I posted this in another thread about this topic. This was in response to MLS being difficult find now that it is on Apple: MLS games were always difficult to find. The kickoff times on ESPN and Fox were not consistent week to week, and often were preempted by coverage for a prior event over running their time slot. The one thing that slightly hurts MLS is the lack of games on TV in the local markets. Though how much viewership those games actually got has been a mystery. Judging by how most local TV "deals" were break even propositions (Galaxy, Seattle, and LAFC being a few exceptions), I'm guessing the games didn't pull huge ratings or advertising numbers. Currently there are usually up to SIX games a week that are NOT behind the Season pass Subscription paywall. The Apple TV App is available on nearly all streaming devices..... MLS does have a marketing and storytelling problem. The marketing is largely ineffective, and the storytelling either sucks or is non-existent. The league needs to seriously consider poaching some of the TV producers from NBC Sports and WWE. NBC Sports makes the average viewer CARE about obscure Olympic sports every two years (Winter and Summer Games). They've gotten people to care about the Premier League. This is the missing piece of the puzzle for MLS. MLS has great stadiums, with a unique (to US Sports) in game atmosphere, great facilities, academies, competitive games, their own TV channel (that significantly lacks non-gameday content), and MLS is around for 11 months out of the year, etc. Why aren't more people tuning in? That's the multi-million dollar question that has yet to be answered/solved.
He's right. Soccer fans are famously not used to having to go to streaming outlets like Peacock (EPL), Paramount (EFL, Serie A), or ESPN+ (La Liga, Bundesliga, FA Cup) to watch games. Wait, what was his point again?
Over the last month or so I've gotten a bit interested in F1. I was in Vegas at the Venetian/Palazzo for a work conference the week before the Las Vegas Grand Prix and saw a bunch of the setup for the race, so when I got home I watched it the next weekend. As I look more into it the general suggestion for "how to get into F1" is to watch a bunch of streaming stuff, particularly on YouTube. F1 is one of the fastest growing leagues/sports right now and at least in this country the main way to "get into it" seems to be streaming. And I don't see a whole lot of people complaining about that. There might be a lesson there...
Let me tell you a secret. Formula 1 works like this: cars race around a set course for a set number of laps and the car that finishes first wins, and some other cars also get points. There, now you can get into it. No streaming needed, races are on ESPN.
If you have a sub to Netflix, binge watch Drive to Survive. It's by the production company Box to Box, who MLS has been working with on a similar docu series (yet to be released).
And those leagues aren’t blamed for their decisions. I used to watch a decent amount of the Bundesliga until it went to ESPN+. I never hear “how could they abandon cable like that?”
Just wait. Comcast is going to spin off most of their NBC Universal Cable channels (USA, Golf, etc. Basically all but Bravo), when that happens where does everyone expect the bulk of the EPL games and content to be shown???? But Peacock is included for FREE with my Cable Subscription that I PAY $100+ every month for!!! That also increases in price every year, and that price increase mostly goes to paying for Peacock...... and Ironically, the channels that Comcast spins off will likely still be on your sub, but will now cost more and factor into your yearly price increase while also not having the same content as before....
Let me tell you a secret. The game is played for a set number of minutes, players put the ball into the net, and the team that does it the most wins. There, now you get it. No forums needed, you can watch the games on Apple and stop bothering us with your borderline troll posts.
Yes, that's all you need to know about soccer as well, I agree. Nuance is something you pick up by watching. I am not disagreeing with your point, only your delivery because you really do not need any streaming for F1.
For now........ Rumors have been out there about a certain streaming service bidding on the global broadcast rights to F1.....
I'd love to see such a series by Box to Box featuring MLS. I watched early seasons of Drive to Survive but I never watched the races (no ESPN) so I kinda left it behind. On the other hand, I watch their Tour de France series over and over and over, both seasons, several times through. I'm not sure it draws many new fans to cycling, but it's great if you have an unhealthy appetite for it already.
It's coming soon: Apple TV+ kicks off first-ever, all-access Major League Soccer docuseries offering fans a never-before-seen insider’s view on the 2024 season Award-winning Box To Box Films produces the currently untitled eight-part series, in partnership with Major League Soccer MLS Communications
427,000 plus 2 mill MLS SEASON PASS subscribers even they watch it or not, at list I know about a family the saw the game in Mexico City on Apple TV something that is not possible on CBS, so the world wide potential is bigger for MLS.
It was mentioned this year in an interview Garber did that they have over two million subscribers and are averaging over a million people watching all games over each weekend. Bringing in record sponsorship is probably a sign that advertisers are happy with the setup.
Formula 1 is a deeply storyline and personality driven phenomenon. I don't partake myself, but the popularity has fairly little to do with the driving part for lots of people.