MLS and Apple Broadcasting Deal

[moogoo]

Apple TV app adds new 'Catch Up' feature for live streaming sports in MLS Season Pass - 9to5Mac

Apple today announced a new ‘Catch Up’ feature as part of MLS Season Pass. When joining a live stream for...

9to5mac.com

YoutubeTV has a similar feature for sporting events. I have mostly used it in college and pro football. The problem is the key plays are chosen by an algorithm or AI. They mostly choose well, but not always. Like it might show a team earn an unremarkable first down in their own half of the field but not show how that drive ended. Or it will show a stop on third down inside the red zone but not show if they tried for a field goal or went for it. These fails are not the norm but not super rare either. It usually includes all scoring plays but not perfect even on that.
I would expect it does even worse with soccer. It's harder to figure out when a "play" begins or ends. I would think it's very hard to tell if a shot was dangerous or not.
Still, having the option is better than not having it.

considering their current implementation of it, i would expect it to be very buggy and poorly executed, at least to start. and of course, probably won't even work or be available for non-apple device users for a very long time, if ever ha

 

[mgarbowski]

considering their current implementation of it, i would expect it to be very buggy and poorly executed, at least to start. and of course, probably won't even work or be available for non-apple device users for a very long time, if ever ha

FTA "Key Plays will also be available on non-Apple devices, rolling out to the TV app on platforms like Amazon Fire TV, Roku, smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox and more."
That does not guarantee availability on Day 1 with Apple products, but should not be a big delay.

 

[Alex Da Silva]

NBC does a wonderful job with this for the prem, so I am excited for this and think it will actually do a good job!

 

[Shwafta]

Here to vent again bc I mentioned this to gator/mark - (however since I found the full match replay on the apple tv website...) the full match options are below the watch recap button but just by simply looking down you get all the highlights in your face. I guess what this means is I'll need to practice covering the whole screen and moving my hand down until i see the "full replay" button and click it while hoping i don't see the highlights lol.

...and then, confusingly, if you press full replay and go back to that screen the "watch recap" button becomes a "Resume full game" button. idk. Weird UX decisions.

 

[moogoo]

Here to vent again bc I mentioned this to gator/mark - (however since I found the full match replay on the apple tv website...) the full match options are below the watch recap button but just by simply looking down you get all the highlights in your face. I guess what this means is I'll need to practice covering the whole screen and moving my hand down until i see the "full replay" button and click it while hoping i don't see the highlights lol.

...and then, confusingly, if you press full replay and go back to that screen the "watch recap" button becomes a "Resume full game" button. idk. Weird UX decisions.
View attachment 13427

yep. it's TERRIBLE. i don't know what the experience is like on an apple TV device but in a browser, it's a horrendous interface.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Here to vent again bc I mentioned this to gator/mark - (however since I found the full match replay on the apple tv website...) the full match options are below the watch recap button but just by simply looking down you get all the highlights in your face. I guess what this means is I'll need to practice covering the whole screen and moving my hand down until i see the "full replay" button and click it while hoping i don't see the highlights lol.

...and then, confusingly, if you press full replay and go back to that screen the "watch recap" button becomes a "Resume full game" button. idk. Weird UX decisions.
View attachment 13427

I concur completely and as I mention have the exact same problem and solution. Why Apple couldn’t have anticipated this problem or fixed it by now is beyond me. It’s the kind of thing they’re usually good at.

 

[Shwafta]

putting the photo in a spoiler bc it contains some columbus came highlights, but what the hell apple? THERE'S NO BUTTON TO WATCH THE GAME. I'm logged in. How am I supposed to avoid spoilers like this? this is ridiculous.

Spoiler

 

[ZYanksRule]

How about them just straight not showing Julian Fernandez getting red carded tonight and only reporting it minutes later. They didn't even have it on any of their cameras? Their tape crew can't find the moment? Such a lazy production every single game.

The amount of things they miss every week because they're doing cookie cutter one-size-fits-all broadcasts is infuriating.

