Photo: Marjorie Elzey
Eight games into the deal, and I’m sick of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The league’s ten-year, $2.5 billion deal with the technology giant kicked in at the start of the season with a promise to transform the viewing experience and to take the league to the next level. And it’s entirely possible that it will over time — the most important part of the deal, the massive infusion of cash into the league, won’t affect the product on the pitch immediately.
But so far, it’s kind of sucked.
Disclaimer: As an influential member of the media, the fine folks at Apple sent me a free year of MLS Season Pass, as well as some fine swag. As you should be able to tell from this piece, these gestures have not compromised my objectivity.
On time and on schedule
Start with the schedule. In order to make the deal sweeter to Apple (among other reasons), MLS created the Leagues Cup, for which the regular season will pause for a month over the summer for a tournament with Liga MX.
Reserving judgment about whether or not the Leagues Cup is a good idea or ends up being pretty fun, the knock-on effect is that MLS’s regular season kicked off at the end of February, with MLS Cup set for early December, with few other pauses along the way.
From a Union perspective, that’s meant a slate of home games that have been miserable from a weather perspective. The opener was freezing. The second game, against Chicago, was freezing and windy. The game against Kansas City was delayed by thunderstorms.
And the only early game with half-decent weather — against Orlando — saw the Union missing huge chunks of their lineup because the league barreled straight through an international break.
Obviously, some of that is out of the league’s hands. But some of it isn’t. News flash: it’s not particularly pleasant to be outside at nighttime in February in the Northeast. (Just as it isn’t particularly pleasant to play soccer on the green concrete carpet at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, where the Union suffered their second loss of the season.)
Why are these games being played at night? You can thank Apple for that one, too. In an effort to create consistent broadcast windows — and volume for Apple’s biggest idea, a “whiparound” show called MLS 360 — almost every game is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. local time, save for maybe one game a week that’s in a different window for linear TV.
There are just a few obvious problems here. First, stacking every single MLS game into the same time slot makes it difficult to watch much more than one game. If you’re locked into a Union game at 7:30 (or any other team with an East Coast matchup), you’re not watching any of the eight other kickoffs at 7:30, or the group that goes at 8:30. And, ironically, it makes it harder for you to watch the whip-around show, because you’re busy watching your team’s game.
I am probably in the top, what, 2% of people who care about MLS? I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words about the league over my time at PSP. And I’m watching less MLS than I ever have before, because the games are all on at the same time. I’ve barely watched a minute or two of the much-ballyhooed whip-around show. That can’t be the result the league is looking for.
Second, the standardized start time limits flexibility for fans and teams. Although the Saturday night time slot has its advantages, there are also lots of fans who prefer early or late afternoon kickoffs. If you have young kids, is it optimal to take them to a game where you won’t even leave the parking lot after 10 p.m.? Mixing it up would expand the group of people who can easily attend a game, plus allow some flexibility for dealing with difficult weather conditions such as the freezing cold nights early in the season.
There’s a reason why the Phillies play some of their Saturday games at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. If it works for the national pastime, why can’t it work for MLS?
Production values
It’s still early to be commenting on the technical side of things, but that’s been a disappointment, too.
The most important part of any sports production on TV is capturing all of the action, and that’s where Apple has fallen short so far.
Too often, the producers cut away to seemingly random shots of the crowd, or unnecessary closeups, or replays at exactly the wrong time. Even the main cameras seem weirdly inconsistent — sometimes making the players look like ants, other times not capturing enough of the field.
The announcers have also been hit-and-miss. While the idea of national broadcasters for every game isn’t a bad one, it is a sin that the league couldn’t find a way to get legendary, seasoned pros like JP Dellacamera involved. Instead, the quality of the commentary fluctuates wildly, with some teams either totally unfamiliar with both teams or clearly more familiar with the team they used to cover (see: Montreal).
There’s talent in the commentary booth, but right now it hasn’t come through.
And the league has even fallen short on the most important thing — keeping the service going during the five hours per week that the games are going on. Season Pass crashed in the middle of the broadcast window this past weekend, cutting fans off from their games at the most inopportune time. These things happen, but it’s still a deeply frustrating experience.
It’s not all bad. The quality of the picture is very good, the graphics are clean and attractive, and the option to overlay the home team’s radio call is a nice reprieve. One hopes the production and commentary will improve with time.
But so far, it’s been a letdown.
Where to?
There is plenty of time for MLS and Apple to make changes, big and small, that would improve the experience.
