Why MLS Threatens to Abandon Soccer‑Mania After

Bakit Nanganganib Mapag-iwanan ng MLS ang Soccer‑Mania Pagkatapos ng

Ayon sa News.

Konteksto

Ang MLS ay may kasalukuyang kasunduan sa Apple TV na naglalagay ng karamihan ng kanilang mga laban sa isang streaming platform, na naglilimita sa access ng mga tagahanga. Sa kabila ng pagtaas ng interes sa soccer, ang kakulangan ng accessibility ay maaaring makaapekto sa pag-unlad ng liga, lalo na sa panahon ng mataas na demand matapos ang World Cup.

Why it matters

The World Cup provided a huge boost to American interest in soccer, resulting in high ratings and attention from celebrities. However, MLS' deal with Apple TV that put most matches behind a paywall raises fears that the league will not be able to gain the momentum generated by the tournament. If the issue of accessibility is not addressed, MLS may not get the expected increase in viewership during their season.

Key Points

• Why MLS Threatens to Abandon Soccer‑Mania After.
• The World Cup has boosted viewership and soccer attention in the U.S., but MLS' 10‑year deal with Apple TV — which puts most matches behind a paywall — and other networks' new takeover of major rights could prevent the league from capitalizing on the momentum.
• Why MLS risks missing out on post-World Cup soccer-mania.

With the euphoria still fresh from the World Cup, it's clear that America's affinity for soccer has increased dramatically: the tournament's ratings are record highs and the attention of the masses is palpable, with an influx of famous personalities watching the matches. However, many experts and observers point out that Major League Soccer (MLS) may not immediately use the so-called "soccer‑mania" to boost its own audience. The cornerstone of the doubt is MLS's $2.5 billion deal with Apple TV—a 10‑year package that put most matches on a streaming service that not all Americans subscribe to. Although Apple is believed to have 45–50 million subscribers (unofficially disclosed by the company), a large portion of the national market is not captured, so the potential increase in television viewership is limited. Last summer, we saw a different tactic from the big rights holders: Telemundo announced the exclusive U.S. Spanish‑language rights for the UEFA Champions League, and said they will air the games on Telemundo, a free ad‑supported streaming channel, as well as Peacock and Universo. Earlier, their July 5 match between England and Mexico showed big numbers—23.2 million viewers, the largest Spanish‑language telecast in the U.S.

At the same time, the Premier League and Bundesliga have also closed new deals to place their matches on networks and streaming platforms with greater reach; for example, the Bundesliga has a new deal that will have at least 30 games annually on the USA Network and the rest on Fandango streaming. For MLS, there are positive signs: teams are increasing in value, on track to record attendance again, and there are initiatives like free ticket giveaways to new fans. There are also plans to shift the schedule to better align with the elite of the European calendar. But even so, the league agreed to shorten the existing 10‑year deal, which was due to expire in 2029—three years earlier than originally—a sign that the partnership has not gone entirely as expected. MLS says audience is up 62% this year and averages nearly 8 million "live match viewers" per week by league—numbers they recognize as success, but are difficult to verify due to a lack of transparency in reporting from streaming partners. Talk of the next step in media rights will come to a new director when Don Garber leaves his post next year; two aforementioned candidates could take over: LAFC co‑owner Larry Berg or former Fox executive David Nathanson. Conclusion: The World Cup has opened up enormous opportunities for the growth of soccer in the U.S., but the strategy of putting most of the league behind a narrow paywall has left MLS with a difficult choice—keep the big, guaranteed income of the streaming deal or settle for less money but wider exposure. In a market where journalists, networks, and streaming platforms appear to be aggressively acquiring sports rights, how MLS evolves in the next media cycle will be key so as not to miss the current momentum.

Ano ang susunod

Sa pag-restart ng season ng MLS, mahalagang suriin kung paano makakaapekto ang kasalukuyang setup sa kanilang ratings at audience engagement. Ang liga ay maaaring kailanganing maghanap ng mga alternatibong paraan upang maabot ang mas malawak na market, tulad ng pakikipagtulungan sa mga network na nag-aalok ng libreng access. Ang tagumpay ng MLS sa mga darating na linggo ay maaaring magtakda ng tono para sa kanilang season outlook at pangmatagalang pag-unlad sa soccer sa U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ano ang epekto ng World Cup sa MLS?

Tumaas ang affinity ng mga Amerikano sa soccer matapos ang World Cup, ngunit may pagdududa kung magagamit ito ng MLS para palakasin ang audience.

Paano nakakaapekto ang kasunduan ng MLS sa Apple TV sa kanilang audience?

Ang $2.5 bilyong kasunduan ng MLS sa Apple TV ay naglagay ng karamihan ng mga laban sa isang streaming service na hindi lahat ng Amerikano ay naka-subscribe, na naglilimita sa potensyal na pagtaas ng mga manonood.

Ano ang mga alternatibong hakbang ng ibang liga para sa kanilang mga broadcast?

Ang Telemundo ay nag-anunsyo ng eksklusibong U.S. Spanish-language rights para sa UEFA Champions League at nagpalabas ng mga laro sa libreng ad-supported streaming channel, habang ang Premier League at Bundesliga ay nakapag-secure ng mga bagong kasunduan para sa mas malawak na abot.

Ano ang mga isyu na kinakaharap ng MLS sa pagtaas ng kanilang viewership?

Ang pangunahing isyu ay ang limitadong access ng mga Amerikano sa mga laban dahil sa kasunduan sa Apple TV, na naglalagay ng mga laban sa isang platform na hindi lahat ay may access.

Ano ang susunod na hakbang ng MLS matapos ang World Cup?

Walang tiyak na impormasyon sa susunod na fixture ng MLS sa artikulo, ngunit ang liga ay nahaharap sa hamon na mapanatili ang interes ng mga manonood matapos ang World Cup.

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