 

[Gene]

Tonight is the first time in awhile I'm having problems. Everytime I try to navigate the site it boots me off. Not only do I have to log in again, but it doesn't recognize my tablet and I have to get a code.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Tonight is the first time in awhile I'm having problems. Everytime I try to navigate the site it boots me off. Not only do I have to log in again, but it doesn't recognize my tablet and I have to get a code.

I had an issue with trying to switch from Countdown to the game. I had to click on the AppleTV icon and then back to MLS, or sometimes close the tab and reopen it. But nothing tonight, very smooth.

By the way, I had a resource issue myself on my old laptop. Someone mentioned it in chat (Shwafta mavbe?). Games used to freeze (I hate using that word tonight) but on my new desktop it doesn't happen anymore. The chip isn't all that much more powerful, but it's a lot newer. A computer friend told me older chips just can't handle the graphics.

Memory used to max out too, but I have a lot more memory now. It still becomes an issue with ESPN+, Paramount+ and Peacock unless I shut off the VPN and disable Privacy Badger and uBlockOrigin before opening the tab, then re-enable the browser extensions after the feed starts. It keeps cycling up and up until it gets critical unless I monkey around when I start the games. I have to check Task Manager in the first couple minutes and make sure it's stable. Sometimes I can re-enable the VPN, sometimes I can't.

I use Microsoft Edge for a browser, by the way. I haven't watched any games on a tablet or phone.

 

[KevinJRogers]

I had an issue with trying to switch from Countdown to the game. I had to click on the AppleTV icon and then back to MLS, or sometimes close the tab and reopen it. But nothing tonight, very smooth.

By the way, I had a resource issue myself on my old laptop. Someone mentioned it in chat (Shwafta mavbe?). Games used to freeze (I hate using that word tonight) but on my new desktop it doesn't happen anymore. The chip isn't all that much more powerful, but it's a lot newer. A computer friend told me older chips just can't handle the graphics.

Memory used to max out too, but I have a lot more memory now. It still becomes an issue with ESPN+, Paramount+ and Peacock unless I shut off the VPN and disable Privacy Badger and uBlockOrigin before opening the tab, then re-enable the browser extensions after the feed starts. It keeps cycling up and up until it gets critical unless I monkey around when I start the games. I have to check Task Manager in the first couple minutes and make sure it's stable. Sometimes I can re-enable the VPN, sometimes I can't.

I use Microsoft Edge for a browser, by the way. I haven't watched any games on a tablet or phone.

Oh, I should clarify: I have zero problems with MLS Season Pass, other than getting the games to start sometimes. I just open the tab and let it rip. I only have to go through the memory-saving rigamarole when I watch the Prem, Serie A, the Bundesliga, the USL and LaLiga.

No issues with MLBtv either, or league sites like the NWSL, or when I watched U.S. Open Cup games on the U.S. Soccer site.

 

[Gotham Gator]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5919690/2024/11/13/taylor-twellman-altercation-mls-miami-atlanta/

For those who don't subscribe, during Game 1 of the Atlanta-Miami series, Twellman is alleged to have "made physical contact" with a production engineer helping with the audio feed for the match, which was having problems. He called Game 2 of that series, but after the audio engineer filed a union complaint, Twellman did not call any matches this past weekend. He is currently scheduled to call the LAFC-Seattle match in the next round.

 

[LionNYC]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5919690/2024/11/13/taylor-twellman-altercation-mls-miami-atlanta/

For those who don't subscribe, during Game 1 of the Atlanta-Miami series, Twellman is alleged to have "made physical contact" with a production engineer helping with the audio feed for the match, which was having problems. He called Game 2 of that series, but after the audio engineer filed a union complaint, Twellman did not call any matches this past weekend. He is currently scheduled to call the LAFC-Seattle match in the next round.

This is more than what was known about what Bruce Arena said/did in New England but still very vague.

 

[Gene]

"Well let me tell you about something, brother!"

MLS moves production arm to Studios at WWE

MLS is moving its media and broadcast production arm, MLS Productions, to the Studios at WWE, a high-tech new facility in Stamford, Conn.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

 

[LionNYC]

"Well let me tell you about something, brother!"

