re: MLS signs 10 year streaming deal with Apple

Posted by StraightCashHomey21

Aberdeen,NC

Member since Jul 2009

126237 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:32 pm to 225bred

I can find it for free

Posted by pjk481

Member since Sep 2011

637 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:42 pm to StraightCashHomey21

FOS

Per Front Office Sports sources in link above, they expect to strike linear deals with some of ESPN/Fox/Univision to broadcast 2-3 games per week on linear (simulcast on Apple, so no cable needed if you don't have it).

And that 2 games per week on Apple will be in the "free" AppleTV tier.

So, still seems like 3-5 games a week in the "free" tiers, counting ESPN/FOX/Univision.

Posted by StraightCashHomey21

Aberdeen,NC

Member since Jul 2009

126237 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:47 pm to pjk481

Yea that’s as expected

No way the league was going to streaming only

That would be suicide

Posted by pjk481

Member since Sep 2011

637 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:49 pm to StraightCashHomey21

Yep, in some ways this is just a modern flip of "primary" partner.

Streamer is now "primary" with linear "secondary". The rights fee from Espn/fox/univsion will be much less given they won't be able to show those 2-3 games a week "exclusively"; however, MLS likely maximized the overall revenue this way, as Apple was willing to pay more for the global/local/domestic rights to all games as primary rights holder.

Posted by dgnx6

Member since Feb 2006

79054 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:52 pm to Girth Donor

Great, I will continue not to watch because im not getting apple tv.

Posted by StraightCashHomey21

Aberdeen,NC

Member since Jul 2009

126237 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:56 pm to pjk481

Yea the only issue is getting people to join Apple TV

A platform with no track record of covering sports and providing a good service with sports

Can’t fault MLS for taking the money when no one else would pay that much

But it’s definitely risky when trying to grow the leagues viewership

Posted by oauron

Birmingham, AL

Member since Sep 2011

14571 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 3:57 pm to StraightCashHomey21

quote:
What did you expect

MLS already had a really good thing with ESPN+

I had only watched a few of their games. The app didn't work very well for me, so I had been watching primarily in browser only (or through Hulu).

I've never had any issues with Apple TV playback but live sports is definitely different than other programming.

quote:
Tons of people don’t and probably won’t subscribe just to watch MLS

It's $5/month and I remember paying $80 for a season of games on MLS Free Kick or whatever it was called.

Posted by StraightCashHomey21

Aberdeen,NC

Member since Jul 2009

126237 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 4:00 pm to oauron

Yea all these apps adding up is starting to look a lot like paying full price of cable all over again

Posted by cwil177

Baton Rouge

Member since Jun 2011

29133 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 4:27 pm to j1897

Pros: no blackouts, MLS gets $250 million (actually probably more) per year

Cons: everything else

Posted by Mr Personality

Bangkok

Member since Mar 2014

27364 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 4:33 pm to StraightCashHomey21

quote:
Yea all these apps adding up is starting to look a lot like paying full price of cable all over again

Posted by Macphisto

Washington, DC

Member since Jul 2005

5945 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 4:42 pm to StraightCashHomey21

quote:
So I’m not going to subscribe to just watch DC United

Does this mean the end of free match streaming for DC residents through the United website? I assume so but I’m not seeing confirmation on their FB page.

This post was edited on 6/14/22 at 4:45 pm

Posted by pjk481

Member since Sep 2011

637 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 5:22 pm to StraightCashHomey21

Definitely risk, but if they keep 2-3 games a week on Linear, that's really no different than now! only thing that's moved is the out of market/local market games have been consolidated into AppleTV vs. ESPN+.

Granted, do agree ESPN+ is more widely known to sports fans right now then AppleTV, but AppleTV/Apple marketing arm has lots of reach to devices. So will come down to how well the advertise it across all of their platforms (AppleTV, AppleTV+, Apple News, Apple Music, etc.).

Posted by WhoDatNC

Member since Dec 2013

13442 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 6:59 pm to Girth Donor

Im not paying shite to watch the MLS.

Posted by StraightCashHomey21

Aberdeen,NC

Member since Jul 2009

126237 posts

Posted on 6/14/22 at 7:10 pm to WhoDatNC

I can’t even watch charlotte fc on regular tv here if I wanted too

YouTube TV dropped regional sports channels

Posted by WhoDatNC

Member since Dec 2013

13442 posts

Posted on 6/15/22 at 6:26 am to StraightCashHomey21

I'm lucky enough to have several friends with season tix that always end up with extras so I've been to a few. I'm willing to pay a few bucks for the EPL but that's it.

Posted by nickp

Member since Jul 2014

83 posts

Posted on 6/15/22 at 9:24 am to WhoDatNC

John Strong and Ray Hudson for MLS on Apple

Posted by I Bleed Garnet

Cullman, AL

Member since Jul 2011

54846 posts

Posted on 6/15/22 at 7:17 pm to Girth Donor

Nice
Love Apple TV.
Think their presentation for MLB games are the best. Announcers just blow

Posted by BCLA

Bossier City

Member since Mar 2005

8666 posts

Posted on 2/22/23 at 3:27 pm to I Bleed Garnet

Holy shite, I was looking at everything in advance of the season starting this weekend, and you have to pay $80 on top of an apple subscription for mls pass. They'll have up to 6 games free with subscription each week but if you want all games (you know like ESPN+ had) you'll have to throw more money at them.

I'm out.

3 ...