Apple to Stream Every MLS Match for 10 years Starting in 2023

Apple announced today that it has teamed up with Major League Soccer to offer every single MLS match on the Apple TV app starting in 2023. The partnership will last for 10 years and will provide access to all MLS, Leagues Cup 1, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.

“This live and on-demand MLS content will provide in-depth, behind-the-scenes views of the players and clubs that fans love. A broad selection of MLS and Leagues Cup matches, including some of the biggest matchups, will also be available at no additional cost to Apple TV+ subscribers, with a limited number of matches available for free,” Apple explained in the press release.

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This partnership with Major League Soccer shows Apple’s growing interest in sports. Back in April, the company kicked off its new “Friday Night Baseball” weekly doubleheader on Apple TV+, which includes live pre- and postgame shows.

“Apple is the perfect partner to further accelerate the growth of MLS and deepen the connection between our clubs and their fans,” Don Garber, MLS’s commissioner said today. “Given Apple’s ability to create a best-in-class user experience and to reach fans everywhere, it’ll be incredibly easy to enjoy MLS matches anywhere, whether you’re a super fan or casual viewer.”

Starting next year, MLS matches will be available via a new MLS streaming service available exclusively through the Apple TV app. Apple’s streaming service has already become quite ubiquitous with dedicated apps on Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sony, TCL, VIZIO, and other smart TVs,  Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and Roku devices, plus PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles. If Apple TV is also available as a native app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices, a web app is also available on tv.apple.com,

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Conversation 7 comments

  • petteri

    14 June, 2022 - 3:25 pm

    <p>Impressive, it’s a global deal. </p><p><br></p><p>"will allow fans <strong>around the world</strong> to watch all MLS, Leagues Cup,<sup>1</sup> and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches in one place"</p><p><br></p><p>Nice.</p>

  • h8zgray

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2022 - 3:44 pm

    <p>Great, though wish BPL or Bundesliga could be a part of this or a subsequent deal, as unfortunately MLS leaves much to be desired as far as top tier <s>football</s> soccer goes. </p>

    • Chris_Kez

      Premium Member
      15 June, 2022 - 11:30 am

      <p>Bundesliga TV rights are locked up with DAZN, Sky, ESPN through 2026. Those deals were worth nearly $5B (for I think six years), so it would be a huge step up from what Apple is paying for MLS ($2.5B for ten years). I think the fact that Apple tends to be US-centric, and that Bundesliga is global (Europe-centric) makes me think Apple wouldn’t go in that direction. They’re rumored to be going for NFL rights, which would also be a huge payout, but is an American league with a mostly American audience. </p>

  • ronh

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2022 - 4:35 pm

    <p>Does this pull games from all other networks (like TSN in Canada)?</p>

    • Chris_Kez

      Premium Member
      15 June, 2022 - 11:17 am

      <p>Not necessarily. My understanding is that MLS is still free to develop deals for linear distribution (e.g. to ESPN, and presumably TSN). Those networks would not have exclusivity though; they would share the games with Apple. </p>

    • bkkcanuck

      18 June, 2022 - 2:15 pm

      <p>My understanding is the package is like NFL Sunday Ticket (DirectTV) but for MLS games. Apple is the exclusive location for this package, and as part of it you get to watch every game you want from MLS… but it is separate from local or national broadcast rights for individual games. </p>

  • Donte

    14 June, 2022 - 11:17 pm

    <p>FAT CASH! Things you can do when you have mountains of money.</p>

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