Hi, everyone !!
If you follow the sport of boxing, and in particular the heavyweight class which has been producing some sizzling showdowns in recent times, then you are no doubt already aware that there is another mouth-watering fight lined-up for Saturday 22nd December 2018 at the O2 Arena in London (UK) between Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora... plus an undercard that features the likes of Joshua Buatsi vs. Renold Quinlan (10 Rounds Light-Heavyweight), plus Cristofer Rosales vs. Charlie Edwards (WBC World Flyweight Title), Carlos Takam vs. Senad Gashi (10 Rounds Heavyweight), David Price vs. Tom Little (8 Rounds Heavyweight), as well as a British Featherweight Title contest between Ryan Walsh and Reece Bellotti... all crammed-in to 7 hours of Pay-Per-View (PPV) boxing entertainment (starting from 6pm on Saturday night until approximately 1am in the early hours of Sunday 23rd December 2018) for less than twenty quid - not bad, eh!?!! ;-) :-D
THE MAIN EVENT: DILLIAN WHYTE vs. DERECK CHISORA
As can be seen from the above screenshot image promoting the fight, this PPV boxing event will be shown via 'Sky Sports Box Office' which, contrary to what many people believe, does not actually mean that you will need a satellite dish and/or a monthly subscription to 'Sky' in order to watch it... because, the reality is that you can book and stream the fight whether you're a 'Sky' customer or not!
Better yet - unlike the Middleweight fight between Gennady Golovkin & Saul Canelo Alvarez, which marked the official launch of 'BT Sport Box Office' earlier this year, and required viewers to watch via either 'Sky TV', 'BT TV', or 'Virgin Media', with no option to view the event via an app or online player... the fact that the fight between Whyte and Chisora is being shown by 'Sky Sports Box Office' instead of 'BT Sport Box Office' means you have the choice to watch via desktop browser on your PC / Mac, as well as using the dedicated mobile app for iOS (Apple) or Android devices and, better yet, for those with Roku and/or NowTV-branded streaming products... you can watch it on your TV!
INSTALLING THE 'SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE' CHANNEL
Believe it or not, it's been over two years since NOW TV first added a dedicated Roku channel for 'Sky Box Office' to the 'App Store' on their NowTV Box(es) and, although there is still no "public" version (i.e. one listed in the 'Channel Store' on Roku devices) of the app, a "private" channel added to the Roku platform means that Pay-Per-View (PPV) events from 'Sky Sports Box Office' - which include the forthcoming heavyweight bout between Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora on Saturday 22nd December 2018 - can also be streamed live on UK Roku devices! :-D
HINT:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
If you happen to have read a similar post which I also published via this blog, around 5 months ago, on "How To Watch Whyte vs. Parker PPV Boxing Live On Roku Players..." via live streaming, then there's a good chance (assuming you watched that fight on your Roku player) that you will already have added the above "private" channel for 'Sky Sports Box Office' to your list of installed apps. In which case, you can skip the next few paragraphs explaining how to install the channel and (instead) jump straight to the section on PURCHASING THE EVENT to buy your virtual ticket for this fight.
If, on the other hand, you have not yet added 'Sky Sports Box Office' to your list of installed apps... then you will need to follow the necessary steps (outlined below) to make it available on your device. As mentioned before, because this is a "private" channel, you will not be able to find it in the Roku UK Channel Store... and will instead need to log-in to your online Roku account where you can make use of the "Add channel with a code" option. For the benefit of anyone who may not have installed any so-called "private" channels to their Roku account before... if you 'Sign in' to the Roku website online, then look under 'Manage account', you will see an active link through which you may "Add channel with a code" and, if you click on that, you will then see a pop-up window where you need only enter the 'Channel access code' and click the blue 'Add channel' button to have the channel added to your Roku account. In this instance enter ACCESS CODE: skysportsboxoffice to install it.
Here's a screenshot of the 'Manage account' section, with the active link to "Add channel with a code" highlighted in blue. To get to it... simply scroll down the 'My Account' page, which is the main page that loads-up after you sign in to your Roku account online, until you see the section shown below:-
ONCE AGAIN:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
If you have never added a "private" channel to your Roku account before (or it has been a while since you last added one) then you should be aware that, following problems in Mexico which led to a ban on the sale and/or import of Roku products in that country (recently overturned), it became necessary for Roku to issue a 'WARNING' message (see screenshot below) every time a "private" channel is added. This is nothing that should concern you and, having already installed & signed-in to this particular channel myself, I can confirm there are no issues with it - so just click "OK" to continue...
