15 Jun, 2022 Apple’s $2.5 billion move into sports streaming with MLS deal signals a changing landscape for media rights, says GlobalData.
Posted in SportFollowing the news that Major League Soccer (MLS) has signed a 10-year global media rights deal with Apple TV;
Conrad Wiacek, Head of Sport Analysis at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:“The announcement that Apple TV is entering into a 10-year global media rights deal with MLS worth $250 million annually is another indication that Apple sees tremendous value in sports media rights as it looks to build an audience for its platform. Already having a deal with Major League Baseball in place, Apple TV could become a serious player for other major sports rights moving forward, with US rights to F1 up at the end of the year.
“The move by the streaming service for more sports content to pair with its current slate of in-house produced content signals that the need for Apple TV to attract more viewers is paramount. With the rights to India’s IPL going for over $5 billion over the weekend, it shows that the appetite for sports rights is undiminished as the last bastion of appointment, must-see television and we can expect to see further development in this area over the next 12 months.”