Apple and MLS announced a ten-year partnership to stream all of the league’s matches beginning with the 2023 season. The deal is reportedly worth $250 million annually. It’s a big move in the world of streaming-only services dipping into the world of live sports. It’s a move that surely won’t be the last, as Pat McAfee pontificated on his show Tuesday.
When discussing the deal, McAfee was optimistic about the venture.
“I like that Apple Sports is starting to take off.”
He brought up the issue some viewers, including some on his own staff, had with Apple TV’s current, rookie coverage of their MLB package.
“This is like when Phil Knight decided to take some rubber and put it into a waffle maker and then tape it to the bottom of his feet so he could be a better cross-country runner, said McAfee. “The first couple iterations of things are not necessarily the final product.”
Complaints haver ranged from camera angles to the voices in the booth. It’s nothing new, especially with brands that don’t have extensive experience broadcasting live events or the sports they are covering. Despite those complaints, McAfee sees the future for service as one that’s full of learning.
“That’s probably what Apple’s thinking when everybody buries them for their coverage… but just think, four or five years they’ll probably figure it out a little bit. Get a little bit more mature.”
McAfee has reportedly been in negotiations with Amazon, another streaming service, for a role on their platform surrounding the Thursday Night Football broadcasts beginning this season.
