On Thursday, Major League Soccer announced that MLS and Leagues Cup matches will be available to Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+) subscribers, with no additional MLS-specific subscription required.
The standalone MLS Season Pass subscription will conclude after the 2025 season. In past seasons, season ticket holders received a complimentary subscription to Season Pass as part of their ticket package. Going forward, a full subscription to Apple TV, which includes MLS matches as well as Formula 1 races and Apple's original programming, will be included.
What this means?
While the television product quality increased dramatically with the Apple TV deal, which started in 2023, the additional paywall and fewer matches available on linear TV has often been sited as a hindrance to potential growth, with fans needing to jump through additional hoops to access matches.
Putting games in front of the paywall, with with F1 joining Apple in a similar deal, will hopefully lower the barrier for entry for new fans and increase the visibility of the league.
It remains to be seen if the league will be able to compete with linear TV viewership numbers on a streaming platform, even with the paywall removed. With more leagues moving towards streaming as a primary method of distribution, MLS could be ahead of the curve. Or it could prove to be a deal that dramatically hinders growth. Only time will tell.
