Blotchy / Blocky Picture On Sports Channels

[Anonymous User]

When watching the sports channels with boost activated the picture has a blotchy / blocky effect. The stream is certainly 1080p and 50fps watching through my now tv stick. The same issue isn't present watching BT Sport through youview or other channels. Its very noticeable on green grass when the camera is panning around and even more so on darker backgrounds. This isn't something I've noticed on the Sky Cinema channels.

Anyone have an idea on the cause or a possible cure? I have a picture of the problem but can't see how to upload it. 

[Mattio]

Thanks for the advice though. I’ll be doing this tonight 😀👍🏻

[CamoNet]

To be honest. I don't think it's properly sorted, as when the adverts came back on, it was visibly there. The most noticeable areas are the letter boxed areas.

Only way I can get it to consistently not have the camo net is by changing the settings to SDR on the ATV. Even with Match Content enabled it's still a mess. It's watchable for football as it's hard to see. If I was using this for Cinema or Entertainment though I'd be really disappointed.

[Mattio]

it’s a total joke that this is happening (again)

I wouldn’t mind if it was happening across providers, but everyone else is fine. 

the fact I pay more for ‘HD’ with these clowns makes it even worse. 

[dmartins13]

I have the same exact issue via amazon fire cube but its fine using the smart channels on the LG tv

[Arcadian]

Same problem here. I bought a Amazon Fire Cube a month ago as my 4k Samsung TV is an older generation and I felt the processor wasn't up to running UHD content smoothly over the TV apps.  Both Now TV and BT sport did a lot of buffering even though I've have 300mb ethernet. 

Noe buffering problem with Now Tv via the Cube, but all the sports channels have a sort blotchy, purplish 'watermark' effect. Doesn't happen with other apps, and doesn't happen with Now TV app on the telly.... It HAS to be an issue with the Now TV / Amazon Fire combo.

So frustrating! 

[C3RBERUS]

Think its safe to assume its not a device issue. Ive tried now on following devices:

now tv stick;

now tv box version;

apple tv gen 2;

apple tv 4k;

fire tv stick;

fire tv stick 4k;

roku pro stick 4k;

ps4; and

ps5

tried ethernet and wifi connections and still happens. Have bt fibre 2 and all other apps (disney, prime, netflix etc) have no issues. All devices up to date and apps too. I changed tv settings, swapped hdmi cables, bought new ethernet cables and no change. I even placed my current apple 4k tv unit to sit outside my routers firewall as NOW said it could be my router, so even swapped out my bt router for a friends tp link one and guess what no change. NOW can put the blame on devices, equipment, cables and internet etc when its not there own. And problem is simple, more people last two years have swapped to streaming services which is probably putting more pressure on their servers. The problem is NOWs streaming capabilities which they still havent solved. When asked to fill out one of their surveys the other day one question asked would i rate them answer is no, when asked would i stay with them when my contract / offer ends, simple answer no unless they sort this issue out. 

NOW needs to listen to their customers and fix this problem otherwise well leave and you wont have any customers left!

[Bond_007]

Is anyone able to summarise the latest on this? What is causing the issue and when are NowTV fixing it?

It’s been going on for most of the season now which is ridiculous. 

The current picture quality for Tottenham vs Arsenal on Main Event HD with Boost is terrible.

Constant grain or film effect over the picture, most noticeable during panning shots against the green background of the grass. 

This is only a problem with NowTV content, and on multiple devices (NowTV Stick, BT Box, PS5). All the same issue. 

The stream quality simply doesn’t seem high enough. Is this a bandwidth issue (cost saving measure?) at NowTV end? Or something else? Thanks. 

[Grumpy1]

I too have this "issue" I have been chasing Now for almost a year around this "issue" and even sent pictures & video (even though it is hard to capture).  I am still no nearer to a solution? The last I heard from them was that it was with the higher technical team,  that was at least a couple of months ago and have had no update, even after prompting them, they just seem to be ignoring me (and the "issue").

As it has been around for quite some time now I am not hopeful, so I think it is time to ditch Now for good. It just isn't worth the hassle and frustration having spent many hours toing and froing with them.

Sorry this does not answer your question as to what is causing it and a likely fix but as Now do not appear to be too eager to help I don't think there is a short answer?

[Jno]

This is a problem with the conversation of the signal. I have an AppleTV and I needed to change the Video Settings from 4K 50hz (HDR) to 4K 50hz (SDR).

I imagine you would need to do the same with your box/tv settings.

[Mattio]

Another 6 months down the line and this ###### is still happening. Now TV do not care about anyone or anything. 
it is not anyones setup, it’s it not the internet, it is not the tv, it is THEM and their crap stream. 
I seemed to of narrowed it down to only happening on live events and not catch-up. So football, soccer am, sky sports news. All noticeable all the time. 

I even cancelled Boost to see if it was that. Still the same. 

what is interesting is my picture isn’t any worse without Boost. So it shows how crap that service is too.