Apple is reportedly doing away with its Major League Soccer Season Pass and including next season’s soccer matches as part of its normal Apple TV subscription. That’s according to reports of a new MLS partnership agreement from The Athletic that’s similar to a deal the company made in October to bring F1 races to all subscribers.
First announced in 2022, the MLS Season Pass remains one of Apple’s most significant forays into sports programming to date. As part of its original agreement with MLS, Apple became the exclusive way soccer fans streamed MLS games globally, eliminating any kind of regional blackout, as long as Apple TV was accessible.
The company originally planned to offer some games as a free bonus for Apple TV subscribers, but three years later, a majority of MLS games require an additional $15 a month or $99 a season subscription (with discounts for existing Apple TV subscribers). Now all of that is going away, and anyone who pays $13 a month for Apple TV can keep up with their favorite team.
“We’re thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it’s a win for fans everywhere.”
Engadget has contacted Apple for more details about its MLS plans. We’ll update this article if we hear back.
While Apple hasn’t succeeded in locking down NBA or NFL games like its competitors Amazon and Google, the company has been slowly growing its sports ambitions. Apple’s Friday Night Baseball streams seem modest now in comparison to what it’s doing with the MLS and now F1. The company’s five-year F1 deal includes every Grand Prix race, along with practice, qualifying and sprint sessions. With the FIFA World Cup on the way in 2026, the company’s new MLS deal also seems impeccably timed.
Credit: Source link
