I think one big issue with the Apple deal is that MLS season pass is a separate subscription from Apple TV+. The price is too high for what you get and casual viewers aren’t paying extra for one league. I wouldn’t pay for it if it didn’t come free with my season tickets.
What USL needs to do now is get a dedicated show or two on Golazo. A Saturday night highlights wrap up show and a midweek this week in USL show that does some highlights, news, and storylines.
USL should also be considering creating their own FAST channel in partnership with NBC/ESPN/CBS. The same as how Golazo is aired on Paramount+ the USL Network would air on all the streaming platforms of partner networks and free on the league website. Additionally teams could offer it with local tv deals so local channels can air it as a digital sub-channel. With USLSL/USL DIV1/USLC/USL1/USL2/USLW there are more than enough matches and activity to fill out a channel.
To clarify for other readers (I had to google it), FAST channel = "Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television". This is a great idea! I hope Tampa (USL HQ) is a paid subscriber to BT90 and diving deeply to read these comments!!
So even in my Scouting and coaching circles more and more people are relying on highlights to watch MLS or getting subscriptions for free or comped. And yes, far more people in our circle are watching USL than before.
But as you said this won’t last forever. It’s an opportunity for USL, but they have to strike while the iron is hot.
In terms of NWSL, it might be a bubble so don’t get too carried away with it .
It’s all in the ease of finding something and what else is on. I watch a ton of soccer on weekend mornings cause I enjoy watching sports and there is nothing else on at that time. Oh Georgia vs Armenia is on LFG. By the afternoon, I am soccered out and look for something else to do or watch.
And I am not paying for another service for 2nd or 3rd rate soccer.
I too thought Apple was a good move. Finally, no blackouts and I could watch any game. I still think MLS was headed in the right direction, they just went with the wrong partner. Had this deal been with Paramount or Peacock, I think they would have been fine. It also didn't help that they scheduled all the games in mainly two time blocks. Paying extra for Season Pass wasn't the best move either. Glad they took the complaints from their marketing survey and staggered the times for more games. It seems like MLS made the decision based purely on money, like Ligue 1 did with their media deal. It would have been better to take less money for now and get higher visibility.
This is absolutely correct
Most critical is all the local channels now showing USL across the country
I think one big issue with the Apple deal is that MLS season pass is a separate subscription from Apple TV+. The price is too high for what you get and casual viewers aren’t paying extra for one league. I wouldn’t pay for it if it didn’t come free with my season tickets.
What USL needs to do now is get a dedicated show or two on Golazo. A Saturday night highlights wrap up show and a midweek this week in USL show that does some highlights, news, and storylines.
USL should also be considering creating their own FAST channel in partnership with NBC/ESPN/CBS. The same as how Golazo is aired on Paramount+ the USL Network would air on all the streaming platforms of partner networks and free on the league website. Additionally teams could offer it with local tv deals so local channels can air it as a digital sub-channel. With USLSL/USL DIV1/USLC/USL1/USL2/USLW there are more than enough matches and activity to fill out a channel.
To clarify for other readers (I had to google it), FAST channel = "Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television". This is a great idea! I hope Tampa (USL HQ) is a paid subscriber to BT90 and diving deeply to read these comments!!
So even in my Scouting and coaching circles more and more people are relying on highlights to watch MLS or getting subscriptions for free or comped. And yes, far more people in our circle are watching USL than before.
But as you said this won’t last forever. It’s an opportunity for USL, but they have to strike while the iron is hot.
In terms of NWSL, it might be a bubble so don’t get too carried away with it .
It’s all in the ease of finding something and what else is on. I watch a ton of soccer on weekend mornings cause I enjoy watching sports and there is nothing else on at that time. Oh Georgia vs Armenia is on LFG. By the afternoon, I am soccered out and look for something else to do or watch.
And I am not paying for another service for 2nd or 3rd rate soccer.
I too thought Apple was a good move. Finally, no blackouts and I could watch any game. I still think MLS was headed in the right direction, they just went with the wrong partner. Had this deal been with Paramount or Peacock, I think they would have been fine. It also didn't help that they scheduled all the games in mainly two time blocks. Paying extra for Season Pass wasn't the best move either. Glad they took the complaints from their marketing survey and staggered the times for more games. It seems like MLS made the decision based purely on money, like Ligue 1 did with their media deal. It would have been better to take less money for now and get higher visibility.