AS BEFORE:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
Once you have clicked the blue "OK" button, you will then get another pop-up window asking you to confirm that you wish to add the private channel to your account. From there, you need only click on the blue "Yes, add channel" button to have 'Sky Sports Box Office' added to your account. Here is the channel icon (aka 'HD Poster' image) to look for among the list of apps added to your Roku account:-
TIP: If you don't see the above icon for the 'Sky Sports Box Office' private channel at the end of your list of installed apps, go to Settings > System > System update > Check now on your Roku device and, once you see the on-screen message saying "Your Roku player software is up to date", simply press "OK" followed by the "Home" button on your Roku remote, to return to the main menu. From there... press the 'RIGHT' directional arrowhead key once, followed by a single press of the 'UP' directional arrowhead key, via your Roku remote and you should then see the 'Sky Sports Box Office' private channel sitting at the end of your list of installed Roku channels ready to be launched! ;-) :-)
While that's all well and good for those with genuine Roku-branded products in the UK, as opposed to their (much) lesser Roku-Powered™ equivalents from NowTV, the process is far less complicated for those using the bargain basement (where you get what you pay for, with less than 45 apps in total) NowTV-branded devices for which the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app (itself) can be easily installed by simply navigating (from the "Home" screen) to the NOW TV "App Store" then scrolling down to the "News, Weather, Sport" category, wherein (once selected/highlighted) you need only press the "OK" button on the NowTV remote and reveal an option to "Add app" to the list of "My apps" that can be found in the main menu of the "Home" screen on all NOW TV devices. For ease of reference, the app icon used in the "App Store" on NowTV-branded products is the same as the one (shown above) for the Roku private channel icon and, even if you opt to trawl through all forty-three "Most Popular" apps (instead of eleven in the "News, Weather, Sport" genre, per my previous suggestion) it won't be too long before you come across the relevant image and can proceed to install the app as instructed.
PURCHASING THE EVENT
Regardless of whether you plan to watch the fight on a Roku player (via the "private" channel) or on a NowTV-branded device (via the equivalent 'Sky Sports Box Office' app), once you have performed the necessary steps to install the app (or, "channel", as Roku refer to them) on your device, you need to make sure that you go online and purchase the fight (preferably) no later than midnight on Friday 21st December 2018 (i.e. the day before the event) to ensure that everything is in place (and in good time) ahead of the boxing, which begins from 6pm on Saturday 22nd December 2018 with the full undercard. It is important that you visit this webpage to purchase the event for streaming on Roku players, NOW TV devices, or other online platforms (i.e. mobile phones, tablets, desktop browsers, etc.) and not via the other 'Sky Sports Box Office' webpage, which is for those who intend to watch through Sky (satellite) or Virgin Media (cable) and does not include access for online streaming. Here is a screenshot of the relevant webpage from the 'NeuLion' website (as per the link above) so you know what to look for:-
AS PREVIOUSLY:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
Once you click on the red button, marked "BUY EVENT" in the image above, you'll be redirected to another webpage whereupon you must either register to set-up a new 'Sky Sports Box Office' account (if you don't yet have one) or "SIGN IN" (if you are an existing 'Sky Sports Box Office' customer) to complete your purchase of this Pay-Per-View (PPV) event and enable it to be live-streamed via your chosen platform come the day of the fight. For ease of reference, here is an image of the relevant page from the website (reached by clicking the red "BUY EVENT" button) so you know what to look for:-
HINT: Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
