Apple TV and Major League Soccer agree exclusive 10-year deal for new streaming service
Apple TV and Major League Soccer agree exclusive 10-year deal for new streaming service
Apple TV and Major League Soccer – the US equivalent of the English Premier League – announced a 10-year media rights deal worth $2.5 billion (nearly Rs. 19,500 crore) on Tuesday. . which will see every MLS game broadcast from the 2023 season.
“Apple is the perfect partner to further accelerate the growth of MLS and deepen the connection between our clubs and their fans,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
The new deal will see MLS games available on Apple TV through a new MLS streaming service. Membership holders for MLS clubs will be able to access the application for free.
“For the first time in sports history, 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, [football] fans and anyone who loves sports. No fragmentation, no frustration – just the flexibility to sign up for a convenient service that gives you everything MLS, anywhere and anytime you want to watch.”
No figures were revealed for the deal, but Sports Business Journal said the contract was worth $250 million (around Rs 1,950 crore) per season.
The new deal will also herald a reorganization of the scheduling of MLS matches. Currently, games are played over multiple days in a given week.
From next season, matches will be played on Saturday evenings, with midweek matches taking place every Wednesday.
“We’re going to make it easy for people to fall in love with MLS and put down roots with their favorite clubs,” Cue said.
The deal reflects the steady rise of MLS in the United States. Launched in 1996, the league now has 28 teams, with a 29th expected to join in 2023.
The United States, Canada and Mexico will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“MLS is already on a terrific trajectory as the fastest growing company [football] world league,” Cue said.
“We believe this will become even more important as the World Cup (2026) rolls out in the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
© Thomson Reuters 2022
For details on the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and more at Mobile World Congress Barcelona, visit our MWC 2023 hub.
Tech