MLS moves production arm to Studios at WWE

MLS is moving its media and broadcast production arm, MLS Productions, to the Studios at WWE, a high-tech new facility in Stamford, Conn.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Hogan was absolutely booed during his promo during the first RAW on Netflix. From the entrance song to everything we said, just a reign of boos.

 

[mgarbowski]

MLS aligning media production with both WWE and the Formula 1 series producers is kind of wild. The horseshoe theory is both are soap operas. That's probably a stretch because it appears they are just using the WWE facilities, but I like making connections.

But I have wondered how the F1 documentary people will transfer their style to MLS. For those who haven't watched Drive to Survive it really is very melodramatic and character driven, but F1 has just 10 teams with 2 drivers each. Apart from them, the series also has made celebrities of each team principal, but everyone else: pit crew, mechanics, engineers (who do more than even drivers arguably to make some cars go vroom more than others) are bit players and extras. And 60% of the attention goes to 40% of the teams, which is what fans want and other teams have to accept. I'm curious to see how they handle a 30 team league with 20 man rosters and 1 golden boy, and a fanbase which I think will be less happy if the attention isn't spread around.

 

[moogoo]

MLS aligning media production with both WWE and the Formula 1 series producers is kind of wild. The horseshoe theory is both are soap operas. That's probably a stretch because it appears they are just using the WWE facilities, but I like making connections.

But I have wondered how the F1 documentary people will transfer their style to MLS. For those who haven't watched Drive to Survive it really is very melodramatic and character driven, but F1 has just 10 teams with 2 drivers each. Apart from them, the series also has made celebrities of each team principal, but everyone else: pit crew, mechanics, engineers (who do more than even drivers arguably to make some cars go vroom more than others) are bit players and extras. And 60% of the attention goes to 40% of the teams, which is what fans want and other teams have to accept. I'm curious to see how they handle a 30 team league with 20 man rosters and 1 golden boy, and a fanbase which I think will be less happy if the attention isn't spread around.

based on the trailer, it seems like it will focus on the teams with the biggest markets/fan bases or teams with a player who has an interesting back story. that's a lot of speculation though. i don't think we'd get much coverage in it if we didn't have jones who has an interesting back story for them to do their production magic on. we might have gotten some time, but having a story to tell will probably give us more coverage than we probably would have gotten.

i did like the trailer though, so I am looking forward to watching the series.

 

[KevinJRogers]

"Well let me tell you about something, brother!"

MLS moves production arm to Studios at WWE

MLS is moving its media and broadcast production arm, MLS Productions, to the Studios at WWE, a high-tech new facility in Stamford, Conn.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

“We need to start feeding [our partners] content and feeding the machine so that we get more people engaged with the sport, more people thinking about Major League Soccer ... "

Content is king. And it sounds like MLS is done fooling around and means to fill the pipeline. Music to my ears, if that's the case.

EDIT: Of course, they must do it right. Axing the Extratime podcast leaves a hole they need to fill:

End Of MLS Extratime Podcast Creates A Gap With Apple TV Content

As MLS Extra time signs off, league fans are still waiting for the Apple TV-worthy quality of coverage the brand first promised more than two years ago.

www.forbes.com

 

[ZYanksRule]

“We need to start feeding [our partners] content and feeding the machine so that we get more people engaged with the sport, more people thinking about Major League Soccer ... "

Content is king. And it sounds like MLS is done fooling around and means to fill the pipeline. Music to my ears, if that's the case.

EDIT: Of course, they must do it right. Axing the Extratime podcast leaves a hole they need to fill:

End Of MLS Extratime Podcast Creates A Gap With Apple TV Content

As MLS Extra time signs off, league fans are still waiting for the Apple TV-worthy quality of coverage the brand first promised more than two years ago.

www.forbes.com

They made the same proclamations 3 years ago when this began. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[KevinJRogers]

They made the same proclamations 3 years ago when this began. I'll believe it when I see it.

Fair enough. I haven't been all that impressed so far myself, outside of the technology (which is awesome).

They need to bring in a top-class television producer to get it up to standard. I'm not sure if they can find a Roone Arledge type to get their ship righted, but that's the kind of person they need.