From there, if you are a new customer still needing to "Create Your Account" for use with this and any future 'Sky Sports Box Office' events which you may purchase, simply complete all fields in the registration form (clicking in the relevant check boxes, as necessary, to confirm that you are aware of the privacy and cookies notice plus accept all the T&C's) then click the red "SIGN UP" button at the bottom right of the page, and progress to the next step of the registration process, so you can provide "Your Payment Details" prior to the final stage in which you'll need to "Confirm Your Purchase" for the right to stream the entire Whyte vs. Chisora 2 boxing event (incl. the full undercard). Anyone who has previously set up an account with 'Sky Sports Box Office' (i.e. an existing customer who already has a valid email and password with which to "SIGN IN" and complete their purchase) can scroll down the page and click the link (on the bottom left) to continue, as per the screenshot below:-
ONCE AGAIN:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
As you might expect, when clicking the link to "SIGN IN" as indicated above, you will be redirected to another webpage which is specifically for existing customers (who already have an account set-up) to log-in (with the same email and password originally used to sign-up) and confirm their purchase of the Whyte vs. Chisora 2 boxing event (incl. full undercard). For ease of reference, here's a screenshot of the relevant webpage (reached by clicking the "SIGN IN" link) so that you know what to look for:-
AS BEFORE:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
Having entered the necessary credentials (i.e. email and password) associated with your account, you need only click on the red "CONTINUE" button underneath to progress to the next step, in which you will verify "Your Payment Details", before you "Confirm Your Purchase" to complete the process! :-)
At this point, regardless of whether you are a new or existing 'Sky Sports Box Office' customer, you will know the cost of this Pay-Per-View (PPV) event having now completed your purchase. For ease of reference, however, I'm also going to include details of the pricing as part of this article:-
AS PREVIOUSLY:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
The event is priced at £19.95 for UK customers, or €24.95 for Republic of Ireland customers, and will appear on your debit/credit card statement as a payment to "Sky Box Office" - even though it's all booked through the 'NeuLion' website. While it may seem quite expensive, your purchase includes two repeat screenings (of the full duration) shown at 9.00am and 4pm on Sunday 23rd December and up to seven days of "on-demand" access to the full evening's card after the promotion has taken place.
Better yet, thanks to recent changes in EU legislation which mean streaming services like NOW TV, Netflix and Prime Video can be enjoyed by UK citizens across multiple European destinations, those who have purchased this event within the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland (ROI) can also use their devices to access content from 'Sky Sports Box Office' while "roaming" around much of Europe. So if you're going to be elsewhere on the night of the fight, or during the seven days which follow it, then (provided you purchase the event before you leave the UK or ROI for your holiday or whatever) you can watch 'Sky Sports Box Office' in any of the EU countries listed below:-
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal (including Azores and Madeira)
- Republic of Ireland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain (including the Canary Islands)
- Sweden
However, you will not be able to watch 'Sky Sports Box Office' while "roaming" in non-EU countries throughout Europe, or in any other countries outside Europe. Some of the European countries where roaming is not available include: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Other than that, you don't need to do anything differently when watching 'Sky Sports Box Office' outside of the UK or Republic of Ireland. Just make sure, before you begin "roaming" in Europe, that the country you will be in is covered (see list above) and then start watching on any of the supported platforms (i.e. Roku players, NOW TV devices, iOS or Android mobile devices, plus PC / Mac, etc.) when you arrive (as well as during your stay) at your chosen European destination. Normally there is a 30-day period for viewing UK-specific streaming services around Europe, before needing to sign-in again from within the United Kingdom or ROI to maintain access to the content. However, since this PPV event only allows "on-demand" access for "up to seven days" after the event, you are not in any danger of exceeding that particular limitation. Although, that said, any subsequent PPV events which you intend to watch while abroad must also be purchased within the UK or Republic of Ireland (ROI) so do bear that in mind if you are planning to be outside your home country for an extended period.
