football games yet on IPTV. I have watched a couple of the live wahine volleyball games and they seemed to go ok. I guess it’s hard to screw up a live KFVE broadcast. Hopefully live football won’t be messed up like you describe in your post.
Jennifer on September 29, 2008 9:33 pm
I agree the problems were totally irritating, but this past weekend’s game was fine. We enjoyed watching it. They have been great to us. they are always available to answer questions and they have been very helpful when I have had a problem. The service needs some things worked out, but overall I am pretty happy with it.