Move more games into more windows. Figure out how to build a schedule that respects international breaks and gives players appropriate rest. Improve the production values.
There’s little reason to think that any of these things are locked in for the entirety of this deal. And the length of the deal means that it’s in both entities’ best interests to work together as partners, rather than having one side dictating to the other.
But the fear is that the most important group in all of this — the fans — are the group that doesn’t have a seat at the table.
So far, it’s not clear that this partnership has measurably improved the fan experience.
We have to expect some glitches. It’s a huge operation that they basically booted up with little available preparation. I agree with you that some of the camerawork and some of the announcing has been absolutely dismal. But I also trust that will be much better next year.
–
Now I agree with you entirely about scheduling. Having every game at the same time on Saturday night is a poor idea, for all the reasons you mention. Plus the fact that, y’know, people like to go out and do things Saturday nights. Garber seems to have been aping the NFL here, but the NFL does its thing on Sunday afternoons, when people are often chilling at home. They definitely need to start flexing game times.
I agree with almost all of this. The whiparound isn’t very good (someone told these jokers that they had to have lots of happy talk), they consistently are showing overly long replays when live action is happening, and the announcing has been middling to poor. Hopefully they are taking criticism on board and will make improvements in these areas, but I assume it will have to wait until next season, which is too bad.
The LAFC, LAG, NYCFC Whiparound you mean?
Typical Negadelphia attitude
That everything sucks.
Grow up.
Found the Apple employee.
Or maybe you work for MLS.
Seattle person here and I agree with everything stated in the article. If anything it’s a bit too nice and forgiving.
Offering constructive criticism is a grown up thing to do. Casting vague insults is a bit childish though.
Cincinnati fan here, and agree with almost every bit of the article. I note that your faux mature ‘grow up’ reply doesn’t address any of the specific issues brought up that are legitimate issues for a service that EVERYONE MUST PAY FOR now. Even the NoFeetLeague airs a bunch of games on network TV. MLS is airing a minute number of their overall games on a few outlets, not even worth talking about. And TBH, the article is pretty articulate about the very specific real issues, so the fact that you read that as negative is good. It’s a real negative.
This is incorrect. 42% of the games are offered for free. This is the most national games broadcasted ever.
DCU fan here in total agreement with the article.
They are doing the games from a central studio correct? That alone takes the emotional component away from the announcing team. No crowd to feed off,and the replay during live action sux!
No all announcers are at the stadium.
Wow! Then they are terrible! We were so spoiled to have J.P. and Danny!
Since day one — yes I may be giving Sakiewicz some credit here — they have always had outstanding announcers.
.
My evidence is to where most of them left.
Tim, While they’ve had mostly good color announcers next to JP (and yes, he was pretty much always there), I must call out Bob Rigby as the exception that proves the rule 🙂
The accommodations granted to Apple are one sided to the detriment of the viewing public, leaves no flexibility to local markets and takes away some fan loyalty. This has to be addressed somehow. Financially its a win for the league, like you say the benefit wont show immediately, do you know the affect on ticket sales? Thanks for the article its needed.
I’m not sure they created Leagues Cup to satisfy Apple is accurate. Since they announced the expanded CONCACAF Champions League in September of 2021 and teams could qualify out of the three new Cup competitions with Leagues Cup, Caribbean Cup & Central American Cup that’s a bit of a stretch. Each League was allowed to sell the TV rights in the country they represent and Apple, Fox & Univision will broadcast the tournament.
.
In 2024 teams playing in sanctioned tournaments this year will qualify for a new tournament featuring two teams from CONCACAF & two teams from CONMEBOL. So if the Union get to the final of CCL they will most likely be one of the representatives.
.
Obviously for fans of MLS who watch more than just one team the schedule needs to be tweaked but for the fans who won’t buy Apple, Sunday’s broadcast of El Traffic being played at 5:00 only drew 328K on big Fox. Not exactly creating the huge demand that justifies changing.
.
On plus side I don’t miss games starting and waiting for the end of a previous sporting event to end. This has been the best coverage they have ever received focusing on the league but still needs more tinkering to improve.
You’re right to say that they didn’t create the Leagues Cup for Apple specifically. But the idea behind Leagues Cup was, in part, to create more games that they could put on the table in advance of the TV deal. (Much like the expansion of the playoffs to best-of-3, which will start this year.) I should have been clearer about what I meant in the piece.