IMPORTANT NOTE:- You will not be able to sign up for a 'Sky Sports Box Office' account, or buy the event, when "roaming" across Europe. All fight passes must be purchased while in the UK or the Republic of Ireland (ROI), using a payment card issued in the United Kingdom or ROI and registered to your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account. Provided you meet these criteria and are aged 18 or over, living in the UK (including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands) or the Republic of Ireland, you can view the fight from any of the eligible European countries (outlined above) without restrictions! :-D
When the time of the fight comes around, starting from 6pm on Saturday 22nd December 2018, it'll be your choice as to whether you watch via a Roku player, NowTV-branded device (i.e. NowTV Box, NowTV Smart Box, or NowTV Smart Stick), the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app on your mobile device / tablet, or the dedicated website provided by 'NeuLion' for the purpose of streaming this event. Having said that, because this article is (mainly) intended for users of Roku streaming media players and/or those with NowTV-branded products, I'm going to concentrate on the procedure for signing-in to the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app (which is the same for both the Roku private channel version and the one for NOW TV devices) which, let's face it, are more likely to provide a far better viewing experience (by watching on your TV) than you would get by staring at the screen of a mobile phone or tablet! ;-)
Unless you have already signed-in to the app (e.g. if you downloaded it to watch another PPV event on a previous occasion) then, when you first launch the Roku private channel (or the NOW TV app), following the 'Splash Screen' - no more than a brief glimpse of the 'Sky Sports Box Office' logo - you will be presented with the main 'Sign In' screen, as pictured below:-
Other than that, you don't need to do anything differently when watching 'Sky Sports Box Office' outside of the UK or Republic of Ireland. Just make sure, before you begin "roaming" in Europe, that the country you will be in is covered (see list above) and then start watching on any of the supported platforms (i.e. Roku players, NOW TV devices, iOS or Android mobile devices, plus PC / Mac, etc.) when you arrive (as well as during your stay) at your chosen European destination. Normally there is a 30-day period for viewing UK-specific streaming services around Europe, before needing to sign-in again from within the United Kingdom or ROI to maintain access to the content. However, since this PPV event only allows "on-demand" access for "up to seven days" after the event, you are not in any danger of exceeding that particular limitation. Although, that said, any subsequent PPV events which you intend to watch while abroad must also be purchased within the UK or Republic of Ireland (ROI) so do bear that in mind if you are planning to be outside your home country for an extended period.
IMPORTANT NOTE:- You will not be able to sign up for a 'Sky Sports Box Office' account, or buy the event, when "roaming" across Europe. All fight passes must be purchased while in the UK or the Republic of Ireland (ROI), using a payment card issued in the United Kingdom or ROI and registered to your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account. Provided you meet these criteria and are aged 18 or over, living in the UK (including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands) or the Republic of Ireland, you can view the fight from any of the eligible European countries (outlined above) without restrictions! :-D
HINT:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
When the time of the fight comes around, starting from 6pm on Saturday 22nd December 2018, it'll be your choice as to whether you watch via a Roku player, NowTV-branded device (i.e. NowTV Box, NowTV Smart Box, or NowTV Smart Stick), the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app on your mobile device / tablet, or the dedicated website provided by 'NeuLion' for the purpose of streaming this event. Having said that, because this article is (mainly) intended for users of Roku streaming media players and/or those with NowTV-branded products, I'm going to concentrate on the procedure for signing-in to the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app (which is the same for both the Roku private channel version and the one for NOW TV devices) which, let's face it, are more likely to provide a far better viewing experience (by watching on your TV) than you would get by staring at the screen of a mobile phone or tablet! ;-)
Unless you have already signed-in to the app (e.g. if you downloaded it to watch another PPV event on a previous occasion) then, when you first launch the Roku private channel (or the NOW TV app), following the 'Splash Screen' - no more than a brief glimpse of the 'Sky Sports Box Office' logo - you will be presented with the main 'Sign In' screen, as pictured below:-
ONCE AGAIN:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
With the invitation to "SIGN IN" already highlighted (by default) in red, if you then press the "OK" button on your Roku / NowTV remote, the next screen to appear (having pressed the "OK" button) will be the in-app 'Settings' menu, which can be identified using the screenshot shown below:-
Again you will notice that, as per the above image, a further invitation to "SIGN IN" has already been highlighted (by default) in red. So, if you then press the "OK" button on your Roku / NowTV remote, the next screen to appear (after pressing the "OK" button) will be the actual 'Sign In' menu, which can also be readily identified using this additional screenshot image which I am providing for you:-
Once more you can see, from the screenshot I have provided above, that another area of the screen has already been highlighted (by default) in red. This time, it is for you to enter the details for your "EMAIL ADDRESS" but you will (again) need to press the "OK" button on your Roku / NowTV remote (once more) so that the on-screen keyboard appears. Having done so, you should then see the following displayed across your television screen:-
