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I like both soccer and baseball. Can’t stand (American) football. Lately getting into rugby and…cricket.
I find it a little unusual that you’re getting into rugby but can’t stand American football, since American football is a gridiron game, which is derived from rugby. I’m guessing that there’s something about the play style that’s different, and that’s why you prefer rugby? I can understand getting into cricket, there’s something about the athleticism of test matches that’s pretty impressive. Even if you’re not running full blast every minute of play, test cricket is basically a full time job, at least for the test weeks.
 
Meh... I'd much rather watch a baseball game than a soccer match. Soccer is just sooooo boring. But at least they will have a great Ted Lasso tie-in.
Well, at least with soccer half the game isn't spent watching a player adjust his gloves, his helmet, his elbow guard, spit, scratch his balls, and check his email before every pitch. In contrast, the action is nearly constant in soccer.
 
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I find it a little unusual that you’re getting into rugby but can’t stand American football, since American football is a gridiron game, which is derived from rugby. I’m guessing that there’s something about the play style that’s different, and that’s why you prefer rugby? I can understand getting into cricket, there’s something about the athleticism of test matches that’s pretty impressive. Even if you’re not running full blast every minute of play, test cricket is basically a full time job, at least for the test weeks.
I find American football… slow. Full of interruptions that slow down the pace. Then you have offense and defense teams that keep switching. In rugby you don’t have as many interruptions and the players are virtually the same for the whole match (I believe up to 8 subs in the entire game) I don’t know how to explain it, American football just doesn’t click with me. Ultimately not a big deal, people like different things.
 
Interesting. NYCFC has an exclusive contract with Yes Network. I wonder if that's expiring this year.

Kinda lame that the only way to watch every game of your favorite team is to pay a separate subscription. Good luck growing the sport that way (yes I know it's huge around the world, not in the US)
As an NYCFC fan this was my first initial thought. The plus about this is the no blackout in local markets but how many people are gonna want to sign up for another streaming service for this. Like you said football (soccer) in the US isn’t as big as other countries so it’s tough to grow the sport when it’s only available to watch in one place.
 
Well, with soccer, at least half the game isn't watching a player adjust his gloves, his helmet, his elbow guard, spit, scratch his balls, and check his email before every pitch. In contrast, the action is nearly constant in soccer.
You forgot the spit.
I don’t think that sports that are so different should be compared this way. Baseball is basically a duel, with a supporting team. Soccer is a full fledged team sport. Different beasts. It’s like comparing Scrabble and Chess.
 
I find American football… slow. Full of interruptions that slow down the pace. Then you have offense and defense teams that keep switching. In rugby you don’t have as many interruptions and the players are virtually the same for the whole match (I believe up to 8 subs in the entire game) I don’t know how to explain it, American football just doesn’t click with me. Ultimately not a big deal, people like different things.
Nah, I totally understand what you’re saying. Rugby has a much faster rate of play than football, less downtime. I have yet to see a pro hockey or pro (American)* football game in person, but I can imagine that the high degree of stoppages of play in football leave it feeling more like baseball than basketball. (I’ve seen college football, but pretty much the only college football games I’ve seen were while I was in the marching band, so I was part of the downtime entertainment.)

* I saw an MLS game, NYCFC vs Boston, last summer in person. So yes, that’s a clarifying statement I need to make!

Edit: Downtime entertainment is an issue when watching games on TV. I generally don’t do sports on my own but enjoy participating in and watching them as part of a social activity. I’ve noticed that, in person, most pro sports have a lot of lights and sounds (not to mention, the cheering fans), and then there’s the food and drink. Watching on TV by myself is something I’d only do if I’m really into the team and they’re doing well. And, even then, that’s being motivated by a social factor (the desire to share the experience with other fans).
 
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You seem to ignore that football (a.k.a. soccer) is by far the most popular sport all over the world.
I do hope that the feed will be available to all non-US viewers too.
I mean no disrespect to your opinion, though. It is all just a matter of taste and were you grow up.
:)
Football is the most popular sport in the world, but MLS is certainly not even close. It was low hanging fruit for apple.
 
Well, with soccer, at least half the game isn't watching a player adjust his gloves, his helmet, his elbow guard, spit, scratch his balls, and check his email before every pitch. In contrast, the action is nearly constant in soccer.

Fair..

But it’s also fair that there is just a ton of nothing going on in MLS games also…

And of course the obligatory “people crying on the ground” about an injustice that may not even have occurred.
 
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Curious to see the cost. I pay $130 a year for MLB.tv to follow my childhood team now that I have moved away. Even at $130 games can still get blacked out. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, this will encourage other leagues to look at blackout restrictions.
 
Called it.

Broadcasting European football (soccer) would be great but where Apple could make a difference is going for broke and embracing MLS and being the backer with deep pockets that would help it grow. I could even see a Ted Lasso tie in. After season 3, Ted Lasso returns to the US and coaches an MLS team, launching Apple TV+'s Major League Soccer broadcast.

And it turns out, MLS is shopping media rights: https://frontofficesports.com/mls-looking-for-300m-media-rights-deal/

Then there are people who can't see the strategy....

MLS? Joking, right? People want major football not some lame minor league. The PL is covered by NBC and definitely will stay so La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga are the leftovers.

How'd you like them 's. 👀
 
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As an MLS fan this is amazing news! Especially because I have experienced not being able to watch my own team because the game is blacked out locally...even when I have paid for every available service I can to watch games! It's been a huge mess for years trying to find where I can watch a game. I welcome this being centralized with Apple and hopefully it provides a better experience to watch any MLS game I want.

To all of you complaining about "MLS" and the old tired argument of "soccer is boring"...if you don't like it or even follow it then I wouldn't expect you to care or understand. Soccer has a huge following in America that is steadily rising thanks to MLS. Some get it, some don't.
 
So far Apple TV+'s sports have been very US-centered. Would be interesting to see them pick up a major European competition. Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Eredivisie come to mind.
Well, Apple is a US based company. I wouldn’t be surprised if their first big forays into international sports are some sort of deal with the NBA or the NHL, since those are both sports with some regional popularity abroad (and the NBA is a huge sport in the states) and they’re both the top leagues globally for those sports.
 
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