Major League Soccer and Apple announced on Wednesday that the MLS Season Pass will launch February 1, 2023.
Apple agreed a ten-year global rights deal with MLS worth a reported $250million (£223m) per year to exclusively show all MLS matches globally via their streaming service. The deal begins from next season, with their subscription service allowing fans in over 100 countries and regions to tune in.
Fans will be able to purchase their MLS Season Pass on February 1, which will give viewers access to every live MLS regular-season match, the entire playoffs, and the Leagues Cup, all with no blackouts. It's a historic first for a major professional sports league, with the MLS and Apple keen to pave the way of the future when it comes to broadcasting.
"There isn’t a more perfect time to introduce MLS Season Pass, coming off the heels of the most dramatic MLS Cup in history and with MLS as the fastest-growing soccer league in the world," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “We’re counting down the days to February 2023 when fans everywhere can enjoy MLS Season Pass on billions of devices — all with no blackouts."
"We could not be more excited to bring our fans MLS Season Pass," said Don Garber, MLS’s commissioner. "It's the new home for all MLS matches and a wide variety of league and club content they can’t get anywhere else.
"We have the most engaged and passionate fans in sports, and now they’ll have every match everywhere with MLS Season Pass." It's not just the MLS that fans will be able to watch, as the service will also include hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT games during the season.
From February 1, fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month, or spend $99 per season in one hit. However, those who are already Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price.
Those who are already subscribers can get the MLS Season Pass at a reduced rate of $12.99 per month and $79 per season. Apple are yet to announce their pricing to UK and overseas customers. The first MLS game of the season will take place on February 25, but all matches during the 'MLS is Back' opening weekend will be free to watch on the Apple TV app.
The MLS ended in dramatic fashion this season as Gareth Bale became an instant hero - scoring a last minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw against Philadelphia Union. LAFC won their first ever MLS Cup as a result, in what's been described as the 'best MLS game of all-time'.