At this point I would advise making use of the official Roku mobile apps for either iOS (i.e. Apple) or Android mobile devices to type-in the necessary details because, while it is still (technically) possible to use the directional arrow keys (i.e. Up, Down, Left and Right) of a Roku / NowTV remote to pick the individual characters needed to complete your email address, you will find it a much quicker and infinitely better experience by taking advantage of the touch-screen keyboard which has been built-in to the 'Remote' section (accessed via the down arrow icon) of the Roku mobile app(s) to perform this particular task. For ease of reference, here are some links to the individual Roku mobile apps for each platform, so users of either iOS (Apple) mobile devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, etc.) or Android (Google) phones and tablets can go directly to the relevant free download for their chosen device(s):-
FREE DOWNLOAD OF ROKU APP FOR iOS (Apple) DEVICES (Requires iOS 8.0 or later)
PLUS
FREE DOWNLOAD OF ROKU APP FOR ANDROID DEVICES (Requirements vary by device)
PLEASE REMEMBER:- That the above links are for the official 'Roku' mobile apps, intended for use with genuine Roku-branded media players, although they do offer some (limited) functionality if used with NowTV-branded products. However, as far as the 'Remote' screen goes, the apps are functional across both Roku and NOW TV streaming products... so you shouldn't have any bother using them to take advantage of their touch-screen keyboard(s) on either platform. Either way, it's going to be a lot easier typing-in your credentials with these apps than the "peck & click" alternative of the remote! ;-)
Anyway, once you have finished entering your email address, the next step is to 'click' the "SUBMIT" button by selecting it from the on-screen keyboard (with either the app, or your physical remote) and then repeat a similar process by first selecting (and thereby highlighting) the "PASSWORD" field so you can (again) bring-up the on-screen keyboard to enter your password which, like the email address you just entered, should be the one associated with your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account and not from the credentials used to sign-in to either your email account, or your Roku / NOW TV account! If you make a mistake and enter the wrong details, you can always go back and change them - so there's no need to panic if you failed to remember which email address you used for 'Sky Sports Box Office'.
Having entered both the "EMAIL ADDRESS" and "PASSWORD" associated with your 'Box Office' account, you then select the black "SIGN IN" button (with either the app, or your physical remote) to complete the process of logging-in to your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account via the app(s) for either the Roku private channel or the equivalent NOW TV app. With the 'Sign In' process now complete, you are ready to enjoy all of the boxing action by streaming it on your big screen television! :-D
IMPORTANT NOTE:- You won't require any of the NOW TV 'Sky Sports' passes in order to view 'Sky Sports Box Office' events, because live-streaming boxing promotions of this sort aren't included with any of the 'Sky Sports' channels, and having been bought separately through an online purchase (as outlined above) there is no further payment necessary in order to enjoy these PPV events. Having said that, if you've bought the fight (ahead of time) and then changed your mind, you can always send an email and 'Contact NeuLion Support' about requesting a refund of any costs incurred in so-doing.
In terms of the actual streaming requirements to watch PPV events via the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app(s) for Roku Players and/or NOW TV devices, a MINIMUM 2.5Mbps broadband download speed is recommended but, from personal experience, I would advise having two or three times that speed at your disposal. Ideally, try to keep other internet-enabled devices disconnected from your wireless and/or wired network(s) and if need be switched-off altogether, where possible, to help maximise the opportunity for interruption-free and (hopefully) buffer-less streaming of your purchased PPV event.
Should you run into any difficulty ahead of "fight night", then a simple email message to the helpful folks at 'NeuLion Support' might be enough to resolve any issue(s) you are having. However, if you have problems when live streaming the fight itself, you will be better-off connecting with one of their dedicated 'Whyte v Chisora' Digital Customer Support team through the 'Live Chat' function which is available once you've signed-in to your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account via their official website.
PLEASE NOTE:- That the Sky Contact Centre Customer Service staff are unable to support and resolve technical issues with online streaming of the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app - all queries about this service must use the 'Live Chat' function, via the website, or E-mail NeuLion Support for help!
Of course, you could (instead) choose to log-in and watch the fight(s) via an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet, and (if need be) your Laptop Computer, Desktop PC, Apple Mac Computer, or other compatible browser-enabled device, but it's important to NOTE THAT:- you can only stream events on one device at a time so, if you wish to start watching on your Roku player or NOW TV device and then switch to the iOS or Android app (e.g. if you need to pop-out for a bit) then you will be required to sign-out of one platform before you can begin watching on another. In other words, you won't be able to watch via two separate apps and/or platforms in parallel... and can only view via one at a time (i.e. on a Roku Player or NOW TV Box or the iOS app or the Android app or via Desktop Browser).
