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Apple Launches MLS Season Pass on Apple TV App Starting at $12.99 per Month
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To be fair, it's only for 7 months or so, not 12.
Point taken though, it's overpriced. If they included Premiere League, Bundesliga, La Liga, etc. along with Champions League tournaments, it might be worth it.
For me though, I stopped all subscriptions. What's the point anymore?
The point of cutting cable was it was too expensive. With all these services adding up, it's getting more expensive than cable ever was.
But it’s not $144 a year. It’s $99, or $79 if you have AppleTV+.
This price is incorrect. You didn't even need to click, it's right there in the summary ...
"Non-TV+ subscribers can pay $14.99 per month or $99 per season, whereas TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $79 per season."
The thing is though Apple saw the opportunity to get global rights which wouldn’t have been much more than just domestic rights. They obviously feel that it is worth it to offer it pretty much globally. Yeah ok outside of the USA & Canada you may not get that many people subscribing, but I’m sure they have people looking at the deal and valuing it who are better at it than you or I.
The thing though, this is just the start, so for a year or two they may need to sell the MLS on it’s own, but sooner or later they will be going for rights of other leagues like the EPL, and even the EFL who want to drop the U.K. 3pm KO blackout, as well as other sports. So I’m future you maybe getting an Apple TV+ Soccer subscription or Sports subscription.
ESPN+ would blackout local broadcasts and therefore was useless to follow your local team. $80/year for Apple TV+ subscribers is an incredible value.
NBA League pass is 14.99 monthly/49.99 a season, has blackouts and doesn't carry playoffs.
MLB.TV is 139.99 all teams / 119.99 single team a season, has blackouts and doesn't carry playoffs.
MLS Pass is 14.99 monthly (12.99 for existing appleTV subscribers) / 99 (79 for existing appleTV subscribers) a season and includes the league cup and playoffs.
Some history for non-MLS fans:
The original MLS streaming bundle was called MLS Live. It had its own app, and streamed most league games (there were local blackout restrictions and national tv restrictions) for the league's 22 teams.
Cost? $79 per season.
In 2018, ESPN+ took over MLS streaming rights. Still local blackout and national tv restrictions, and no ability to choose your local announcers (they mostly went with the home stream).
Cost? $9.99 per month. Or $99.90 per 10-month MLS Season.
Now, in 2023, MLS Season Pass has arrived, with a dedicated team of dozens of the country's best commentators passionately committed to the projects. No local blackouts. No TV restrictions. Home radio broadcast options. Spanish broadcast options. League and Leagues Cup matches for the league's 29 teams.
Cost? $79 per season. Same as in 2017.
The difference? The league's central hub for overseeing broadcasts - most local broadcasts and commentators have been below the major professional sports standard. Teams like Atlanta United and Seattle Sounders had fantastic coverage, but many teams did not. Now, they'll all receive the same quality of broadcast, with Apple's technology and innovation supporting the cause.
And they've got 10 years to grow this together.
Something tells me that, by the time this deal ends in 2033, it could really be something special.
The original MLS streaming bundle was called MLS Live. It had its own app, and streamed most league games (there were local blackout restrictions and national tv restrictions) for the league's 22 teams.
Cost? $79 per season.
In 2018, ESPN+ took over MLS streaming rights. Still local blackout and national tv restrictions, and no ability to choose your local announcers (they mostly went with the home stream).
Cost? $9.99 per month. Or $99.90 per 10-month MLS Season.
Now, in 2023, MLS Season Pass has arrived, with a dedicated team of dozens of the country's best commentators passionately committed to the projects. No local blackouts. No TV restrictions. Home radio broadcast options. Spanish broadcast options. League and Leagues Cup matches for the league's 29 teams.
Cost? $79 per season. Same as in 2017.
The difference? The league's central hub for overseeing broadcasts - most local broadcasts and commentators have been below the major professional sports standard. Teams like Atlanta United and Seattle Sounders had fantastic coverage, but many teams did not. Now, they'll all receive the same quality of broadcast, with Apple's technology and innovation supporting the cause.
And they've got 10 years to grow this together.
Something tells me that, by the time this deal ends in 2033, it could really be something special.
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At least in the US, the monthly price of aTV+ is $6.99/month.
As a potential "hack", I guess one could subscribe for a month of aTV+, then sign up for a year of MLS at $79. Then let the aTV+ subscription run out.