I agree about the game times and the inconsistency of announcers. I basically watch one game on Saturday, then the Sunday game generally. Some really great broadcasting teams have been broken up. The 360 show is terrible. I think Leagues Cup is ok but I wish other Concacaf leagues were more competitive.
The production glitches and camera things have happened, but relatively easily fixed and will be corrected. The picture is SIGNIFICANTLY better, especially for someone like me who had to watch via antenna last year due to phl not being part of most internet tv. That part, and the fact that they actually care enough to try these things gives me god hope going forward.
The negatives of the announcers is a little disappointing because I feel like that is a preparation issue. You have a whole week to prepare and make notes for when the broadcasting is happening and there should not be so many problems there. I find myself cursing when I see it’s not Danny Higgenbotham. That’s a major downside for Union fans especially since the free last year was particularly awesome and knowledgeable.
The time slot thing never made sense to me. Okay I get not having a hundred times all over but why not have 1/4/7 time slots that each have games and can be used to accommodate different time zones or bad weather etc? I personally have not bought tickets twice already bc I looked at the time and it didn’t work with my 5 year old and having to get a babysitter for younger ones. I looked forward to the whip around but I agree you can’t watch it while your team is playing.
.
The intro price being so high also was a mistake I think. You lost a bunch of people cliff the bay that now won’t ever watch. Good news is that much of this is fixable.
OMG THIS. I have been saying the same thing’s, especially re: the universal 7:30 start since the beginning. I have young kids and they still can’t get to a game. Also, listening to other announcers really makes you miss the quality we had with JP and Danny. Finally, the lack of key replays has been abysmal. It’s like they don’t want you to see the controversial calls.
Amen on the young future fan base situation. We purchased the MLS Pass, reluctantly and trying it for a season.If we say it sucks, there is no future for this agreement.No local TV? It is doomed.Rumour is Apple has an out clause and can pull the plug if subscriber interest is lacking. Understand the Garber $ grab bu this is horrible. Yeah the picture
is good, but production leaves a lot to be desired. Founding Member here and loosing interest in the team, already,because of this situation. Also Apple local announcers simulcast is only for home market games.I think. Had to turn on 97.5 on the radio to get local flavor on the broadcast and turn TV sound down. And this is what they want? Sorry about the rambling frustration. One more thing, no more day games? Come on!
Wish list:
1. Start having some afternoon weekend matches
2. On Apple TV don’t display the score when I try to access the replay. I don’t want to kniw the score before I watch
3. Also on Apple TV make it easier to access a full replay. The push and hold option on my TV seems to always default to the recap instead of the full replay. Usually have to set it up on my phone
4. Sign up JP and Danny for the U, either on Apple or 97.5. Much better to hear from announcers that are familiar with the team(s)
Yes, totally agree on the replay. The little preview picture has the score right in it. Also, there is not currently an option to start from “last watch”, just live or beginning.
I got burned on the scores showing for the Miami game – never went back and watched it. But you can change your setting to not display the scores in the settings menu. IMO – it should default to this rather than the other way around.
You can turn the scores off in setting, made replays so much better!
Thank You!
From day one my biggest gripe was with the spoilers. However, on my Vizio TV at least it is MUCH improved when I look now.
Originally, the Apple TV app “show sports scores” option only hid the score tabs from the Past Matches row and there were still giant scores all over the top banner. They even changed the descriptions to say “Union loses again…” or crap like that.
Now, I see no scores, no changes of description and the only place I can come across spoilers is on the Goals rows. I just squint as I go by them. I successfully watched numerous highlights last weekend without being spoiled.
If you’re keeping one window, I’d like to see all start times moved to 5:00. It’s early enough that families with young kids can go to the games or watch on TV without being too late, and it allows for East Coast-West Coast doubleheaders every weekend, with the second game ending before 10:00.
.
But past that idea that will never reach the desk of a decision-maker, I’m just practicing patience. Bumps in the road were to be expected. Granted, “bumps” feels like a gross understatement right now, but I want to see if they make good changes. If they are stubborn, people will walk away and we’ll see if that out-clause in the contract really exists allowing Apple to walk away.
.
Either way, this has been an unfortunate start. I’m hoping for better days ahead (just like with the team), but patience is wearing thin…
What were they thinking! In Florida late games are best for us simply due to the humidity and heat. Our games always call for water breaks. But we still had games starting between 1pm-8pm. Just like all other leagues prior to Apple. Me personally I hate everything about Apple. I definitely wouldn’t pay for this. Our club offered free MLS pass with season ticket holders. If it becomes an issue where I have to pay, I will not. I want more than 1 outlet to watch games. This is a fucking joke.
