MLS and Apple Broadcasting Deal

[moogoo]

The backstage crew tonight kept having to bail out of replays because the teams were restarting play faster than they expected. Just no feel for the game behind the camera, and the announcers are not at the level. It's such a pisspoor production all the way around. I miss Joe and Ian.

The audio and video is good. But the MLS 360 and Countdown and the in-game commentary are all so bad. I have to watch the games with the sound off, and as much as I wish otherwise (because I love the Golazo show on UCL and UEL days, and NFL Red Zone) MLS 360 is brutal.

Hey.. that's a "WORLD CLASS" team you're talking about!

Mo Edu is the worst color commentator ever. I don't know if these idiots don't see any replays but they should be seeing at least the replays we see, right? How do they not see obvious things like messi diving or ojeda getting kicked in the nuts? Edu just makes up shit and has the tactical analysis skills of an amoeba.

 

[413Blue]

Hey.. that's a "WORLD CLASS" team you're talking about!

Mo Edu is the worst color commentator ever. I don't know if these idiots don't see any replays but they should be seeing at least the replays we see, right? How do they not see obvious things like messi diving or ojeda getting kicked in the nuts? Edu just makes up shit and has the tactical analysis skills of an amoeba.

Do we know if they were in-studio? It may have been his first studio call, which could be uncomfortable I'd guess. Hopefully they adjust to it because last night they added to the frustration of the game.

 

[FootyLovin]

I will often give commentators a pass on what we see vs what they see. I assume they are spending a significant percentage of their time checking notes, and I’ve often seen things on field that commentators I really like miss.

The kind of thing that to me says these guys are doing amateur hour is when Shore comes in and they say he is in for Haak. Anyone with the tiniest shred of understanding for the team or even just the game would have as first instinct - substitution, for NYCFC, it’s gotta be for the guy who was lucky to stay on the field, let’s check that before we spout out of our face holes that its for the guy who looked perfectly good and often plays the position of the guy who is on the verge of red.

When this kind of thing happens, that’s when I assume these guys saw Shore in. They have no real understanding of NYCFC beyond the headline players. They checked their player note card and saw he was a DMid and just assumed Shore for Haak.

I’m sure as neutrals they spend more time watching Miami than they do NYCFC. But as professional commentators I’d expect them to understand the basics of each team and understand basic game flow and management.

Yeah. Amateurs.

 

[LionNYC]

I will often give commentators a pass on what we see vs what they see. I assume they are spending a significant percentage of their time checking notes, and I’ve often seen things on field that commentators I really like miss.

The kind of thing that to me says these guys are doing amateur hour is when Shore comes in and they say he is in for Haak. Anyone with the tiniest shred of understanding for the team or even just the game would have as first instinct - substitution, for NYCFC, it’s gotta be for the guy who was lucky to stay on the field, let’s check that before we spout out of our face holes that its for the guy who looked perfectly good and often plays the position of the guy who is on the verge of red.

When this kind of thing happens, that’s when I assume these guys saw Shore in. They have no real understanding of NYCFC beyond the headline players. They checked their player note card and saw he was a DMid and just assumed Shore for Haak.

I’m sure as neutrals they spend more time watching Miami than they do NYCFC. But as professional commentators I’d expect them to understand the basics of each team and understand basic game flow and management.

Yeah. Amateurs.

Not being at the games adds to this. But yeah, the quality of commentating is so poor. Write emails to MLS with corrections after every week.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Do we know if they were in-studio? It may have been his first studio call, which could be uncomfortable I'd guess. Hopefully they adjust to it because last night they added to the frustration of the game.

They did an on-field pregame report, so they were on-site for this game.

I will often give commentators a pass on what we see vs what they see. I assume they are spending a significant percentage of their time checking notes, and I’ve often seen things on field that commentators I really like miss.

The kind of thing that to me says these guys are doing amateur hour is when Shore comes in and they say he is in for Haak. Anyone with the tiniest shred of understanding for the team or even just the game would have as first instinct - substitution, for NYCFC, it’s gotta be for the guy who was lucky to stay on the field, let’s check that before we spout out of our face holes that its for the guy who looked perfectly good and often plays the position of the guy who is on the verge of red.

When this kind of thing happens, that’s when I assume these guys saw Shore in. They have no real understanding of NYCFC beyond the headline players. They checked their player note card and saw he was a DMid and just assumed Shore for Haak.

I’m sure as neutrals they spend more time watching Miami than they do NYCFC. But as professional commentators I’d expect them to understand the basics of each team and understand basic game flow and management.

Yeah. Amateurs.

That could have also been their producer in their ear telling them the wrong sub. There's usually someone on the field with the 4th official passing the subs to the broadcast team, then the producer informs the announcers. It's possible something got messed up there.

Generally, it felt to me like Edu didn't do his homework. It felt like he exposed himself in not knowing enough about the teams, which led to some of his mistakes. It's possible they weren't looking at their monitors during replays, or maybe their monitors in the booth were too small that they couldn't see details? Lots of reasons why they wouldn't be seeing things clearly that are showing on the broadcast.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I will say this for MLS's coverage: Jake Zivin and Taylor Twellman are a really good lead broadcast team. Knowledgeable, passionate, and insightful. Miles ahead of what we heard last night.

 

[Joe_Cos]

I keep trying to sync the NYCFC radio broadcast. It’s hit or miss on the timing, but it’s usually a more enjoyable listen and definitely more informed and not too homeriey (sp).

