Technical details for the MLS season pass on Apple TV are beginning to leak ahead of the upcoming season. Major League Soccer previously announced a 10-year deal with Apple to broadcast all American/Canadian top-flight matches. This agreement will begin at the end of this month for the 2023 campaign.
One possibly disappointing aspect of the MLS Season Pass is the fact that 4K will not be available. Games streamed on MLS Season Pass will only stream in 1080p. This, however, may not be a drastic deal.
1080p should be fine for MLS Season Pass if the frame rate is high
Technology website Digital Trends recently discussed the differences between sporting events that are broadcast in 4K versus 1080p. They claim that streaming TV shows or movies in 4K is significantly easier and cheaper than streaming live sports in this format.
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Basically, the unpredictable nature of sporting events can cause problems in 4K. Because this format has four times the resolution of 1080p, there are more challenges than traditional HD. As Digital Trends says, “more pixels, more problems”.
However, not all 1080p is created equal. Frame rate is an important factor in determining a quality stream. Assuming MLS Season Pass streams have decent framerates, there shouldn’t be any real issues with image quality.
Along with streaming in 1080p, MLS games on Apple will include Dolby 5.1 audio. This is essentially surround sound, as 5 in 5.1 represents the number of speakers needed for a home theater experience. Viewers will need the five speaker setup to get full surround sound. Although, obviously, it is not necessary to enjoy MLS.
Apple’s coverage in MLS Season Pass will also include new data and graphics throughout the season. These graphs will incorporate stories, statistics and advanced data visualizations on the screen.
Production company IMG Productions will help deliver MLS Season Pass content to viewers. “We are excited to be a part of this transformative new partnership between MLS and Apple, and we look forward to bringing the highest level of innovation to its live coverage for fans around the world,” said Barney Francis, executive vice president and chief executive officer of IMG. productions. World production.
“Being chosen for this large-scale production is a testament to our industry-leading experience, insight and excellence in producing live football matches for audiences around the world. It also marks an important milestone in the global expansion of IMG’s production business with the launch of our new base in North America.”
The MLS Season Pass can be purchased in the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month. There is also an annual pass for $99 per season.
PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
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