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Apple and Major League Soccer Launching MLS Season Pass in February 2023
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I agree with the above. The MLS-Liga MX agreement for next year is a good step forward.
Why? Then why don’t you ask the same of other providers? Only because it’s apple? Only because it’s MLS?
The reality is that Apple is paying $2.5B to a league that is finally mature enough for some prime time. And apple will spend God knows how much in advertising. We’re talking about $99 tops for a full league, and all the games without a blackouts, of which 40% of games will be totally free, all in 4K and people complain about the pricing. A damn single pay per view event for Wrestlemania is $60… but no, a bit more for 10 months of fun is too much. Jeez.
I hope that Apple gets the rights for Major League Rugby (which now would be very cheap).
And that’s the problem. This move would be very “un-Apple like” move for company that never charged for add ons for existing service, so yes, it is Apple. Everyone will riot. They expect the thing to be included with the existing subscription
If Steve Jobs was alive, he would’ve ordered the Apple TV+ people to make the MLS package free for higher tiered Apple One members.
Me, I would pay $99, but ONLY if it came with Apple TV+ for one year, which would be credited toward my Apple One premiere subscription.
(Also note, another problem with MLS going streaming only: Bars would have to now pony up for enterprise level broadband, and wiring up internet. Otherwise, huge latency problem. Yes, there is no cable or dish option. It’s 100% streaming only. And small business will likely suffer from this. This is why NFL and Apple couldn’t announce Sunday Ticket deal at now cancelled October keynote alongside new Apple TV: small business hates the streaming only deal.)
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Glad your crystal ball is telling you so.
Since you have Apple One for you it will be $79. I seriously can’t believe that someone is complaining about $79 for a full League. All of it, without any extra payment required (no need for ATV+). Unbelievable.
Don’t they have to do it already for NFL? I also don’t think that MLS is big in American bars.
We shall see.
Nobody really.
That is unless you want to include the estimated 3.5 billion people around the world who do.
Not yet. Original plan for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football was to be 100% streaming only, no satellite option for Bars. They cried foul, and NFL was forced to add satellite for bars.
NFL has ZERO plans for Satellite for next Sunday Ticket deal, it will be 100% streaming only. And bars are crying foul, hence NFL is likely going to delay any deal announcement till after new years. (Don’t know how long Apple can tolerate delays)
And MLS is growing in popularity with US viewers. Hence everyone was shocked Apple got the deal, instead of likely deal with Turner Sports and ESPN and FOX Sports. (And Apple is going to be producing the thing, and not outsourcing the production to other media companies. MLB on Apple TV+ is produced by MLB Network. And TNF on Amazon is produced by NBC Sports. This will be a first time a tech company is doing 100% of the production from start to finish, which is extremely risky. And industry rumor is Apple is planning to build a tv studio at Apple Campus………)
Actually MLS is producing with the money from the deal. Apple is the rights owner. MLS is also expecting to announce linear broadcast partnerships with your typical sports channels. Your rumor about the TV studio on Apple Campus, while maybe means something, does not appear related to MLS broadcasts, expected to take place in existing NY studios. https://theathletic.com/3736063/2022/10/27/mls-apple-tv-broadcasts/
Said the greatest of World Cup watchers in the USA. Exactly why they're making such a deal.