After baseball: free US soccer league games on Apple TV+
Apple has been selling subscriptions to the American MLS for some time. To attract users, there is now a weekly free game as long as you are a TV+ customer.
MLS on Apple TV+: Watch Mess and Co.
(Image: Apple)
Soccer fans have rarely had the US major league MLS (Major League Soccer) on their radar. However, some great games are shown there, for example with Lionel Messi from Inter Milan. Apple, which has the rights to the games in the streaming area, now wants to make it easier for users to get to know the teams and the league: from February, there will be a weekly free game. This can be watched by all Apple TV+ customers without having to take out an additional subscription.
Standard subscription is a prerequisite
Apple's approach is reminiscent of "Friday Night Baseball". Apple has been using this service to broadcast selected American baseball games with its own presenters every Friday since 2022. The service was initially completely free, but is now limited to paying TV+ subscribers. If you want to watch more than just Apple's free games, you have to take out a subscription to Major League Baseball (MLB). The same applies to the MLS. Apple TV+ costs 9.99 euros per month, with a seven-day free period as standard. This is increased to three months when an Apple product is purchased.
Apple's offer starts from the beginning of this year's season on February 22. The first free game will air on February 23 at 7 p.m. Eastern time, with San Diego FC taking on LA Galaxy. The games will be broadcast in 100 countries worldwide. So-called blackouts, where individual games are not broadcast in local markets, are not planned. Apple is preparing an extensive supporting program, including All-Star games, playoffs as part of the "Audi MLS Cup" and individual "MLS NEXT Pro" games.
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Benefiting from the Messi effect
Apple otherwise sells access to the MLS as part of a Season Pass, which can also be purchased on a monthly basis. The price without TV+ is 14.99 euros per month or 99 euros for the entire season. With TV+, the price is 12.99 euros per month or 79 euros for the whole season. As usual, Apple's Family Sharing feature can also be used to share the offer with up to five people.
Apple also wants to prepare more games for the Vision Pro – including 3D audio. Lionel Messi's start at Inter Miami had brought more attention to the MLS. In 2023, there was a real Messi effect, which Apple also wanted to capitalize on with several documentaries.
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