MLS, Apple Ink Exclusive 10-Year Rights Deal Beginning in 2023

Every MLS match streamed on new MLS subscription service exclusively through Apple TV

Apple and Major League Soccer and have announced an industry-changing rights deal that will make the Apple TV app the exclusive home for every single live MLS match beginning in 2023. MLS becomes the first major pro sports league to exclusively commit to a streaming outlet, with all MLS, Leagues Cup, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches to be carried globally on the Apple TV app without any local broadcast blackouts or the need for a traditional pay TV bundle.

Under terms of the deal, which is reportedly worth a minimum of $250 million annually (according to Sportico and SBJ), all games will be produced from a centralized location with “the majority of our matches” broadcasters on site, “but not all of them, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. MLS and Apple will produce a single broadcast for each match, which will be available via a new MLS subscription streaming service available exclusively through the Apple TV app.

In addition to all of the match content, the service feature a new weekly live match whip-around show, as well as game replays, highlights, analysis, and other original programming. 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. In addition, 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.

“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,” says 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.”

“Apple is the perfect partner to further accelerate the growth of MLS and deepen the connection between our clubs and their fans,” says Don Garber, MLS’s commissioner. “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.”

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 consume MLS content across the Apple ecosystem — will be announced in the coming months.

Apple lands the MLS rights on the heels of it first major foray into live sports – a weekly MLB package on Apple TV+. In addition, the tech giant has is also reportedly in the running to land NFL’s Sunday Ticket rights package, which could leave DirecTV after next season.