Most fans are excited for Major League Soccer and Apple to announce their new broadcast rights deal. After all, more sports are moving to broadcast. However, that does not please everyone. The move to Apple is the death knell for MLS on regional sports networks. In my opinion, MLS broadcasts would not be the same without local broadcasters.
Beginning with the 2023 season, all MLS games will be available through a paid streaming service through the Apple TV app. To MLS, the partnership is worth $2.5 billion. However, the deal means local MLS fans will lose their local voices. For example, that means no more Dave Johnson (DC United), Brad Feldman (New England Revolution), Joe Tutino (LA Galaxy), JP DellaCamera and Danny Higginbotham (Philadelphia Union), and Steve Cangialosi (New York Red Bulls). , among others. . The future of these men in MLS broadcasting is up in the air. They may need to quit or find work elsewhere.
Instead, MLS is producing the games. In the end, we may lose the familiar voice of the commentator and co-commentator that we are used to. Also, as we reported in April, production is being centralized in one location nationwide. That means that for many of the games, the commentator cancels the game from a monitor in a remote location.
Positives and negatives of MLS ending local broadcasts
With MLS eliminating local broadcast deals and Apple broadcasting games exclusively to a global audience, MLS fans lose the familiarity and experience of a local broadcaster who has grown up with their club. These are the people you have a connection with, who have called games on your television screens for several seasons.
These are the men and women who were welcomed into their homes through local regional sports networks. Consequently, you may have grown up watching games on NBC Sports Regional Networks, Bally Sports, or local broadcast channels (some over the air). You tuned in to get their thoughts, whether positive or negative. With the Apple TV deal, MLS contracts with broadcasters where you may not always hear their honest opinions.
MLS can argue that you can listen to your club’s local radio broadcast on the MLS streaming service. But it’s not the same and a poor substitute for what we’ve been used to since the league started in 1996.
Looking to the future of MLS broadcasts
Personally, I am disappointed in the new broadcast team of Eric Krakauer and Lloyd Sam, who have done a great job in their first season at Charlotte FC. Similarly, English broadcasters such as Tony Husband in Nashville, Callum Williams in Minnesota, and Richard Fleming in Denver have come to prominence. Let’s hope MLS makes the right decision in signing them for 2023 and beyond.
While there are negatives about MLS’s media rights deal with Apple, it will now be at the center of MLS broadcasting to ensure that they send a clear signal to all who subscribe to the paid streaming service. Hopefully, fans will watch their league games without a hitch.
Looking to the future, this season will be the last that we can enjoy local stations in a regional sports channel. At least we have a few months to enjoy it while it lasts.
Photo Credit: Getty Images via Mark Brown/Contributor
