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

[phillycavsfan]

Yeah. That would be a mistake. They have too many already. Unfortunately, I don't think we will ever see a promotion relegation system in the US.

Lower leagues have to be stronger in order to support pro/rel. Have to be sure clubs won't instantly fold or collapse once they get relegated to USL.

 

[Jcotton1]

Lower leagues have to be stronger in order to support pro/rel. Have to be sure clubs won't instantly fold or collapse once they get relegated to USL.

Yep my team I support has a staunce fan base who go super tough.

 

[The ADD]

MLS's Apple TV deal: Here's everything we know about the $2.5 billion agreement

The deal represents a big change for MLS, both in terms of revenue and options for viewers.

theathletic.com

 

[scorpino]

This is a good move and most likely the future of sports broadcasting. Imagine if the NBA had an app where you can see all the games local and out of market for $10 a month. And still maintain their presence on TNT and ESPN. It would be a dream come true instead of having to pay for cable service just to watch your local team.

 

[GunRanger]

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

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

Theres no blackouts and it shows every game. It's actually easier to watch woth this

 

[firemanBk]

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.

What kind of take is this?
The Red Bulls play on MSG
Subbing to Apple TV is way, way, way cheaper than a cable package with MSG

Also makes no sense people saying you need to jump through more hoops. It's one hoop. You just need Apple TV and you can watch all the games.

This isn't exactly the league that will turn the streaming war but I've been saying for years the real KO punch to Network TV would be a major sports league exclusively on streaming which will happen eventually

 

[Jcotton1]

This is a good move and most likely the future of sports broadcasting. Imagine if the NBA had an app where you can see all the games local and out of market for $10 a month. And still maintain their presence on TNT and ESPN. It would be a dream come true instead of having to pay for cable service just to watch your local team.

I don't mind paying for cable. That's why I pay for the MLS direct kick on direct TV. I don't own but one apple product. This one corp having a strangle hole is bad for business. I don't watch TV on a tablet or phone when I'm home.

 

[Sohh_lifted]

You forget there are a lot of foreigners currently living in the US who follow soccer?

Lol and? They still watching euro soccer or soccer from their countries, or world cup qualifiers.

 

[The ADD]

Aint no one gonna watch this shyt. Nor do they now.

Yep Apple dropped 2.5 Billion on something nobody watches or will watch

Come on guise

 

[mastermind]

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.

They are the best pyramid scheme we have going.

 

[Lakerman0834]

Why would anyone pay to watch terrible soccer when espn+ and peacock blessing us with better leagues

 

[calh45]

NFL is king because it's primarily shown on over the air channels. This type of deal is why the other sports won't ever catch it here. Trying to grow an already niche audience by adding more gatekeeping is just dumb.

Disney shows the NBA finals on ABC for a reason.

 

[The ADD]

Another aspect of this is that they get to build the foundation for three years leading into North America WC and get 4 years to after of additional interest.

 

[tremonthustler1]

NFL is king because it's primarily shown on over the air channels. This type of deal is why the other sports won't ever catch it here. Trying to grow an already niche audience by adding more gatekeeping is just dumb.

Disney shows the NBA finals on ABC for a reason.

The NFL started this.

 

[The ADD]

I imagine that MLS strategy isn’t to just put game on network TV and expect the masses to come. It hasn’t gone that way for 25 years and networks aren’t going to cut them a check worthy of doing that. Any comparisons to NFL, MLB and NBA is talking about sports with a 50+ year head starts. It’s unserious to even do so.