So $79 + $7 is $86 for a year of MLS plus one month of aTV+ versus $99 for a year of MLS as a stand-alone.
No playoffs would be a deal breaker for me. The blackouts are one thing, but no playoffs would be a no-go.
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Subscribed! As someone from Ireland, I've watched the Premier League for years. I've never followed MLS so I am looking forward to watching this. I like the docs Apple added today too.
Main reason for subscribing was being able to watch in 4k, and ease of use of the TV+ ecosystem.
I really wish Apple would add the Sports tab outside the USA, as it would improve the experience overall and it could start adding sports from my other services like Discovery+
Main reason for subscribing was being able to watch in 4k, and ease of use of the TV+ ecosystem.
I really wish Apple would add the Sports tab outside the USA, as it would improve the experience overall and it could start adding sports from my other services like Discovery+
Omg what? Apple is crazy here lmao wtf? I can pay way less than that for other service that has all kind of sports. Who in their right mind is going to pay 12 dollars a month just for the MLS? They have gone completely mad and I fully expect them to backtrack. Weren’t you people reporting the other day that Apple wanted to add the NFL games for free to Apple TV + and that was the reason they didn’t get the deal?
Apple today launched the new MLS Season Pass, with the new subscription service available to Major League Soccer fans in more than 100 countries and regions.
Available in the Apple TV app, the MLS Season Pass can be accessed on Apple devices, Smart TVs, consoles, set-top boxes, and on the web with the tv.apple.com website.
You don't need an Apple TV+ subscription to purchase the MLS Season Pass, but it's cheaper if you have one. Non-TV+ subscribers can pay $14.99 per month or $99 per season, whereas TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $79 per season.
MLS season ticket holders automatically get access to the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share the subscription using their own Apple ID and password, and fans can ask Siri a wide variety of questions related to MLS, including schedules, scores, standings, club rosters, and player stats.
The Season Pass includes every live MLS regular-season match, the playoffs, and the Leagues Cup, with no blackouts. There is also a free selection of pre-season on-demand content to get fans hyped up for the new season.
The MLS 2023 regular season begins on February 25, with the 2022 MLS Cup champions Los Angeles FC to face off against the LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl Stadium. All matches during the opening weekend will be free to watch through the Apple TV app. More information on free matches can be found by visiting the full 2023 MLS season schedule.
From Apple's press release:
When the season kicks off, fans can visit Apple Maps to explore dedicated Match Day Guides created by MLS clubs, including Atlanta United, Nashville SC, and Toronto FC, and find recommendations for local bars and restaurants to catch a game, detailed information about their stadiums, and more.
Apple Maps is also launching several new custom-designed three-dimensional landmarks of MLS Stadiums in time for the season openers, including Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey; Lumen Field in Seattle; and Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
The Season Pass is the result of a deal between Apple and Major League Soccer for a 10-year partnership. All 29 MLS clubs now have an Apple TV patch in a different color to mark the agreement.
Article Link: Apple Launches MLS Season Pass on Apple TV App Starting at $12.99 per Month
ESPN+ has blackouts. I could not watch my local MLS teams at all. With this sub, I can watch my teams.
Yeah I'm guessing because they are using the AppleTV app they'll just naturally start seeing content from AT+ and be intrigued by some of it.
Has anyone actually confirmed that this will be true 4K? I don't think any service can do 4K sports right... just upscaled 1080p. NFL on the FOX App claims "4KUHD" but it is just upscaled and doesn't even have 5.1 audio, just plain old stereo like the 1970s.
Gotcha. I misunderstood. You’re referring to a non-aTV+ subscriber getting the MLS package at $15 then adding the regular aTV+ on top for only $5 more.
I hadn’t thought of it that way at all.
Gonna finally watch some Chicago Fire I guess. I stopped watching the NFL with it paying millions to a rapist and players almost dying on the field. NFL is such a backwards, gladiator, blood sport. Hope non-Americans boycott.
& NBA is boring now with no defense played. MLB is the most boring sport on earth as well.
& NBA is boring now with no defense played. MLB is the most boring sport on earth as well.
YeaI remember those arguments and pointing out cord cutting simply meant those with premium content will charge premium prices for it; and niche niche shows would either die or also go to some type of premium subscription for content beyond basic cable.
I addition, you now need internet access to cut the cord for the privilege if having a dozen apps and no common scheduling tool.