Major League Soccer just reached a deal with Apple TV+, which will become the only source for all matches in the league for the next ten years. This is the latest sports news in the streaming giant’s efforts to offer games from major professional leagues on its service. Now, you’ll be able to watch MLS while using the best online casino on your smartphone, even on your Macbook, which gives a lot of possibilities. The company started streaming Major League Baseball games this season. The deal permits Apple TV to broadcast two MLB games every Friday for the season’s first three months.
According to Apple, fans worldwide will have access to all MLS games, Leagues Cup, and some MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro matches without worrying about blackouts or cable TV bundles that can sometimes be costly. The new streaming service will begin broadcasting early next year, offering live and on-demand content through the 2032 season. It will also be free for fans who have purchased full-season ticket packages for any MLS team. Insiders estimate the deal is worth somewhere around $2.5 billion over the ten-year length of the agreement.
Viewers of the live streams can choose between English and Spanish broadcasts, with games featuring Canadian teams also offering the option for French announcers. There has been no specific launch date announced as of yet and also no indication of what the pricing will be for the new service.
Cable Providers Shut Out
Major League Soccer isn’t as popular as other professional leagues like the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and major college sports. However, it’s popular enough to make regional sports networks and cable giants like ESPN a little uneasy.
Millions of people are already cutting the cord and transitioning to streaming all their sports content, which is by far the easiest way to follow a favorite team unless it’s in the NFL, which airs all games free into local markets. Previously, the only way to follow a local non-NFL team was to purchase a cable subscription and follow games on a regional sports network.
This is the first time that fans of a major sports league can watch all their team’s games without subscribing to a cable TV service. Apple has now changed the old model, with the new deal permitting fans of a specific franchise to watch their favorite team anywhere at any time, without the need for a cable subscription.
It will also be a much cheaper option. The NBA and MLB both offer streaming services that have restrictions that require a cable subscription to watch your favorite team. Nationally televised games are also not provided with these services.
Since Apple TV+ joined the ranks of the major streaming services in 2019, it has produced many original movies and shows. The Commissioner of MLS, Don Garber, said at a recent news conference that this deal with Apple would help the league attract a younger audience. “This is what they’ve asked for,” said Garber. “And we’re going to deliver them every match anywhere, anytime, anywhere around the world without any restrictions.”
Apple TV+ Not Yet Making the Grade
Apple’s streaming service has yet to reach the level of other providers like Netflix and Disney+, which have a vast catalog of programming available. However, the service has had several hit shows, such as Ted Lasso, that have helped it gain popularity.
The NFL is currently negotiating with major streaming services for the rights to broadcast its Sunday Ticket services of out-of-market games. The Big Ten Conference in the NCAA is also looking for a provider to buy the rights for its subsequent media offerings, which could also cut all cable providers out of the loop.
With the streaming of live sports more popular than ever, many services are bidding to provide sports content that has been only available in the past from cable providers. This new deal is just the start of the new method sports will be consumed by fans in the future. Although it may not be ideal for them, cable networks can only watch in despair as more people cut the cord and leave cable TV sports behind.
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