It's stupid that MLS isn't on TV.

[Dave Gray]

My local team just got Messi.  I don't give a shit about soccer.  I watch the World Cup and the Olympics.  But I also like a spectacle.

I would totally check out a game on TV, and who knows....maybe become a fan out of that.

But this struggling league isn't on local TV.  You can't watch the games.

I just don't understand.

[Spider-Dan]

The national MLS broadcast rights belong to Fox.  The streaming rights belong to Apple TV.

Here are the details.

[Brian Fein]

I was at a restaurant and it was on every TV in the joint.  Not sure what channel or what service but they definitely had it on TV.

I just searched through my Xfinity and it couldn't even tell me when the next game is.  Apparently AppleTV+ has a add-on subscription.  But I also read that FoxSports has an exclusivity deal.

[Phishfan]

I received a free subscription from my cell phone provider. I'm hearing that the days of local sports programming is on the way out.  We will see if it catches on or how quickly.

[CF DolFan]

In an unprecedented deal ... Apple is paying Messi a shit ton of money to play in the MLS so if you are going to watch him you are going to have to take that bite. Had Miami footed his salary you probably would be seeing him on tv.

[Dave Gray]

So, are the games on FOX or no?

[CF DolFan]

Joe Rose was talking about this today and I believe you can watch it on Univision but you need Apple TV to watch it in English.

[Phishfan]

So, are the games on FOX or no?

When there is a national game.

[Phishfan]

In an unprecedented deal ... Apple is paying Messi a shit ton of money to play in the MLS so if you are going to watch him you are going to have to take that bite. Had Miami footed his salary you probably would be seeing him on tv.

The deal with Apple happened long before he was coming to MLS.

[Fau Teixeira]

apple tv + has every game, if you were into it, you'd subscribe .. you're a meh soccer fann by your own admission and the league right now has had years and years of exposure over local airwaves and is making a whole ton more from giving apple the exclusivity deal

[Dave Gray]

apple tv + has every game, if you were into it, you'd subscribe .. you're a meh soccer fann by your own admission and the league right now has had years and years of exposure over local airwaves and is making a whole ton more from giving apple the exclusivity deal

I just wonder if it's doing what boxing did years back.  It made things so exclusive that it was a sport that was only for existing fans and wasn't creating a new generation.

I'm a meh fan, for sure.  So, there's a 0% chance that I'm paying to watch soccer on TV.  I get their strategy, but it seemed long-term stupid to me.

[CF DolFan]

The deal with Apple happened long before he was coming to MLS.

Not exactly sure what you are implying but Messi getting a cut of revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV's MLS Season Pass streaming service was pivotal to his contract as well as him getting a cut from Adidas for all the new Miami jerseys sold. He would have neither had he not signed in Miami and played in the MLS.

[Phishfan]

You said if Miami was solely paying him games would be on TV. That has nothing to do with it because Apple already had their exclusive deal. You wouldn't get any more games on TV with or without Messi.

[CF DolFan]

You said if Miami was solely paying him games would be on TV. That has nothing to do with it because Apple already had their exclusive deal. You wouldn't get any more games on TV with or without Messi.

Gotcha