MLS boss says Apple bringing more viewers than expected, promises transparency

Apple took over next decade What will MLS’s distribution look like starting in the 2023 season, and what will the league’s ratings look like?

The MLS commissioner said the number of subscribers the partnership brought in “exceeded both our and Apple’s expectations,” which isn’t saying much. However, Major League Soccer owners have promised to be more “transparent” in the future.

Ahead of Saturday’s MLS Cup tie, CNBC’s Alex Sherman interviews MLS Commissioner Don Garber And asked about Apple’s streaming agreement:

“We have more subscribers than we and Apple thought. We have more people watching our games,” Garber said. […] “At some point, there’s going to be more transparency,” Garber said. […] “We have the ability to have the technology, the data and the multi-stream experience that we can’t do with linear or even other streaming services,” Garber said. “So when you can partner with a company like Apple, you have A chance to solve problems and move toward a better future.”

As for the rise of Lionel Messi, the commissioner expects the next generation of Messi to emerge and capture the attention of younger viewers. challenge? The best years of Messi’s career were played outside the United States. Can Major League Soccer and Apple garner as much attention for a player who has spent his career in the United States?

For now, Saturday’s MLS Cup is a quick test of Messi’s impact. The match was between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls. Messi’s Inter Miami did not advance. For a while, MLS on Apple TV+ was synonymous with Lionel Messi. this The Cup Final is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET. Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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