Perhaps the most relevant point here is the one you make about your interest in the league.
–
If this product (broadly speaking) isn’t catered to the true fanatics (you, me, the folks who stop by here every day), and considering the idea that we’re power users and now paying power users, who is this catered towards? Not the casual fan, who didn’t watch before when it was free and certainly won’t be watching now behind a pay wall.
–
Meanwhile, it’s clear the product wasn’t ready and that Apple didn’t learn from other broadcasting mistakes (hiding scores, replays, production values, announcers). That hurts as much as anything for those who did put money down.
Agree with article and comments. Haven’t caught it yet, but I recall reading in another PSP post that the Union games are on the radio at 97.5 FM, “The Fanatic”, and Dave Leno has been doing a good job on the play-by-play. As mentioned in the article above, can anyone share how to set up Apple TV with the option to overlay the home team’s radio call (Dave Leno on 97.5?)? I’d definitely would prefer this to Apple broadcast teams.
Home team radio audio is only available when watching live as Apple doesn’t record that audio. If you are watching live, go to the audio options and select the local radio option as you would select English or Spanish.
And home team audio doesn’t help at all for those of us who attend the home games and only watch the road games live on TV and have no interest in listening to the other team’s announcers.
Better pundits, camera angles have to replicate premier league levels better bios on players leading prior to games. Even 15 mins prior, better emphasis on tactics. On the coaches what affects their choices of players for the particular game. Give the fans a better understanding of how the game. Is played tactically, plus understanding how players become creative by recognizing spaces and ball movement. Explaining why it is the beautiful game to the rest of the world.
shhhh.
.
That’s what PSP is for!
The huge impact on the schedule is the whole downfall of this enterprise so far, for me. Like you’ve said, every single home match has been miserable weather so far. A standard start time can be helpful for planning, but the only time I can think of that 7:30 pm on Saturday would actually be nice is in avoiding the sweltering sun in mid-summer matches. And even that will mostly be avoided because of the ridiculous Leagues Cup, for which I did not opt to get tickets.
I’m generally an Apple fan and it is nice to be able to see all Union matches on TV once again, but I do miss JP and Danny.
All good points as usual, Peter. It has been an immense failure. In every way this has been a Garber money grab and I’m so disappointed. The USA was ready and willing for soccer to blow up after the last WC and before the next and now the interest will fizzle to nothing before 2026. This deal eliminates casual viewers and most on-the-fence fans aren’t going to shell out the cash. I’m a day one season ticket holder and I still haven’t paid for it. I will continue to illegally pirate the games and listen to the radio broadcast.
My wife believes the NFL is secretly lobbying against the popularity of soccer and honestly, however conspiratorial, maybe she’s right. It wouldn’t shock me if this Apple/MLS deal was conducted in a smoke filled room with Roger Goodell in the corner snickering, “that’ll set ’em back.”
The deal between American football and soccer began about 90 years ago. The wagon was hitched to oblong pigskin. And here we are.
.
I can source this on the reference page from a good bit of reading I did on it a long time ago but…(Ibid).
I agree with much of the comments, especially taking away home announcers. I’ll add I am most disappointed that I pay for apple+ and they want another fee for the mls package? So I don’t pay for it. I’ve watched at friends when I can. For a sport that needs to pick up momentum in the US I’d hope they’d want to make it more accessible to fans, this is the opposite. Sad. Especially for families that are strapped financially. Give it to ESPN or similar. (To all sports, stop airing on paid streaming please).
The relationship with Channel 17 is interesting with the new show Thursday night, and it’s promos.
I think 17 is trying to re-establish themselves as a local outlet when Apple and MLS realize that little to no local promotion, or hype is happening and new fans are elsewhere… Which can only diminish the product in a city like Philly, especially with Comcast controlling virtually all sports in this area.
Maybe rebroadcasts next day, or replays during the week?
BTW the radio broadcast with Dave Leno was terrific, this weekend. I turned down those nit whits on Apple+ and let Dave tell me what was happening. Great job Dave!
I totally understand how/why MLS made this deal. You can’t say no to that sort of money, but they gave up too much in this deal.
.
The singular starting time is doing Apple and fans a disservice. As someone mentioned above, the NFL has 3 windows on Sundays, so MLS could easily go with a 3:30PM, 6:00PM and 8:30PM plan to account for location and weather challenges over the course of the season. Plus it gives Apple an 8 hour window of action to use.
