Apple is eyeing another sports media property. The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal reports that the tech giant is engaged in talks with MLS about acquiring part of the league’s national television rights.
If the deal gets done, soccer games would show up on Apple TV+ in the 2023 season. It would make MLS just the second live sports property on the streaming service.
Other companies interested in the league’s media rights include ESPN and the newly minted Warner/Discovery. Univision remains engaged for the Spanish-language broadcast rights.
In March, Stejskal reported that sources told him they expect ESPN to win a package of matches similar to what it already has. That likely means that Apple and Warner/Discovery are competing for the matches that currently air on FOX.
The first live games on Apple TV+ appeared last weekend when the streaming service launched its Friday Night Baseball package. Reviews weren’t very kind to the presentation, but Apple has deep pockets and MLS has a considerably younger fan base than Major League Baseball. It’s easy to think the MLS would not be swayed by the reaction to Friday’s games.
