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

[concise]

They got 250 billion guaranteed so they aren’t as worried about the rights fee. This is for the access you and others are worked up about.

You won’t have to go through the app. No offense but if you aren’t going to go through the effort of knowing the deal what’s the point of making a case here?

Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023

Apple and Major League Soccer announced that the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every live MLS match beginning in 2023.

www.apple.com

From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app.


Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.

the post you quoted

Why would linear partners do anything but lowball the league now that they know they have to go through Apple 1st for the games? Games on linear are going to be reduced significantly.

And there are gonna be free games on the app? So you still have to download another app or check the website just to see if there's a free game. Sounds like a great strategy.

Where am I wrong? I pulled this straight from Apple's press release and referenced it in my post.

 

[The ADD]

Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023

Apple and Major League Soccer announced that the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every live MLS match beginning in 2023.

www.apple.com

From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app.


Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.

the post you quoted


Where am I wrong? I pulled this straight from Apple's press release and referenced it in my post.

“Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.”

Not the app^^^ Somehow scrolling through the cable guide to find a game when the start times vary is harder than going to a website. Sure…..

Seems like your argument is to keep everything on cable and take less upside and revenue.

 

[concise]

They got 250 billion guaranteed so they aren’t as worried about the rights fee. This is for the access you and others are worked up about.

You won’t have to go through the app. No offense but if you aren’t going to go through the effort of knowing the deal what’s the point of making a case here?

Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023/


From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app.


Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.

Why would linear partners do anything but lowball the league now that they know they have to go through Apple 1st for the games? Games on linear are going to be reduced significantly.

And there are gonna be free games on the app? So you still have to download another app or check the website just to see if there's a free game. Sounds like a great strategy.

Where am I wrong? I pulled this straight from Apple's press release and referenced it in my post.

“Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.”

Not the app^^^

Seems like your argument is to keep everything on cable and take less upside and revenue.

"check the website" is right there in my post.



Keep everything on cable?

So you augment it, not scrap it completely.

And you're talking about me skipping points.

 

[badboys11]

I don't watch soccer much but it was a sport I could leave on the TV for background noise in the summer. Way to kill off potential interest in your league MLS.

Somebody really needs to develop a major league women's beach volleyball league

 

[Windows 91]

Not being subject to blackouts seems pretty nice. I wish MLB.tv was like that. I can't watch my local team due to blackouts and YoutubeTV doesn't have Bally Sports, so I have no way to watch them unless they're on national TV. And the Diamondbacks ain't NEVER on national TV for obvious reasons

 

[The ADD]

Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023/


From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app.


Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.




Where am I wrong? I pulled this straight from Apple's press release and referenced it in my post.


"check the website" is right there in my post.



Keep everything on cable?



And you're talking about me skipping points.

My point was the app. I don’t see how going to a website to access content is this great burden.

Be that as it may:

What do you suggest they do? What deal would you craft in a realistic scenario. Honest question.

We can argue for days about access but it comes down to what’s the best deal so what would you realistically suggest?

 

[The ADD]

I don't watch soccer much but it was a sport I could leave on the TV for background noise in the summer. Way to kill off potential interest in your league MLS.

Somebody really needs to develop a major league women's beach volleyball league

Is background viewing truly interest?

 

[MoneyTron]

Good move on MLS's part IMO.

Guaranteed revenue stream and reliable viewers. They aren't the only sport to move to this model. I believe F1 is carried in Germany and UK only through subscription and while the total numbers of viewers decreased, overall revenue increased.

 

[badboys11]

Is background viewing truly interest?

No, but it can lead to an interest. I'm speaking more on young casual fans who could become interested if they watch the sport on TV.

 

[The ADD]

No, but it can lead to an interest. I'm speaking more on young casual fans who could become interested if they watch the sport on TV.

It’s like I said earlier……..That’s been the model for 27 years. That’s sitting around waiting for something that isn’t going to move the needle. I’d go further and say that “young casual” fans isn’t even a real demographic. If they aren’t involved in the sport or driven to watch by family that’s not a tangible thing.

Can’t operate a sports league that way.

 

[badboys11]

It’s like I said earlier……..That’s been the model for 27 years. That’s sitting around waiting for something that isn’t going to move the needle. I’d go further and say that “young casual” fans isn’t even a real demographic. If they aren’t involved in the sport or driven to watch by family that’s not a tangible thing.

Can’t operate a sports league that way.

Well, best of luck to you. I'm not sure how making the sport less accessible to the general public is a good idea, especially when the sport has seen incredible growth in the last 10 yrs broadcasting it's game on regular TV.

Sounds like a great move for league executives looking for a payday before they move on to better careers, but what do I know

 

[Ohene]

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

Consumer losses once again

 

[GunRanger]

Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023/


the plan is to introduce "a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app."

So, yea, an additional cost ... everybody doesn't have Apple TV, so now you're asking everybody to sign up with yet another streaming service, subject to the usual price hikes, as opposed to the convenience of just turning on your TV and finding it on.

Imagine one of the established sports leagues doing this, like the NBA Finals only available on some streaming service, the thought is just absurd ... whole league would be severely handicapping itself.

You have to pay for cable to get tnt or espn, and pay on top of that for nba tv, and you dont get every game unless you have league pass. You needed Directv only for sunday ticket. Theres no difference and apple tv is cheaper.

 

[The ADD]

It’s like I said earlier……..That’s been the model for 27 years. That’s sitting around waiting for something that isn’t going to move the needle. I’d go further and say that “young casual” fans isn’t even a real demographic. If they aren’t involved in the sport or driven to watch by family that’s not a tangible thing.

Can’t operate a sports league that way.

Well, best of luck to you. I'm not sure how making the sport less accessible to the general public is a good idea, especially when the sport has seen incredible growth in the last 10 yrs broadcasting it's game on regular TV.

Sounds like a great move for league executives looking for a payday before they move on to better careers, but what do I know

We’ll there is zero nuance in that reply

Is it tangibly less accessible to the point that you pass on an additional 146 million revenue? Cause it boils down to you saying that flat ratings are a fair trade to less revenue.

You say the sport has seen growth. Has MLS seen increased viewership over the last 8 years of the current contract? I don’t think you know that to be true. By your own admission you don’t watch more than background and that hasn’t translated to attending the game or any other revenue stream but they should pass on this deal for that demographic?

Come on guise…..

 

[badboys11]

We’ll there is zero nuance in that reply

Is it tangibly less accessible to the point that you pass on an additional 146 million revenue? Cause it boils down to you saying that flat ratings are a fair trade to less revenue.

You say the sport has seen growth. Has MLS seen increased viewership over the last 8 years of the current contract? I don’t think you know that to be true.

I don't really care honestly. Damn sure don't care enough to go back and forth. Sometimes, it's better to think out loud than post. And that's what I should've done with this thread. Best of luck to y'all soccer brehs