MLS and Apple Broadcasting Deal

[ZYanksRule]

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.

Their lead director is the guy who directed NYCFC's broadcasts the first couple years. Their issue isn't personnel, it's purse strings. You can hire the best people possible, but if you're trying to do it all on the cheap, it's going to come across on the broadcast.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Their lead director is the guy who directed NYCFC's broadcasts the first couple years. Their issue isn't personnel, it's purse strings. You can hire the best people possible, but if you're trying to do it all on the cheap, it's going to come across on the broadcast.

I was talking more of an overall management role rather than directors, but point taken. Hopefully, this move means more focus.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I was talking more of an overall management role rather than directors, but point taken. Hopefully, this move means more focus.

I get it -- My point is that they've hired good people, they just need to let those people run and stop being cheap with the coverage. Every game should have a sideline reporter, every game should have halftime and postgame interviews with coaches and players, not just games involving Miami. Every game should have real halftime coverage, not some generic league-wide feature and shots of fans. Every postgame show shouldn't look the same. The studio coverage is decent, but the game coverage is severely lacking.

 

[KevinJRogers]

I get it -- My point is that they've hired good people, they just need to let those people run and stop being cheap with the coverage. Every game should have a sideline reporter, every game should have halftime and postgame interviews with coaches and players, not just games involving Miami. Every game should have real halftime coverage, not some generic league-wide feature and shots of fans. Every postgame show shouldn't look the same. The studio coverage is decent, but the game coverage is severely lacking.

Personally, I have problems with the studio show as well, but no matter. It's not horrible. And I wholeheartedly agree; game coverage is the area most in need of improvement and refinement. (They severely lack evergreen content, too. And the offseason is a wasteland.)

It's nothing a top-notch, experienced executive producer with a decent budget can't fix, though. And they'd have a lot to work with from the kick, especially on the technical end of things. MLS and Apple just have to find a way to get there. I can't imagine they look at the first two seasons without thinking, "If we really want to make this investment work, we're going to have to punch this puppy up."

 

[Gotham Gator]

The biggest issue I have with coverage is the whip-around show - MLS 360. I don't want them telling me that a goal has been scored. It ruins the suspense and surprise. Just tell me that you are going to a game because of a development, and leave it at that. It could be a card, a chance, a goal, or not much of anything. Let me enjoy the mystery.

 

[CCMore]

I’ve been noodling around the idea that they shut down ETR because they have plans of starting a new show. There’s no evidence to this just thinking that would Make sense

 

[ZYanksRule]

If you're a T-Mobile subscriber who bought Season Pass last year, cancel your subscription. T-Mobile subscribers are getting it for free this year.

T-Mobile Customers Get MLS Season Pass Free​

T-Mobile is giving qualified T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers — including businesses — a promotional offer for complimentary access to MLS Season Pass all season long with no blackout dates. T-Mobile customers can redeem for a limited time via T-Mobile Tuesdays in the T-Life app, starting February 18.

Major League Soccer returns to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for historic 30th season | MLSSoccer.com

Beginning today, fans in over 100 countries and regions can subscribe for access to every MLS game with no blackouts The regular season kicks off February 22-23

www.mlssoccer.com

 

[413Blue]

The biggest issue I have with coverage is the whip-around show - MLS 360. I don't want them telling me that a goal has been scored. It ruins the suspense and surprise. Just tell me that you are going to a game because of a development, and leave it at that. It could be a card, a chance, a goal, or not much of anything. Let me enjoy the mystery.

Exactly.
"Back when I played for Red Bull, we won a game in Columbus becau......WE GOT A GOAL"

 

[ZYanksRule]

For those of us who were hoping they would spend more money on this production ...

Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social)

MLS exec Seth Bacon admits some games will be remote-produced this year. No word yet on whether broadcasters will call games remotely - they've been on site for every game in the Apple era so far.

bsky.app

Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social)

MLS exec Seth Bacon confirms: yes, announcers will call games remotely this year. He makes the case it's no different. (He knows I and many viewers disagree.)

bsky.app

He went on to say that only "some" games would be called remotely. For those of us who remember YES's broadcasts, they were noticeably worse when being done remotely.

 

[Shwafta]

The biggest issue I have with coverage is the whip-around show - MLS 360. I don't want them telling me that a goal has been scored. It ruins the suspense and surprise. Just tell me that you are going to a game because of a development, and leave it at that. It could be a card, a chance, a goal, or not much of anything. Let me enjoy the mystery.

As shown by today's whip-around in the UCL, The Golazo Show, where they go "Atalanta vs Barcelona, two of the highest scoring teams still are locked at 0-0, and one of them needs a.... OHOHOHOHOOOOOOH" and they all start yelling because none of them knew it was coming. That's brilliant stuff.

 

[Fantazma]

For those of us who were hoping they would spend more money on this production ...

Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social)

MLS exec Seth Bacon admits some games will be remote-produced this year. No word yet on whether broadcasters will call games remotely - they've been on site for every game in the Apple era so far.

bsky.app

Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social)

MLS exec Seth Bacon confirms: yes, announcers will call games remotely this year. He makes the case it's no different. (He knows I and many viewers disagree.)

bsky.app

He went on to say that only "some" games would be called remotely. For those of us who remember YES's broadcasts, they were noticeably worse when being done remotely.

Sheesh. That’s bad, but man no one wants to give the league a shot. ESPN used old cameras in playoff games fs1 i think also had some issues before, and now apple is half assing it.

As a side note no way this helps apple with credibility to be able to have another sports league contract if it’s not going to produce good content with mls. They do baseball but that’s a handful of games only.

 

[moogoo]

Sheesh. That’s bad, but man no one wants to give the league a shot. ESPN used old cameras in playoff games fs1 i think also had some issues before, and now apple is half assing it.

As a side note no way this helps apple with credibility to be able to have another sports league contract if it’s not going to produce good content with mls. They do baseball but that’s a handful of games only.

i think it's been said before, but MLS is in charge of producing the content. Apple is just providing the streaming service.

Maybe there is something that will let apple get involved with production at some point? But as far as we know, the lack of quality content falls on MLS not investing more money into it for one reason or another.

 

[ZYanksRule]

i think it's been said before, but MLS is in charge of producing the content. Apple is just providing the streaming service.

Maybe there is something that will let apple get involved with production at some point? But as far as we know, the lack of quality content falls on MLS not investing more money into it for one reason or another.

Yep. MLS does all the production and carries all the costs of production. This is MLS trying to do this on the cheap for the third consecutive season. Incredibly disappointing considering the promises that were originally made.

 

[moogoo]

Yep. MLS does all the production and carries all the costs of production. This is MLS trying to do this on the cheap for the third consecutive season. Incredibly disappointing considering the promises that were originally made.

i don't think calling some games remotely is such a terrible thing. for whatever reason they may have to compromise based on the game schedule and who is available. it doesn't automatically mean the production quality of the games and MLS360 and whatever other content they decide to have this season is going to suck. Yes, i think it's easy and reasonable to assume that nothing will change and we're going to get the same lackluster game coverage but maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

Personally, if all they did was add pregame, half time, and post game interviews.. maybe some shots of post game press conferences if timing allows. that would be great. I think that should be bare minimum in a lot of cases.

 

[Fantazma]

i think it's been said before, but MLS is in charge of producing the content. Apple is just providing the streaming service.

Maybe there is something that will let apple get involved with production at some point? But as far as we know, the lack of quality content falls on MLS not investing more money into it for one reason or another.

Then it’s clear….MLS needs to let production go. Or this will further bring down the product,

 

[LionNYC]

Exactly.
"Back when I played for Red Bull, we won a game in Columbus becau......WE GOT A GOAL"

I hate the first part of that sentence from MLS 360 instead of the last...

 

[moogoo]

Then it’s clear….MLS needs to let production go. Or this will further bring down the product,

i think they can improve. i think doing the documentary series is a positive step that they want to produce quality content. they just need to spend that money on season pass content as well. i'd be interested to know if the documentary was fully funded by MLS or if it was mostly Apple?

 

[mgarbowski]

On the plus side the activation of my STH Season Pass was seamless today.

 

[Shwafta]

If you're a T-Mobile subscriber who bought Season Pass last year, cancel your subscription. T-Mobile subscribers are getting it for free this year.

T-Mobile Customers Get MLS Season Pass Free​

T-Mobile is giving qualified T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers — including businesses — a promotional offer for complimentary access to MLS Season Pass all season long with no blackout dates. T-Mobile customers can redeem for a limited time via T-Mobile Tuesdays in the T-Life app, starting February 18.

Major League Soccer returns to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for historic 30th season | MLSSoccer.com

Beginning today, fans in over 100 countries and regions can subscribe for access to every MLS game with no blackouts The regular season kicks off February 22-23

www.mlssoccer.com

Don't forget to do this before your subscription renews! And also on tuesday we should put a reminder on the forum on Feb 18th. I'll set a phone reminder and post about it on that morning!

 

[ZYanksRule]

i don't think calling some games remotely is such a terrible thing. for whatever reason they may have to compromise based on the game schedule and who is available. it doesn't automatically mean the production quality of the games and MLS360 and whatever other content they decide to have this season is going to suck. Yes, i think it's easy and reasonable to assume that nothing will change and we're going to get the same lackluster game coverage but maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

Personally, if all they did was add pregame, half time, and post game interviews.. maybe some shots of post game press conferences if timing allows. that would be great. I think that should be bare minimum in a lot of cases.

It probably won't change much about the production, but play-by-play and color commentary are noticeably worse when games are being called remotely. Calling a game off a monitor is a massive difference from calling it in-person. All games have been called in-person the last two years, and if MLS is going away from that it's clearly about cost-cutting.