Apple Inks 10-Year Deal to Carry Major League Soccer

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15 JUNE 2022 - Are you ready for some football? I mean futbol? A piece from the Wall Street Journal (via Apple News+) says:

Apple Inc. and Major League Soccer unveiled a 10-year broadcasting deal for the league’s games, the iPhone-maker’s most significant move yet into sports that underscores the company’s growing ambitions for streaming.

I make fun of soccer. I honestly think that and Big Gulps are two of the most American things I do. In truth though, this is a big deal. According to the Journal, the deal will make the Apple TV app the global home of all MLS matches starting with the 2023 season, though MLS will look to broadcast a limited number of games through other outlets. Games are currently carried by ABC and ESPN, FOX and Fox Sports, and Univision.

Unlike Apple’s Major League Baseball experiment, the MLS games will not be included with Apple TV+. According to the report:

From early 2023 through 2032, fans will access matches by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service available only through the Apple TV app. The price for the service wasn’t disclosed.

Of course, you do want to get people interested. To that end, the Journal says some MLS games will be free through the Apple TV app (probably why Apple is cool with MLS broadcasting a few games a year as well). Additionally, the piece says:

A broad selection of matches in MLS and Leagues Cup, an annual competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs, will be available to subscribers to Apple TV+…