urbanSTL

STLEnginerd wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

I totally get it.  Soccer is built for a streaming model.  Society is working through a phase were everyone wants a streaming platform and each of those have add on subscriptions for things like MLB, MLS, NFL, etc.  All that and some people are still paying for cable.  I don't think its sustainable over the long term but its what is here now.  I think it may slow growth for MLS to be attached to one of the platforms with lower overall numbers (compared to Disney, Amazon and Netflix) but ultimately they likely have to pick a horse to ride.

If they are showing most away games in the local market that's pretty decent to me.  Ultimately I would like to see something where in market games are distributed on multiple platforms while all access is exclusive to a platform.  Or maybe broader multi-platform distribution the next day exclusive for day of.  Not sure if that monetarily the way to go (Apple is obviously trying to push people into their ecosystem and might prefer exclusivity) but it lets more people watch their team which is important for the health of the team & league.

jshank83 wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

pop_scientist wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

Ehh, I'm not buying that. Some people may choose not to purchase MLS Season Pass to watch. But there's also a ton of people who don't want to deal with the hassle of signing up for cable just to watch the Cardinals and Blues. And professional sports (minus only a handful of games) require the financial investment of paying for cable and/or internet too. MLS chose this route as their sole source of game access. I highly doubt they would have agreed to this had their market research told them it would be to their detriment. 

I think MLS & Apple is growing into an optimal viewing experience, imho.  No blackouts, stream whenever/wherever.  Should get better in the years to come.

MLB is a train wreck when it comes to broadcasts.  I wish they could go through the MLBTV app with no blackouts, but cable companies offer them more money. 

5 years from now I think NHL and MLB will have the same setup with the way RSNs are going bankrupt.

gone corporate wrote:Had an AppleTV device already; they're awesome. I gladly subscribe, whole season pass. Great excuse to have people over, and it's the greatest thing to not have your broadcast cutting to a commercial break every ten minutes. 

See, that's why soccer's on AppleTV and not mainstream networks: the networks won't get as much from advertisers because the game's halves don't stop every couple of minutes "for an important commercial announcement by our sponsors." Televised sports in the US live off of advertisers; hell, half the reason the Super Bowl is watched is for the ads. Soccer has never been big in the US because they could never get a broadcaster who could eat the costs of running 45+ minute halves without ad breaks. We finally have one: subscription-based broadcasting. That's how they pay their bills. I'll gladly pay a little extra to avoid ads and keep the game going. 

And if that's still too much, go to the bar and watch it there. Be social, and let them pay the bills you won't. You'll just have to pay the bar for your beer. 

pattimagee wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

pop_scientist wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple is working out the kinks before they start in on the rights for the other soccer leagues around the world.  The MLS is just the beginning.

Just 2 weeks ago

https://www.indiewire.com/2023/03/apple ... 234822172/
Every MLS Game — and ‘Ted Lasso’ — Is Not Enough: Apple ‘Considering’ Bid for Premier League

Soon, Apple TV+ may be like 90 percent soccer. Apple is “considering” bidding on the streaming rights for the UK rights to the Premier League and lower league matches run by the English Football League, according to a Bloomberg report.

Spokespeople for both Apple TV+ and the Premier League did not immediately respond to our inquiries regarding the potential bid.

MarkHaversham wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

jshank83 wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

pop_scientist wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

I think MLS & Apple is growing into an optimal viewing experience, imho.  No blackouts, stream whenever/wherever.  Should get better in the years to come.

MLB is a train wreck when it comes to broadcasts.  I wish they could go through the MLBTV app with no blackouts, but cable companies offer them more money. 

5 years from now I think NHL and MLB will have the same setup with the way RSNs are going bankrupt.

That's probably true; MLS won't break into the mainstream, but rather other leagues will focus on extracting more money from fewer consumers.

gone corporate wrote:Had an AppleTV device already; they're awesome. I gladly subscribe, whole season pass. Great excuse to have people over, and it's the greatest thing to not have your broadcast cutting to a commercial break every ten minutes. 

See, that's why soccer's on AppleTV and not mainstream networks: the networks won't get as much from advertisers because the game's halves don't stop every couple of minutes "for an important commercial announcement by our sponsors." Televised sports in the US live off of advertisers; hell, half the reason the Super Bowl is watched is for the ads. Soccer has never been big in the US because they could never get a broadcaster who could eat the costs of running 45+ minute halves without ad breaks. We finally have one: subscription-based broadcasting. That's how they pay their bills. I'll gladly pay a little extra to avoid ads and keep the game going. 

And if that's still too much, go to the bar and watch it there. Be social, and let them pay the bills you won't. You'll just have to pay the bar for your beer. 

Yeah I'm not saying it's a bad value proposition if you're a fan. Just that it's another hurdle for a young league, and I think that login/subscription fatigue is a real thing. Every company wants their own brand but people don't want 5 streaming services and 30 loyalty programs and so on. You can see some of that in this survey: https://www.reviews.org/tv-service/streaming-habits/

It used to be a thing where you might have a family gathering or something, and somebody says "oh hey I wonder how the Cards are doing" and you put the game on. Nobody's gonna say "City is defending a winning streak today, let's create a subscription to AppleTV and log into the game". As you say, that might just be the economics of soccer, but it's a shame.

MarkHaversham wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

It used to be a thing where you might have a family gathering or something, and somebody says "oh hey I wonder how the Cards are doing" and you put the game on. Nobody's gonna say "City is defending a winning streak today, let's create a subscription to AppleTV and log into the game". As you say, that might just be the economics of soccer, but it's a shame.

RockChalkSTL wrote: ↑

Apr 03, 2023

I would absolutely love it if Apple TV+ could have Premier League.

If people want to complain about MLS and how difficult it is to stream, they should check out Premier League. It requires subscriptions to three or four different services. 

framer wrote: ↑

Apr 16, 2023

For some reason, the good folks across the pond were treated to a rather strange article about the weather delay at the soccer game last night. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... adium.html

jshank83 wrote: ↑

Jun 30, 2023

Official. Kind of cool it’s the first game back for the coach. It is an official window so in theory some big names could be here.

Bart Harley Jarvis wrote: ↑

Jun 30, 2023

jshank83 wrote: ↑

Jun 30, 2023

Official. Kind of cool it’s the first game back for the coach. It is an official window so in theory some big names could be here.

Probably not the biggest of names, since it's in-season for Europe.