To make life easier, I recommend that you download the relevant 'Sky Sports Box Office' app(s) for any compatible devices that you may own ahead of time so that you are well-prepared (in advance) if a situation arises on "fight night" that may require you to switch from your preferred platform. To wit, I am also including the links to individual 'Sky Sports Box Office' mobile apps for each platform, so users of either iOS (Apple) mobile devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, etc.) or Android (Google) phones and tablets can go directly to the relevant free download for their chosen device(s):-
FREE DOWNLOAD OF SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE APP FOR iOS (Apple) DEVICES
(n.b. like the 'Roku' mobile app, this requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone or iPad)
PLUS
FREE DOWNLOAD OF SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE APP FOR ANDROID DEVICES
(n.b. this requires Android 4.4 (KitKat) or later and is compatible with both phones and tablets)
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Always be sure to have the most up-to-date version of the app running on your device to ensure the best possible experience when streaming Pay-Per-View (PPV) events via these 'Sky Sports Box Office' mobile apps. If you do run into any problems, with either of these apps, then please try the following steps to resolve any issue(s) you may be experiencing:-
ALSO:- It's probably worth noting you will not be able to purchase any PPV events through either of these 'Sky Sports Box Office' mobile apps... so ALL payments and sign-ups to this streaming service can only take place through the link provided for the 'NeuLion' website earlier in this article.
Lastly, you can always sign-in and stream this PPV event on the same website that you first visited to purchase it (see link above) if you are unable to watch via the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app(s) for iOS or Android mobile devices; or access the stream on your Roku Player / NOW TV Box / Smart Stick. You will also find some 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ's) at www.skysports.com/boxofficehelp
which is worth a visit for more info about 'Sky Sports Box Office' streaming, as well as how to book. Another useful link, worth bookmarking for PPV events of this nature, is this 'Hail, Mary!' option in the form of a 'Sky Sports Pubfinder' web application which could well come in handy if all else fails. You could even speak to your local pub and find out if it will be possible to watch the event there!?!
At least by doing that you will have saved yourself twenty quid (with no need to purchase the event) and can put it towards a few drinks while you enjoy the fight on the big screen at your local boozer. Then again, with the price of pub drinks these days, it might actually be cheaper to get a few beers in and buy the event through 'Sky Sports Box Office' to enjoy from the comfort of your living room! :-D
Meanwhile as for the main event, judging by the statistics for the two boxers, it looks like Dillian Whyte might have a slight advantage (at least on paper) so it will be interesting to see if they go the distance (i.e. a full twelve rounds) against each other, or if one can find that knockout punch! :-O ;-)
Either way, let's hope it's a good clean fight... and "may the best man win", as the saying goes. Let's also pray 'NeuLion' have managed to iron-out all the kinks in their original 'Sky Box Office' app for NOW TV devices and that this latest incarnation of the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app performs as well as a private channel on UK Roku devices as it has on NowTV Smart Box / NowTV Smart Stick in recent times. I'm really glad to be watching these Pay-Per-View (PPV) events on my Roku device(s) now (as opposed to my NOW TV devices) but I'd be interested to hear how the new Roku private channel compares with your experience(s) of 'Sky Sports Box Office' PPV events on NowTV-branded products, if this is your first time on Roku. So, if you do happen to purchase this event and watch on Roku (as opposed to a NOW TV device) please consider leaving a comment at the end of this post (after the event has finished) to let other readers know of any pro's and con's you might have found.
Thanks, as always, for reading and continuing to support this blog.
