Major League Soccer (MLS) agrees to 10-year, $2.5 billion TV deal with Apple; MLS games will no longer be on local TV

[The ADD]

I didn't know that they are taking them away from TV. Horrible decision.

They are still close to linear deals with ESPN and Univision

 

[The ADD]

Good job making it harder for people to watch the product, guys.

Looks like I'll be watching even less than I do now.

Looks like season ticket holders will get free subs at a minimum

 

[FAH1223]

Poll added

@K-Apps @Thavoiceofthevoiceless you guys are the sports media reports of The Coli, good deal or bad deal for MLS?

 

[Miggs]

Good job making it harder for people to watch the product, guys.

Looks like I'll be watching even less than I do now.

Is that possible ?

 

[pete clemenza]

Good deal money wise but people still need to be able to watch local teams on regular television

 

[Jcotton1]

We are growing but this ain't the move. Hell I support our local squad and we have a great crowd.

 

[Serious Face]

Terrible decision imo. The league is still growing. They're depending on a small segment of the population that can afford streaming services such as AppleTV.

 

[Thavoiceofthevoiceless]

Poll added

@K-Apps @Thavoiceofthevoiceless you guys are the sports media reports of The Coli, good deal or bad deal for MLS?

Not a bad deal at all for MLS although I'm still skeptical whether sports on streaming will work long term since we're already starting to flaws with the streaming concept in general that's only going to get worse. I still think the long term success of these streaming services will depend on them being able to lock in customers long term a la what is/used to be the case with cable.

With that being said, I'd rather $250 million a year on soccer than these high budget films that aren't driving in new subscribers like that.

 

[The ADD]

Terrible decision imo. The league is still growing. They're depending on a small segment of the population that can afford streaming services such as AppleTV.

I don’t imagine the segment that can’t afford it is going to suddenly turn into soccer fans.

 

[The_Sheff]

They should at least allow local affiliates to air the local team. This is insane.

 

[THEREALBRAND]

MLS is a moneymaking Ponzi Scheme. They don’t care about growing the sport or making it more popular.

This is 100% on brand for the league.

 

[The ADD]

I don’t know that you can say it’s good or bad today but:

• They will likely have games on ESPN and Univision simulcast
• Season tickets holders will get free subs
• Most of their growth demo is probably already streaming. Like people watching the local games aren’t solely over the air users. It was on cable/streaming anyway.

I don’t think the barriers to watch are as big as people are making them. Their ratings on National games aren’t great as is so consolidating games and controlling production and content is a play to make the overall league more attractive to current fans also.

 

[twan83]

Blocking the ability to watch the home team on local television sound absolutely insane to me.

Deadline report says it won’t block local or home teams I’m confused

It will launch a new MLS streaming service via its Apple TV app. There will be no local blackouts or restrictions

Apple Scores Ten-Year Major League Soccer Deal

Apple is kicking off a major push into soccer. The streamer has landed a ten-year deal that will see fans of the top American soccer division able to watch every single game in the season as well as League Cup games. The deal will begin with the 2023 season. It marks one of the biggest […]

deadline.com

 

[The ADD]

Deadline report says it won’t block local or home teams I’m confused

Apple Scores Ten-Year Major League Soccer Deal

Apple is kicking off a major push into soccer. The streamer has landed a ten-year deal that will see fans of the top American soccer division able to watch every single game in the season as well as League Cup games. The deal will begin with the 2023 season. It marks one of the biggest […]

deadline.com

That means you can watch any game from any region where ever which wasnt the case here. In Atlanta for example local games are blocked on ESPN + when they are on the local cable affiliate.

 

[concise]

I don’t know that you can say it’s good or bad today but:

• They will likely have games on ESPN and Univision simulcast
• Season tickets holders will get free subs
• Most of their growth demo is probably already streaming. Like people watching the local games aren’t solely over the air users. It was on cable/streaming anyway.

I don’t think the barriers to watch are as big as people are making them. Their ratings on National games aren’t great as is so consolidating games and controlling production and content is a play to make the overall league more attractive to current fans also.

The ratings for national games aren't great ... so let's keep those and take away local broadcasts from everyone. How does that make sense?