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MLS Season Pass

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MLS Season Pass
File:MLS Season Pass logo.png
DeveloperApple Inc.
Launch dateFebruary 1, 2023 (23 months ago) (2023-02-01)[1]
Platform(s)
Pricing model
  • US$14.99 per month
  • CA$19.99 per month
  • £14.99 per month
  • €13.99 per month
Websitewww.mlssoccer.com/season-pass/

MLS Season Pass is the branding used for broadcasts of Major League Soccer (MLS) matches distributed by Apple Inc.. The package was launched in the 2023 Major League Soccer season as part of a new 10-year media rights agreement between MLS and Apple, under which it holds the global over-the-top streaming rights to the league.

MLS Season Pass is a subscription-based service on Apple TV app, which will carry all MLS regular season and playoff matches, as well as coverage of the Leagues Cup, selected MLS Next and MLS Next Pro matches, studio programs, and other video content. A package of matches will be made available to Apple TV+ subscribers at no additional charge. A subset of these matches will stream for free without an Apple TV+ subscription, while a non-exclusive linear television package of matches was sold to Fox Sports in the United States and Bell Media in Canada.

History

MLS had requested that its teams not negotiate regional television rights to their matches beyond the 2022 season, suggesting that the league was considering switching to a centralized model for its broadcast rights (more akin to the NFL and European club leagues) after its present national media rights agreements expire.[2][3]

On June 14, 2022, MLS announced a 10-year broadcasting deal with Apple Inc. taking effect in the 2023 season, under which it would hold the global over-the-top media rights to the league. It marked the second major foray by Apple into professional sports rights, after having launched Major League Baseball's Friday Night Baseball earlier that year.[4][5]

The name and United States pricing of the service was announced on November 16, 2022, with availability beginning February 1, 2023.[6][7][8][7] MLS also reached three-year, non-exclusive rights agreements with Fox Sports (United States for Fox and Fox Deportes) and Bell Media (Canada for TSN and RDS) to carry packages of MLS matches on linear television platforms. The contract ended the league's long-term associations with ESPN and Univision; ESPN had been Major League Soccer's main media partner since its inception. Univision will continue to televise select Leagues Cup matches, including exclusive linear coverage of the final.[9][10][11] ESPN and Univision reportedly declined to renew their contracts due to objections to aspects of the Apple contract, as both companies also operate competing streaming platforms (ESPN+ and Vix), and they would no longer hold exclusive rights to the matches they televise.[12][10][13]

Distribution

MLS Season Pass is sold on a subscription basis via the Apple TV app, either monthly or per-season; the U.S. price was set at US$14.99 per month or $99 per season. MLS Season Pass is separate from Apple TV+, but discounts will be available to Apple TV+ subscribers. Season ticketholders of MLS teams will also receive MLS Season Pass for free.[6][7][14]

A selection of matches throughout the season will stream at no additional charge for Apple TV+ subscribers, with a subset of these matches also being streamed free-of-charge for all Apple TV users.[5][14]

On February 16, 2023, DirecTV announced that it had acquired rights to distribute MLS Season Pass for its commercial subscribers, ensuring the matches' availability to venues (such as bars and restaurants) not readily equipped to handle streaming-only broadcasts.[15] The same day, it was announced that T-Mobile US Magenta Max subscribers would be eligible to receive MLS Season Pass for free as part of a limited-time "T-Mobile Tuesdays" promotion.[16]

Production

MLS Season Pass will carry all MLS regular season and playoff matches live and on-demand, and be the exclusive carrier of all matches not otherwise sub-licensed to a linear broadcaster. It will also carry all Leagues Cup matches, and selected MLS Next and MLS Next Pro matches.[4][5] Match commentary will be available in English and Spanish, as well as French for matches involving Canadian teams (CF Montréal, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps), and local radio broadcasts.[8] MLS Season Pass will produce three studio shows at launch, including the pre-match show MLS Countdown, MLS 360 (which will carry "whiparound" coverage of each matchday), and the highlights show MLS Wrap-Up.[17] It will also offer classic matches, team-produced video content, and original series (such as The Ritual, a docuseries that will highlight the fan cultures of Major League Soccer's franchises).[8][5]

As of the 2023 season, all MLS telecasts will be produced in-house by the league as part of a joint venture between IMG and NEP Group. All MLS matches aired by MLS Season Pass will be produced in 1080p with 5.1 surround sound, and utilize "enhanced data elements".[18][17] There will no longer be regional broadcasts, hence all matches will air globally with no blackouts of out-of-market matches.[5][14]

Announcers

Further information: List of current Major League Soccer broadcasters

MLS Season Pass will use an in-house staff of commentary teams, with specific commentators expected to be assigned to matches on a regional basis to reduce travel, and provide local familiarity to viewers.[19][20][21][22]

References

  1. ^ "Apple and Major League Soccer announce MLS Season Pass launches February 1, 2023". Apple Newsroom. November 16, 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  2. ^ "MLS has told clubs not to sign local deals beyond 2022 in hopes of packaging with national rights". Awful Announcing. March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Stejskal, Sam. "MLS media rights deal not likely to be a game-changer, sources say". The Athletic. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023". Apple Newsroom (Canada). Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "MLS faces race against time to build broadcast operation ahead of Apple TV deal". The Athletic. October 27, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Forristal, Lauren (November 16, 2022). "Apple to launch 'MLS Season Pass' subscription on February 1". TechCrunch. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Peters, Jay (2022-11-16). "Apple and Major League Soccer will launch their soccer streaming service on February 1st". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  8. ^ a b c "Apple's Major League Soccer Season Pass debuts February 1st for $99 per year". Engadget. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  9. ^ "Univision acquires Leagues Cup rights but passes on MLS". World Soccer Talk. December 13, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan. "Univision out of MLS regular-season and playoff TV broadcasts amid new Apple deal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  11. ^ mlssoccer. "Major League Soccer, FOX Sports, TelevisaUnivision, TSN & RDS Announce Multi-year Linear TV Rights Agreements | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  12. ^ Rueter, Jeff (November 16, 2022). "MLS, Apple announce pricing, broadcast details for new partnership". The Athletic. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Sim, Josh (2022-12-13). "Fox agrees MLS TV deal but ESPN shuns rights". SportsPro. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  14. ^ a b c Axon, Samuel (2022-06-14). "Bad news for cable: A major sports league will stream exclusively on Apple TV". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  15. ^ Steinberg, Brian. "DirecTV To Provide Major League Soccer Games to Bars, Hotels for 2023 Season". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  16. ^ Blumenthal, Eli. "T-Mobile Is Giving a Free Season of Apple's MLS Season Pass to All Its Customers". CNET. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  17. ^ a b Dachman, Jason (2023-02-15). "Apple, MLS Pull Back the Curtain on Live-Production Plans for New MLS Season Pass Streaming Service". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  18. ^ "IMG, NEP to support MLS Season Pass production on Apple TV". SportBusiness. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  19. ^ Tenorio, Pablo Maurer, Sam Stejskal, Paul. "MLS notebook: Talent lineup for Apple TV deal; owners consider best-of-three in playoffs". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-02-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Brown, Daniel. "MLS debuts Season Pass streaming service on Apple TV". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  21. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (2023-01-24). "MLS and Apple reportedly set to have announcers work regionally". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  22. ^ "MLS Season Pass will have a local angle after all". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
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