.
The add on cost beyond Apple+ should not include live games. The extra content, replays, etc., fine, but to grow the game and get people in the habit of watching, they shouldn’t have any financial barriers beyond the cost of the basic service.
There one other important things you left out that needs improvement. The the Apple TV user interface makes it really difficult to navigate to the replay of a game without seeing the score or videos of scoring highlights. Even if you turn off the display of sports scores in the Apple TV settings.
As a season ticket holder I get to most home games but I never get to watch the away games live. At this point watching the game that I recorded on my DVR, is a much better experience than watching a replay of a game on Apple.
As a result I’m watching less MLS soccer than I used to.
The biggest disappointment that wasn’t even touched on is the audio so far. The crowd noise is so loud that I can barely hear the commentators to even know if they are struggling.
This. It’s so annoying.
But, on the plus side, the announcers are so terrible maybe this should be considered a feature rather than a glitch.
How about the fact that the games are available almost nowhere?! My friends and I used to love going out to watch them. Now, it’s nearly impossible to find bars that show it. Yes, there’s one bar nearby; and another bar with maybe 4 TVs…and then, what, West Chester?!
Oh and how about this: you know why I started watching Premier League football? Because it was on TV! I woke up one Saturday morning about 7 years ago and turned the TV on. “Hey look, soccer. Well there’s nothing else on. Guess I’ll watch this.” Perhaps this situation is unique, but it’s generally hard to grow a sport–or anything, really–if it’s inaccessible. No one, fan of another sport or otherwise, is going to casually tune into an MLS game and become a fan…because they can’t.
This whole endeavor is such a hari-brained, shit-ass idea that it’s actually mind boggling. Or it would be, but it’s hard not to image the MLS execs with cartoonish dollar sign eyes when Apple agreed to pay that much money.
Just my two cents.
…oh wait! I actually need that two cents back, seeing as I now need to get Apple TV AND the MLS package.
I, for one, really appreciate the streaming. Being able to watch all the other games on demand is excellent. And being able to start a live game from the beginning if you’re late (as anyone with kids often is). That’s brilliant.
.
I also really like the MLS Replay highlights show and that ExtraTime and Instant Replay are all in one place.
.
I think the concept of a whip around show is solid, but I agree I simply don’t watch it because all the games are stacked against when I am Union exclusive.
.
The announcers— ho boy- They are rough. Maybe (probably) we were spoiled. But they have got to fix the major issues here. Some of them have been unlistenable.
.
And the camera not following play drives me up a wall.
I agree on the announcers. We were spoiled btw. The Union have nearly always excelled in the TV department.
.
That said, a lot of the issues with the announcers is down to preparation. Which is just unacceptable for professionals to not be prepared. Cangi and Danny H are always stellar and prepared, which is not a shock. Twellman is always prepared too. Some of the other crews……leave a lot to be desired.
You had Tommy Smyth!
I said “nearly always.”
Totally agree. I would that the announcers seem to be putting me to sleep even when the game was exciting
I love NFL RedZone and I was hoping that Apple’s whiparound show would copy that. But they didn’t. They have too many analysts who seem to spend too much time enjoying each other’s banter, and they have commercials which really ruins it for me. Just like I do with the Eagles and RedZone, I could watch MLS 360 once the Union match is over, but I don’t because I don’t want to waste my time watching ads.
.
And they are nuts if they think I’m gonna block out every Saturday night for 34 weeks to watch MLS. MLS and their shills were all like “isn’t this great that we have these uniform kickoff windows now”? No, it’s not. It sux. I have a life outside of watching the Union and sometimes I have something else to do on Saturday night. I liked having the occasional Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday matches.
.
And please Apple, I’m begging you, give us the option to hear our team’s radio announcers when the team is on the road. I’d much rather listen to the homers than to the “national” crews.
I like the sat night games. The energy is crazy for Charlotte FC night games and we are currently trash. I have season tickets so I have the MLS pass, but I think it is a huge L that the games aren’t broadcasted locally for free. You aren’t going to recruit new fans with a premium subscription.
This ^^
Has anyone actually seen a game that started at 7:30? Cause I haven’t!
At the home opener we in our seats waiting and 7:30 came and went. I thought Apple would take care of the 7:30 game that actually kicks off at 7:38!
I really missed the 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm early season start times. Looks like rain again Saturday but at least it will be warm!
Anyway totally in agreement with the article. To top it off we can’t seem to get Apple family sharing working and a 45 minute call to support didn’t fix it. Sigh.