It's much appreciated! ;-) :-)
Again you will notice that, as per the above image, a further invitation to "SIGN IN" has already been highlighted (by default) in red. So, if you then press the "OK" button on your Roku / NowTV remote, the next screen to appear (after pressing the "OK" button) will be the actual 'Sign In' menu, which can also be readily identified using this additional screenshot image which I am providing for you:-
Once more you can see, from the screenshot I have provided above, that another area of the screen has already been highlighted (by default) in red. This time, it is for you to enter the details for your "EMAIL ADDRESS" but you will (again) need to press the "OK" button on your Roku / NowTV remote (once more) so that the on-screen keyboard appears. Having done so, you should then see the following displayed across your television screen:-
At this point I would advise making use of the official Roku mobile apps for either iOS (i.e. Apple) or Android mobile devices to type-in the necessary details because, while it is still (technically) possible to use the directional arrow keys (i.e. Up, Down, Left and Right) of a Roku / NowTV remote to pick the individual characters needed to complete your email address, you will find it a much quicker and infinitely better experience by taking advantage of the touch-screen keyboard which has been built-in to the 'Remote' section (accessed via the down arrow icon) of the Roku mobile app(s) to perform this particular task. For ease of reference, here are some links to the individual Roku mobile apps for each platform, so users of either iOS (Apple) mobile devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, etc.) or Android (Google) phones and tablets can go directly to the relevant free download for their chosen device(s):-
FREE DOWNLOAD OF ROKU APP FOR iOS (Apple) DEVICES (Requires iOS 8.0 or later)
PLUS
FREE DOWNLOAD OF ROKU APP FOR ANDROID DEVICES (Requirements vary by device)
PLEASE REMEMBER:- That the above links are for the official 'Roku' mobile apps, intended for use with genuine Roku-branded media players, although they do offer some (limited) functionality if used with NowTV-branded products. However, as far as the 'Remote' screen goes, the apps are functional across both Roku and NOW TV streaming products... so you shouldn't have any bother using them to take advantage of their touch-screen keyboard(s) on either platform. Either way, it's going to be a lot easier typing-in your credentials with these apps than the "peck & click" alternative of the remote! ;-)
Anyway, once you have finished entering your email address, the next step is to 'click' the "SUBMIT" button by selecting it from the on-screen keyboard (with either the app, or your physical remote) and then repeat a similar process by first selecting (and thereby highlighting) the "PASSWORD" field so you can (again) bring-up the on-screen keyboard to enter your password which, like the email address you just entered, should be the one associated with your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account and not from the credentials used to sign-in to either your email account, or your Roku / NOW TV account! If you make a mistake and enter the wrong details, you can always go back and change them - so there's no need to panic if you failed to remember which email address you used for 'Sky Sports Box Office'.
Having entered both the "EMAIL ADDRESS" and "PASSWORD" associated with your 'Box Office' account, you then select the black "SIGN IN" button (with either the app, or your physical remote) to complete the process of logging-in to your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account via the app(s) for either the Roku private channel or the equivalent NOW TV app. With the 'Sign In' process now complete, you are ready to enjoy all of the boxing action by streaming it on your big screen television! :-D
IMPORTANT NOTE:- You won't require any of the NOW TV 'Sky Sports' passes in order to view 'Sky Sports Box Office' events, because live-streaming boxing promotions of this sort aren't included with any of the 'Sky Sports' channels, and having been bought separately through an online purchase (as outlined above) there is no further payment necessary in order to enjoy these PPV events. Having said that, if you've bought the fight (ahead of time) and then changed your mind, you can always send an email and 'Contact NeuLion Support' about requesting a refund of any costs incurred in so-doing.
In terms of the actual streaming requirements to watch PPV events via the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app(s) for Roku Players and/or NOW TV devices, a MINIMUM 2.5Mbps broadband download speed is recommended but, from personal experience, I would advise having two or three times that speed at your disposal. Ideally, try to keep other internet-enabled devices disconnected from your wireless and/or wired network(s) and if need be switched-off altogether, where possible, to help maximise the opportunity for interruption-free and (hopefully) buffer-less streaming of your purchased PPV event.
Should you run into any difficulty ahead of "fight night", then a simple email message to the helpful folks at 'NeuLion Support' might be enough to resolve any issue(s) you are having. However, if you have problems when live streaming the fight itself, you will be better-off connecting with one of their dedicated 'Whyte v Chisora' Digital Customer Support team through the 'Live Chat' function which is available once you've signed-in to your 'Sky Sports Box Office' account via their official website.
PLEASE NOTE:- That the Sky Contact Centre Customer Service staff are unable to support and resolve technical issues with online streaming of the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app - all queries about this service must use the 'Live Chat' function, via the website, or E-mail NeuLion Support for help!
