
Apple is aiming to reach more Major League Soccer fans by bringing live games to cable and satellite platforms this year, the company announced on Wednesday.
Starting this week, professional soccer fans in more than 100 countries can sign up for Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass to watch games through the 30th season, including the annual Leagues Cup tournament, MLS All-Star Game, Audi MLS Cup Playoffs games and select MLS Next Pro matches.
The new season kicks off February 22 — and, this time, games from MLS Season Pass will be available on traditional pay TV platforms, too.
DirecTV has committed to distributing MLS Season Pass games through its satellite and streaming platforms, the company confirmed in an email to The Desk on Wednesday. The service will cost $15 per month when billed through DirecTV via Internet, DirecTV via Satellite or DirecTV Stream; on satellite, MLS Season Pass games will be offered on Channels 480 through 495, and a free preview of MLS Season Pass will be available to DirecTV customers from February 22 to March 1.
“DirecTV has long been the home for world-class soccer and is proud to work with Apple to deliver MLS
Season Pass to our customers in time for the League’s 30th season,” Vince Torres, the Chief Marketing Officer at DirecTV, said on Wednesday. “We are excited about the growth the league has shown in recent years and are
thrilled to make it easier for American soccer fans to follow their favorite teams and players.”
Likewise, Comcast says it is offering MLS Season Pass to its Xfinity TV and Xfinity Internet subscribers. Comcast is making all MLS Season Pass games available through the electronic program guide of its X1, Flex and Xumo Stream Box devices for Xfinity TV and Xfinity Internet subscribers, and a free preview of MLS Season Pass will be available from February 22 to March 1.
Comcast is also distributing MLS 360, a whip-around channel that will be available to Xfinity TV and Xfinity Internet subscribers with X1, Flex or Xumo Stream Boxes, marking the first time that the channel has been offered outside a MLS Season Pass subscription, the company said.
“We’re excited to provide Comcast customers with a new and convenient way to enjoy all the action of MLS Season Pass with no blackouts,” Oliver Schusser, the Vice President of Apple TV Plus and Sports, said in a statement. “Fans also get MLS 360 to stay up-to-speed on the best match-day moments with expert analysis and discussion throughout the league’s 30th season.”
Comcast subscribers who purchase MLS Season Pass will be able to watch it on their X1, Flex and Xumo Stream Boxes through Xfinity TV and the Xfinity Stream app. MLS Season Pass can also be purchased through Apple and streamed via the Apple TV app on supported X1, Flex and Xumo Stream Box devices.
The two pay TV providers were revealed as distribution partners for MLS Season Pass, which has been largely exclusive to the Apple TV app for phones, tablets and smart TVs since it was introduced in 2023.
On Wednesday, Apple said it renewed its partnership with wireless provider T-Mobile to make MLS Season Pass available to eligible T-Mobile subscribers through the “T-Mobile Tuesdays” perk, with the freebie offered starting February 18 via the T-Life app.
The 30th season of MLS kicks off on February 22.