It’s another way where the US is behind the rest of the world. Anywhere else, 7:30 means 7:30 (or maybe 7:31 when the players take a knee against racism for a minute) unless there’s a rare legitimate delay (lightening in the area, one team getting stuck in traffic and arriving late, etc.)
.
Only in the US does 7:30 mean 7:38 or later.
I can watch the best leagues in the world on streaming services that cost between five and nine dollars a month, the MLS, which is not near as good a product wants $14 a month.
You would think that Apple/MLS would want to emulate a successful league like the Premier League where games are spread over 5-6 non-overlapping windows every weekend so viewers can tune in to multiple games but apparently they aren’t smart enough to figure that out.
.
That being said, the coverage has been poor enough that for the first time in 13 years I’ve stopped bothering to rewatch the home games when I get home from attending them because I know I’m not going to learn anything useful I didn’t see with my naked eye.
I would just implore you to implore Apple TV to NOT LIST THE FINAL SCORES on replay on demand. Why would anyone watch a game they missed if you had the score right there before you hit play?????
There is a hide scores setting in Apple TV. I can’t say if it works for the MLS SP but worth a try.
The problem is the settings are only for the app showing it, they still have the little preview image of the game, which always has the camera showing the score across the top from the end of the game. You can’t block that. I literally squint to blue my vision as I try to find the game.
I thought it was silly too. In above comments, there seems to be a way to turn off the scores in the app1 Settings>TV>Show sports scores (turn off)
Unfortunately, MLS is now out of my life. Not getting another streaming service. So, haven’t seen the product and can no longer what my team play. No matter how good or bad, schedule, etc, just disappointed I no longer can watch.
Yea because you aren’t trying. This year you can watch more MLS games for free then ever before. One of two games a week on Fox or FS1. Also by signing up for an Apple ID (Free) they show five to six free games a week. 42% of the schedule this year is free and you can watch from anywhere on a web browser or multiple devices.
you are really trying to sell this. Stop, be neutral, and read the comment. He doesn’t want another streaming service…full stop.
If I sign up for an Apple ID I get a few games this year, with no promises going forward, and I have to set up a smart tv, and the product sucks.
The product is worse for the local fan than last year, with no real promise of getting better and I have to pay for it.
Don’t forget the most annoying issue of them all. The giant graphic spoiling the scores of all replay games. Ridiculous. Like you said they’re all at the same time so if I want to go watch another team afterwards, the score is immediately spoiled as I navigate to the game replay.
Try the hide scores setting in the Apple TV app. Might work.
It is an issue. It hides it from the text block, but not the graphic. Hopefully they figure that out.
I’ve been a big fan of MLS and up until this season would watch games often. However, I refuse to pay that kind of money and I hate that no games are on regular TV channels. I’ll just watch the Union’s extended highlight’s after the fact and what I’ve read the playoffs will be free so I’ll watch those. MLS will lose viewers and won’t be able to grow their fan base – so sad. The league has really improved but now I’ll watch other league’s. This was a really bad deal!
See my comments above because you can watch lots of games for free.
However, I can’t watch many Union games for free and those are the games I used to watch almost every week. Like I mentioned before the cost to be able to watch all the MLS games is way more than PL which have some of the best teams in the world and I can watch many games for less. They are going to loose viewers and won’t be able to grow the market. Thanks
Not paying for AppleTV. Subscriptions for everything is getting ridiculus. Goodby MLS.
I’m very disappointed in this deal. I don’t have Apple devices, but I am very tech savvy. Signing up for the Apple ID was confusing. I expected to just sign up for Apple TV, but you actually buy the ID. Getting it to work on my TV was a second adventure. I couldn’t log in on the TV, but ended up signing in on my phone.
For me, the production quality is so-so at best. I watch the games after they’ve been played. Figuring out how to replay a game is not obvious. When fast forwarding at the first speed, you don’t see anything, just the time moving. At the second speed, the picture is choppy. Compare this to a recording of a game on broadcast TV, and it is much worse.
All this for nearly $200 when the ad supported broadcasts had better commentators and production quality. Thanks MLS.
We live 90 minutes away from Chester. That makes getting home an absolute nightmare. It takes an hour to get out of the parking lot.That’s a midnight return home. It’s difficult for this pair of 50-ish people with crap night vision. We abhor the 7:30 kickoffs, both when we’re at the match and when we’re at home. We have footie on in this house at every possible moment. Away days used to see our telly filled with match after match all weekend long. Service goes out all the time. We won’t be renewing our seasons tickets, and I’m not too sure we will pay for the package next year. This sucks. I’m too old for 730 matches.