 

[ZYanksRule]

I keep trying to sync the NYCFC radio broadcast. It’s hit or miss on the timing, but it’s usually a more enjoyable listen and definitely more informed and not too homeriey (sp).

I've done that frequently. I really like what Matty Lawrence brings to the broadcast.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I keep trying to sync the NYCFC radio broadcast. It’s hit or miss on the timing, but it’s usually a more enjoyable listen and definitely more informed and not too homeriey (sp).

Also, I haven't tried it yet myself, but if I can remember to, will look towards switching to home radio broadcasts for non-NYCFC games too.

I have to imagine the local radio guys are better than what Apple TV is throwing out there.

 

[FootyLovin]

That could have also been their producer in their ear telling them the wrong sub.

On the one hand you're right. That might have happened.

OTOH, was there a single person after the late Tana tackle who didn't recognize the red card jeopardy? I would expect anyone with any knowledge of the game to (a) say Tana was lucky to get away without a second yellow (I think they did.) (b) ask the question if or just assume that Tana would be subbed at the half (c) upon seeing a sub at the half assume it was for Tana and (d) if told it was someone other than Tana comment on how strange it is that Jansen is subbing for Haak instead of Tana when every coaching competence would suggest otherwise.

I don't give them a pass for their producer giving them bad info (if that is what happened). They were just bad.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I wish we didn't have to make these sort of complaints, but Apple not taking one shot of Pascal Jansen after his first MLS win is just terrible. The coach gets his first win. That's a story that they just decided not to tell tonight. Terrible, terrible stuff.

The complaints about streaming were all fair, but YES would have been all over that. They would have told that story a hell of a lot better than Apple did tonight. These broadcasts continue to not be at the level MLS requires.

 

[413Blue]

I wish we didn't have to make these sort of complaints, but Apple not taking one shot of Pascal Jansen after his first MLS win is just terrible. The coach gets his first win. That's a story that they just decided not to tell tonight. Terrible, terrible stuff.

The complaints about streaming were all fair, but YES would have been all over that. They would have told that story a hell of a lot better than Apple did tonight. These broadcasts continue to not be at the level MLS requires.

Just way too sterile overall. Much more tolerable with our radio guys, but still lacking.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Just way too sterile overall. Much more tolerable with our radio guys, but still lacking.

It's like the entire broadcast is paint by numbers. No originality, no ability to adjust storytelling if a game deserves it.

 

[ZYanksRule]

And here's the video I was looking for. Congrats, Pascal!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1898578674951069860

 

[FootyLovin]

And here's the video I was looking for. Congrats, Pascal!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1898578674951069860

That was actually really nice to see. I don’t know why but I expected him to go no emotion Zidane. Nice to see the double fist pump.

 

[KevinJRogers]

The complaints about streaming were all fair, but YES would have been all over that. They would have told that story a hell of a lot better than Apple did tonight. These broadcasts continue to not be at the level MLS requires.

It's all about story. Each match is a story. There are endless stories to tell about the league outside of the games. Apple shouldn't be thinking about anything but story.

 

[Seth]

I noticed the sound is sometimes odd. It's like they lost control of the supporter section mics and at times they drowned out the announcers almost. And there was that one guy you could hear singing the whole match. Poorly. LOL

 

[ZYanksRule]

I wish we didn't have to make these sort of complaints, but Apple not taking one shot of Pascal Jansen after his first MLS win is just terrible. The coach gets his first win. That's a story that they just decided not to tell tonight. Terrible, terrible stuff.

The complaints about streaming were all fair, but YES would have been all over that. They would have told that story a hell of a lot better than Apple did tonight. These broadcasts continue to not be at the level MLS requires.

The Apple/MLS broadcast does it again. Ronny Deila earns a comeback win in his first game against a team he led to MLS Cup, Pascal talks pregame about the respect he has for Ronny, and we get no shots of the two of them embracing after the game.

Another glaring lack of visual storytelling by the Apple/MLS broadcast. The commentators (who were quite good by Apple standards) were all over it, but the director never showed it.

 

[moogoo]

The Apple/MLS broadcast does it again. Ronny Deila earns a comeback win in his first game against a team he led to MLS Cup, Pascal talks pregame about the respect he has for Ronny, and we get no shots of the two of them embracing after the game.

Another glaring lack of visual storytelling by the Apple/MLS broadcast. The commentators (who were quite good by Apple standards) were all over it, but the director never showed it.

that's all entirely on MLS.. Apple has nothing to do with the production. MLS should know the storylines, so them not wanting to tell the story is a conscious decision. I agree they should do better. But my guess is the producers have no knowledge of the teams and are just doing it by the book as much as possible.

Will it improve? who knows. It's been what... 3 years now? and the product doesn't seem to have improved much at all. if anything it's about the same or even a little worse in production quality.

 

[ZYanksRule]

that's all entirely on MLS.. Apple has nothing to do with the production. MLS should know the storylines, so them not wanting to tell the story is a conscious decision. I agree they should do better. But my guess is the producers have no knowledge of the teams and are just doing it by the book as much as possible.

Will it improve? who knows. It's been what... 3 years now? and the product doesn't seem to have improved much at all. if anything it's about the same or even a little worse in production quality.

It's year 3. Enough excuses. Every broadcast looks exactly the same -- and that's by design. Which means their process is to stay on the field and show the players. They almost never show the coaches in those scenarios.

It's not going to improve, and as they continue to lose money and as they continue to realize no one is watching, they will continue to cut costs and worsen the broadcasts. It won't get better, it will only get worse.

I know Apple has nothing to do with the production, but it's on their air. They're responsible even if they're not to blame.