Apple has increased its investments in the world of sports in recent years. It acquired the rights to some leagues for its digital streaming service Apple TV+. The company paid billions of dollars for Major League Soccer (MLS) and Major League Baseball (MLB), and it paid off with Messi’s transfer to MLS.
Messi transfers to Inter Miami; Apple TV+ subscription doubles
Earlier this year, Apple acquired the rights to MLS and MLB for 10 years, bringing them to Apple TV+. As the sole broadcaster of MLS matches, Apple paid 2.5 billion dollars for the deal. Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami seems to be the fruits of the deal. Apple TV+ subscriptions have doubled.
According to Inter Miami’s executive director, Messi’s transfer to MLS has doubled Apple’s MLS Season Pass subscriptions. Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed Messi’s direct contribution to subscriptions.
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But many sports leagues are not keen on Apple TV+. The Pac-12, the US athletic conference, rejected Apple’s offer for college football rights. The team opposed moving its games to the digital world.
Analysts believe Apple could smooth the transition by striking deals with various sports networks. However, Apple is expected to continue bidding for the rights to sporting events. Tim Cook wants to make Apple TV+ a major player in sports broadcasting.
Apple was also allegedly in talks with Germany’s Bundesliga soccer league some time ago. This would enable Apple TV+ to stream the world’s biggest league. However, there is no word on whether this deal is real or not.
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