My oldest, 10, was just beginning to really become a fan of FC Cincy. But this year with 7:30pm or later starts he’s seen zero games through to the end. It’s absurd.
We watch premier league and would occasionally find FC Cincinnati. We had an undefeated first place team and cannot watch them. How do you grow your brand??
Anybody else having technical problems? I accidentally exited Appleplus (which I access through xfinity) and tried to go back in, only to be asked to sign up again and after trying numerous times giving up. I was able to get in the next day. But I missed the action after the score was tied 2-2
You may have run into the AppleTV outage that hit Saturday night. Same thing happened to me.
Interesting- and frustrating. Good to know I was not alone. Bad that it happened at all.
I just don’t think it’s right that I can see a replay of interviews and everything else but I can’t get a replay of a game if I have to work that night and that time slot then how do I see the game when I paid $100 for the year please of matches when you want to see them should be available
There is a way to watch replays of games by holding down the enter button for 3 seconds when selecting the game (kind of like pressing ctrl-alt-del all at once on your keyboard). Unfortunately, I’ve found it only works when I go directly through my TV and not through Xfinity because holding the button down there doesn’t do anything.
And none of you have discussed what has happened to the farm team league.
.
Nothing mentioned above does not apply to those broadcasts.
.
It is frustrating to constantly correct announcers who know less about the team than the viewer does.
It’s hard to understand how Apple is doing a worse job with the broadcasts than the team was doing on its own. It’s as if they got rid of everyone producing the local broadcasts right down to the camera operators. I would have thought Apple could afford to do better. I do expect them to improve as we go.
–
No matter what, I think this whole deal was the wrong way to go for a league that still needs to grow. Even though a lot of European stuff has gone behind various streaming channel paywalls, there’s still a lot on anyone’s regular TV services. Prem still has at least half a dozen games on every weekend on USA/NBC, Champion’s League has a couple games on every week on CBS, When I fire up YouTube TV, I see LigaMX on, The Bundesliga and have even stumbled on some Scottish Prem matches. I get the value of the money for this, MLS needs to build audiences in every local market. I don’t think they were ready to do this.
–
Part of this could be fixed by the schedule. Games of the week on FS1 help. I’m not sure how many are being shown that way, but MLS needs to be more available than European football on the TV, not less.
Here’s what’s hilarious, right? It’s such an easy thing: ask the same production crews from the local broadcast to continue on with Apple. They could have focused nearly entirely on the digital side and wrap around shows and then still been ready to roll on a tight timeline with a product that was at least no different than people were already used to.
Exactly my thoughts.
Stop Making Sense. Did you ever watch it? Great concert documentary of Talking Heads.
.
Your comment makes me think of- Stop Making Sense.
Apple is NOT producing the games, MLS is…..
.
Here’s the other thing…..the EPL is going to be increasingly on Peacock and not linear cable. The Champions League is only on OTA CBS for the final rounds, the group stage is largely on Paramount+.
.
6 FREE games a week currently for MLS……that’s far more per week than anytime since the league started…..
Well, The team was producing the local broadcasts before. And I’m sure MLS is taking direction from Apple. There’s no way Apple isn’t involved because the matches are on their service and reflect on them.
–
I also get that the direction of all the football we can see here is headed behind streaming paywalls, which is even more reason in my mind to keep MLS as open as possible. I’m sure there are obstacles – perhaps no one was willing to pay a whole lot for broadcast rights at all. I’d be doing what I could to copy NBC’s PL formula. They had everything for years and made a lot of Prem fans in that time.
6 if you sign up for Apple. Which is currently free, but this is a teaser rate.
As a cable cutter, I disagree with the premise of this article that the Apple deal was a let-down, mostly because now I literally won’t miss any of my team’s matches. Even those played without Apple can be reached with my services.
I agree though that there are areas of improvement, the biggest IMO is getting rid of this uniform 7:30 start time. I want to spend the afternoon watching matches like I can with overseas leagues.
Personally, all I would change is have them remove the scores from the page so I can watch matches after they happened without the spoiler.
There’s a remove scores setting in the App’s settings.
.
Euro leagues are on during the day here because of the time difference…..
It needs a 30 minute pregame show.
