MLS casts doubt on its future with Apple TV for the first time

The deal between Apple and MLS to broadcast every game in the American top flight was always a risk. In 2023, MLS Commissioner Don Garber even admitted it. On one hand, removing MLS from regional sports networks as well as only offering a slim number of games on FOX Sports has produced underwhelming results. On the other hand, Apple is paying MLS $250 million annually for 10 years. That was a record-breaking deal for the American top-flight league. Yet for the first time, Garber has discussed the possibility of an MLS future without Apple.

“If [the MLS-Apple relationship] continues to grow, we’re very much in the revenue share mode with Apple, and it will turn out to be one of the greatest deals in sports history,” Garber said. “If we’re wrong and the world doesn’t go into the streaming environment the way we think it is, then you’ve just got to be smart, make a decision and if it’s not the right decision, you figure out what you need to do to go forward. But I am really bullish on Apple.”

Speaking in London at the Leaders Week conference, Garber’s conversation was littered with ifs. “If this works, we share in the revenue.” “If we’re sharing the revenue, we’re making lots of money.” However, the fact is that after almost two years since the partnership began with Apple, even with the addition of the world’s greatest player (Lionel Messi) to the league, Major League Soccer has been unable to surpass the minimum guarantee to trigger the revenue share part of the deal with Apple.

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MLS’ revenue share agreement with Apple

Apple’s deal with MLS to sell subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass streaming service includes a minimum guarantee of $250 million annually. Out of that money, MLS pays for all of the production and talent costs, which are in the tens of millions of dollars. If and when MLS reaches the number…

Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-future-apple-tv-don-garber/

Author : Kyle Fansler

Publish date : 2024-10-18 14:37:33

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