Of course, you could (instead) choose to log-in and watch the fight(s) via an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet, and (if need be) your Laptop Computer, Desktop PC, Apple Mac Computer, or other compatible browser-enabled device, but it's important to NOTE THAT:- you can only stream events on one device at a time so, if you wish to start watching on your Roku player or NOW TV device and then switch to the iOS or Android app (e.g. if you need to pop-out for a bit) then you will be required to sign-out of one platform before you can begin watching on another. In other words, you won't be able to watch via two separate apps and/or platforms in parallel... and can only view via one at a time (i.e. on a Roku Player or NOW TV Box or the iOS app or the Android app or via Desktop Browser).
To make life easier, I recommend that you download the relevant 'Sky Sports Box Office' app(s) for any compatible devices that you may own ahead of time so that you are well-prepared (in advance) if a situation arises on "fight night" that may require you to switch from your preferred platform. To wit, I am also including the links to individual 'Sky Sports Box Office' mobile apps for each platform, so users of either iOS (Apple) mobile devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, etc.) or Android (Google) phones and tablets can go directly to the relevant free download for their chosen device(s):-
FREE DOWNLOAD OF SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE APP FOR iOS (Apple) DEVICES
(n.b. like the 'Roku' mobile app, this requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone or iPad)
PLUS
FREE DOWNLOAD OF SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE APP FOR ANDROID DEVICES
(n.b. this requires Android 4.4 (KitKat) or later and is compatible with both phones and tablets)
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Always be sure to have the most up-to-date version of the app running on your device to ensure the best possible experience when streaming Pay-Per-View (PPV) events via these 'Sky Sports Box Office' mobile apps. If you do run into any problems, with either of these apps, then please try the following steps to resolve any issue(s) you may be experiencing:-
- Exit the Sky Sports Box Office application;
- Delete the app;
- Power cycle your device (i.e. turn it off, and then back on again);
- Re-install the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app from either the iTunes (Apple) or Google Play Store;
- If need be, test the app on cellular and Wi-Fi (making sure 'Location Services' are turned on).
Failing that, if you still need assistance or have any additional questions, contact NeuLion Support.
ALSO:- It's probably worth noting you will not be able to purchase any PPV events through either of these 'Sky Sports Box Office' mobile apps... so ALL payments and sign-ups to this streaming service can only take place through the link provided for the 'NeuLion' website earlier in this article.
Lastly, you can always sign-in and stream this PPV event on the same website that you first visited to purchase it (see link above) if you are unable to watch via the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app(s) for iOS or Android mobile devices; or access the stream on your Roku Player / NOW TV Box / Smart Stick. You will also find some 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ's) at www.skysports.com/boxofficehelp
which is worth a visit for more info about 'Sky Sports Box Office' streaming, as well as how to book. Another useful link, worth bookmarking for PPV events of this nature, is this 'Hail, Mary!' option in the form of a 'Sky Sports Pubfinder' web application which could well come in handy if all else fails. You could even speak to your local pub and find out if it will be possible to watch the event there!?!
At least by doing that you will have saved yourself twenty quid (with no need to purchase the event) and can put it towards a few drinks while you enjoy the fight on the big screen at your local boozer. Then again, with the price of pub drinks these days, it might actually be cheaper to get a few beers in and buy the event through 'Sky Sports Box Office' to enjoy from the comfort of your living room! :-D
Meanwhile as for the main event, judging by the statistics for the two boxers, it looks like Dillian Whyte might have a slight advantage (at least on paper) so it will be interesting to see if they go the distance (i.e. a full twelve rounds) against each other, or if one can find that knockout punch! :-O ;-)
Either way, let's hope it's a good clean fight... and "may the best man win", as the saying goes. Let's also pray 'NeuLion' have managed to iron-out all the kinks in their original 'Sky Box Office' app for NOW TV devices and that this latest incarnation of the 'Sky Sports Box Office' app performs as well as a private channel on UK Roku devices as it has on NowTV Smart Box / NowTV Smart Stick in recent times. I'm really glad to be watching these Pay-Per-View (PPV) events on my Roku device(s) now (as opposed to my NOW TV devices) but I'd be interested to hear how the new Roku private channel compares with your experience(s) of 'Sky Sports Box Office' PPV events on NowTV-branded products, if this is your first time on Roku. So, if you do happen to purchase this event and watch on Roku (as opposed to a NOW TV device) please consider leaving a comment at the end of this post (after the event has finished) to let other readers know of any pro's and con's you might have found.
Thanks, as always, for reading and continuing to support this blog.
It's much appreciated! ;-) :-)
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