Is anyone else shocked/disappointed that Apple can’t afford memory to maintain 2 weeks of all of the full games? If you are watching the Union, and all of the other games end, you can only watch recaps of those other games. Why would they (Apple or MLS) not want you to watch other teams? What is the point of not showing the scores if you can’t go back and watch other games anyway? Apple should subscribe to Peacock. On that platform, I can watch weeks of full EPL games….in their entirety. Apple sucks and MLS sucks for not testing this, or for approving/limiting this feature. It was better when I could DVR a game and watch it anytime. Now I have to be at my TV, like it is the 1970s, or all I can get is a recap. This feedback is free Apple. You can go ahead and fire your high priced McKinsey consultants.
My husband and I are huge NYCFC fans, and have been SO disappointed with the move to AppleTV. Beyond having to pay for extra subscription, the announcers are HORRIBLE and absolutely detract from the game. I miss our more local announcers who knew the team, the players, the plays. We too, are watching less MLS, and feel cranky when we are. It’s a huge disappointment and we are frustrated with this long-term deal.
So I scrolled through and saw one comment about not paying for Apple. Let me add to that. I am not an Apple product user. Never have been, never will be. So it follows I won’t pay for an Apple subscription. It seems to me that if MLS wants to be considered one of the major sports leagues in the U.S. they would consider going to a shared outlet offering. NFL has it, MLB has it, NBA has it, even the NHL has it. I’m guessing their agreement with Apple doesn’t permit it and perhaps they didn’t feel like they had negotiating leverage, but if they want to be taken seriously as a sports/entertainment enterprise, they should have negotiated a more open arrangement.
Changing the time window is a no-brainer. Replicate the NFL’s timeslots with early, mid-afternoon and prime time matches. Or at least have one other option besides 7:30. Your comment about families resonates with me as it’s a 7:30 kickoff is a non-starter for us. But it’s a good idea in general to add variance.
The Leagues Cup is a waste of time. I don’t care about Liga MX. Never have, never will. The CCL is plenty of exposure to that league.
The content is another let down. It’s very bland. Bring in a former coach and add some tactical analysis. The 360 leaves a lot to be desired as well.
I also think the pricing was a huge miss. Why not just bake it in to normal Apple TV? Greedy SOBs.
Hopefully, they take these lessons and learn from it to continuously improve the product.
Kudos to Peter for writing an article that attracted comments from fans of several different MLS team.
.
Given the general dissatisfaction with Apple’s coverage, maybe the supporters sections of the various teams can get together and during the 28th minute (for the 28th season of the league) start a chant along the lines of “Down with Apple”.
One good thing is that there are no more blackouts. But another bad thing is that I still have to subscribe to Fubo, Paramount, etc. to catch other MLS non-league games, USMNT, etc.
To provide feedback to Apple: https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-tv-app/
–
To MLS: feedback@mlssoccer.com (email, this is the only feedback channel I could find)
If everyone was ACTUALLY watching MLS games on ESPN and Fox the past 2 decades they would have been the ones to pony up $250M annually instead of offering MLS LESS than their previous TV contract. Why did MLS go with Apple? Because Apple gave them a platform to truly focus on the league and treat it like a big deal instead of like an afterthought.
.
Sure, being able to watch games on ESPN+ was okay….except for all of the varying degrees of local coverage and production. It wasn’t consistent from team to team.
.
As Union fans we were spoiled as the team spent on a quality TV presentation. As someone who actually watched other games on ESPN+….the Union were the exception and not the norm in this department.
.
How many fans complain about not having “local” announce teams for NFL games?
.
MLS360 is being modeled after CBS’ Champions League coverage and not NFL RedZone. Soccer doesn’t really lend itself to NFL RedZone’s concept. I’m clearly in the minority in this lot, as IMO so far that show has been very hood and improves each week.
.
As for full match replays? Those are much more accessible now as Apple has heard the feedback and put it into action. A simple software update takes care of it.
.
I’m old enough to remember when the NFL moved to Fox from CBS….that transition had its’ growing pains too, and that seems to have worked out.
I may be in the minority of sports fans who can avoid looking at scores/texts during a game if I’m busy, knowing that I can watch it later that night or early the next morning. It’s great that AppleTV provides full match replays with the MLS Season Pass, but it’s a little hard to avoid the final score when it’s front and center on the video you’re trying to select.
JUST GLAD T MOBILE STEPPED UP AND OFFERED. Exactly what’s wrong with American soccer, pay to play. Now it’s pay to watch. Hope it’s a complete failure.