The MLS deal with Apple has only just begun, but down the road should things not be panning out like expected, the tech giant reportedly has the option to walk away.
Last summer MLS announced a 10-year, $2.5 billion media rights deal that would make Apple TV+ the official TV home of the league. With so much invested, Apple has a goal to drive subscribers to the MLS paid season subscription “Season Pass.”
Reporting in The Athletic indicates that there is an opt-out clause in the contract that would allow Apple to terminate the agreement if a certain number of Season Pass subscribers isn’t met.
But MLS commissioner Don Garber wouldn’t confirm nor deny the existence of such a clause.
“We’ve never talked about what the specific terms are, and we’re not going to talk about it now,” he said. “It’s a 10-year partnership. We’re both very, very committed to that. I am wholeheartedly convinced that this company and our league are going to be together for a very long time.”
The 2023 MLS season kicked off two weeks ago.
