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NEW YORK, NY & CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA (Tuesday, June 14, 2022) – Apple and Major League Soccer today announced that the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every single live MLS match beginning in 2023. This partnership is a historic first for a major professional sports league and will allow fans around the world to watch all MLS, Leagues Cup,1 and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches in one place -- without any local broadcast blackouts or the need for a traditional pay TV bundle.
From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app. In addition to all of the match content, the service will provide fans a new weekly live match whip-around show so they never miss an exciting goal or save, and also game replays, highlights, analysis, and other original programming. 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. As an added benefit to fans, access to the new MLS streaming service will be included as part of MLS full-season ticket packages.
The MLS live and on-demand content on the Apple TV app will be available to anyone with internet access across all devices where the app can be found, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K, and Apple TV HD; Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sony, TCL, VIZIO, and other smart TVs; Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices; PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles; Chromecast with Google TV; and Comcast Xfinity. Fans can also watch on tv.apple.com.
“Apple is the perfect partner to further accelerate the growth of MLS and deepen the connection between our clubs and their fans,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “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.”
“For the first time in the history of sports, fans will be able to access everything from a major professional sports league in one place,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “It’s a dream come true for MLS fans, soccer fans, and anyone who loves sports. No fragmentation, no frustration — just the flexibility to sign up for one convenient service that gives you everything MLS, anywhere and anytime you want to watch. We can’t wait to make it easy for even more people to fall in love with MLS and root for their favorite club.”
At launch, all MLS and Leagues Cup matches will include announcers calling the action in English and Spanish, and all matches involving Canadian teams will be available in French. Apple and MLS will also provide enhanced league and club coverage for fans to easily follow the league or their favorite clubs in Apple News, with the ability to watch highlights right in the News app.
Complete details for the new service, including when fans can sign up, subscription pricing, specific details about the new MLS programming, an improved match schedule, broadcast teams, production enhancements, and pre- and postgame coverage -- as well as all the ways fans will be able to enjoy MLS content across the Apple ecosystem -- will be announced in the coming months.
Major League Soccer is the fastest-growing soccer league in the world, more than doubling in size to 29 clubs over the last 15 years. The momentum will continue as soccer will grow throughout North America on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. With players representing 82 countries, MLS has the most global player pool in all sports, and its fan base is one of the youngest, most diverse audiences in North American sports.
About Apple
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple’s five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS -- provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer -- celebrating its 27th season in 2022 -- features 29 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, including 2022 expansion team Charlotte FC and St. Louis CITY SC, which debuts in 2023. Starting in 2023, the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every single live MLS match. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
1 This excludes Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup for viewers in Mexico.
Select Quotes from MLS Ownership on Apple Partnership
“We have seen a significant change in the way people consume content, and it will only accelerate during the next 24 months. This deal is transformational for Major League Soccer, and it will be like jet fuel for the growth of our league.”
- Jonathan Kraft – New England Revolution owner, MLS Media Committee member
“Similar to the creation of Soccer United Marketing 20 years ago, this is a seminal moment for our league.”
- Jeff Mallett - Vancouver Whitecaps co-owner, former president and chief operating officer for Yahoo, MLS Media Committee member
“The most successful company in the world had the belief in North American soccer to make an historic commitment to MLS.”
- Stephen Kaplan – D.C. United co-owner, co-founder of Oaktree Capital Group, MLS Media Committee member
“It is a dream scenario to have all of Major League Soccer’s live matches in one place.”
- Brandon Beck – LAFC co-managing owner, co-chairman & co-founder of Riot Games
“We sit on the precipice of an incredible opportunity. This partnership provides us with an exciting path for the growth of our league.”
- John Ingram – Nashville SC owner
Editor's Notes:
-This was a very last minute press conference yet attended by 130+ participants of sorts.
-Though they gave few the chance to ask questions and those that did ask had the opportunity to ask multiple?
-The email of the partnership and notice on press opportunity both went out after noon, the time on the link was noon but it was a start time of 12:15.
-Thank you, Sporting KC for sending out the email on behalf of the MLS, no other team, local included, did so.
-An American owned and 5th? largest cable provider in the US owns 2 teams one in Seria A, another simllarly owned shares an owner with a massive tech. firm, wonder if they were contacted?
-Yes Apple is massive but a quick search showed that 10-25% of the US has no internet, 37% of the world has never used the net, 96% of them in developing nations.
-In a nation of 332 mil, Apple TV has but 75 million subscribers in the states.
-Local TV will now be out of the picture, wonder if that was a hard sell to NYCFC, with their owner of 25%, NY Yankees having the YES Network.
-Season Ticket Holders will get subscriptions, no mention if press will.
-The current broadcasts are in 1080I that will go to the higher quality of 1080P.
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