Thanks for the update.
Why would restarting the casting allow it decode the problem section successfully? Is that a clue to what the problem is? Or am I misunderstanding what you mean by "section of the buffer"?
As it happens I cast two of the weekend's rugby games today and they both played through without a hiccup apart from one momentary buffering glitch. I did wonder if there had been any update to the dongle system app/software but could not see anything since last week when I was last having problems.
The video is cut into 4 second chunks, and delivered at multiple different quality levels. Your device reported that it couldn't decode one of those chunks, however that chunk plays fine for us - so we don't know why it fails. If you restart the stream at the same point, the player will be reset - there's a chance that it'll be able to play that same chunk this time, but there's also a chance that your device will attempt to use a different chunk.
I'm hoping the new logging will help me understand more about the pattern leading up to the failure. If I can understand the pattern, I may be able to work around it.
The Webview app on your phone isn't relevant to the Chromecast experience. The differences in behaviour you're seeing now aren't as a result of any changes to either Chromecast or the EE TV app - they'll most likely environmental (wifi or broadband related).
When you say crashing, what do you mean? Was an error shown on screen?
Got a text this week saying TNT Sports catch up will no longer be available in the EETV app on my Youview box (it is an older 4000T model). I can get a new box apparently but the text fails to say if that is without charge. It is also not clear if that means TNT Sports catch up will no longer be available via the app on my phone or the web site on my tablet either. Anyone able to clarify this for me?
But it does seem that I will falling back on using the HBO Max app on my Chromecast dongle and live with the faff of skipping the ad breaks or if I remember recording broadcasts of highlights on my existing Youview box. I see no point in getting a new box if it is only so I can get the HBO Max app on that.