Amazon Prime Video - Sports Playback

[Anonymous User]

Just a quick off-topic question about Amazon Prime Video and sports playback.....I was just wondering how they playback their sports with regards to Frame Rate??

In the never ending pursuit of smooth sports action do they broadcast their sports at 25fps or 50fps??  Is it the same frame rate no matter the App, they don't do anything like save the better 50fps for their own Fire TV devices and give other Apps on third-party devices the lesser 25fps??

[schnapps · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous User 

With regards to Amazon Prime Sports like Premier League Football, Tennis and the Rugby Union Autumn Nations Cup, the only third party hardware that i own that plays 50fps sports and looks amazing is my BT 4K Youview box.

When using my NowTV 4K Smart box, ATV gen 3 box, inbuilt Amazon Prime Video App on my Philips Android 9 Smart TV the Amazon sports is fixed at 25fps and the picture looks horrendous as you would expect with 25fps when watching fast action sports.

I have just picked up an Amazon 4K Fire Stick in the Flash Sale, but haven't had chance to test live Amazon Sports yet to see if the playback is buttery smooth 50fps.

One thing i have noticed with the Amazon 4K Stick with regards to the NowTV App is that Auto Frame Rate feature on the Stick doesn't work with the NowTV App which is a little disappointing.

When watching NowTV Sports with HD Boost Pass i have to force 50Hz in the Stick Display settings otherwise the picture is a stuttering mess 😡😡😡.

[Anonymous User]

@schnapps 

Thanks for the quick reply.

I just signed-up to Prime for the first time yesterday and although I'm not the biggest of sports followers I will certainly be trying out the sport that Prime has to offer.....and I myself just bought the 4k Fire TV Stick in the sale.  I do also have the App via my Now TV Stick, but I was more suspicious that that wouldn't do Prime sport at 50fps.  I also have the App on my BT Youview Box, so hopefully like your 4k BT Youview Box that will also do 50fps????

I think Prime have the Southampton v Wolves game tomorrow lunchtime so I'll pop on my Youview Box and see just how smooth it is.....and when my Stick arrives I'll give that a go at some point.  As long as I can get the silky smooth stuff somewhere.

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

I have just had a quick look at one of the Tennis replays on the Amazon Prime App on my 4K Fire Stick and the picture looks silky smooth to me at 50fps.

Unfortunately there is no Amazon live sports events to test at this moment of time on the 4K Fire Stick.

Will either check out the Football or some Tennis game tomorrow if i have time.

When watching Amazon Prime Sports live on my BT 4K Box the playback was definitely 50fps and the picture was impressive (much better than NowTV Sports using a HD Boost Pass).

Though from memory when watching replays or highlights on Amazon sports (not streaming live) on my BT 4K Youview box i am sure the playback was only 25fps (will have to double check this when i have got a spare minute to confirm).

[Anonymous User]

@schnapps 

I imagined it wouldn't be one size fits all when it came to smooth sports frame rate across the various iterations of the App, but looks like I should hopefully get some good results between my Youview Box and 4k Stick??

Just as a small aside, do you use your 4k Fire TV Stick via Wi-Fi or do you use it with the ethernet adaptor??

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

Using the 4K Fire Stick over WiFi currently, where the Router is located in the same room.

Only had the Fire Stick since yesterday and haven't really tested it out properly yet with regards to a stable picture over WiFi when watching HD or UHD content.

If i notice any picture dropouts or reduction in resolution, then i may have to fork out the additional £13.99 price for the Amazon Ethernet adaptor.

[Saint1976]

And just like that the picture quality today is awful. Either Southampton v Wolves isn't a priority or they heard me talking yesterday!

[schnapps]

Hi @Saint1976 

The Southampton v Wolves game on Amazon Prime looks great to me on both my new Fire 4K Stick and BT 4K Youview box.

Wished NowTV with a Boost pass could look this good.

[Saint1976]

@schnapps 99 times out of 100 prime is perfect but today the picture is juddering badly, moreso on the LG app than the Roku Premiere.

Might just be a local issue though as having problems with All4 as well!

[schnapps]

Hi @Saint1976 

First half for me the live stream quality has been silky smooth and rock solid.

Based in South Wales, don't know if it's regional or traffic demand on the service.