Copyright © 2024, Quiller Media, Inc.
Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Apple logo on a soccer pitch
Apple’s next addition to its sports coverage could involve more soccer, with Apple said to be close to signing a billion-dollar deal for a new tournament.
Apple already offers sports fans a lot of games and matches in a few major franchises to watch via their streaming devices. While the Major League Soccer’s Season Pass has been successful and airs many matches to subscribers, Apple’s next foray could provide even more.
According to sources of the New York Times, soccer’s governing body FIFA is close to making an agreement with Apple. The agreement would give Apple the rights to stream a month-long World Cup-style tournament between top teams around the world.
Multiple sources say that the deal could be announced in April. As to how much it could cost Apple, it is thought that the deal could be valued at $1 billion.
Even so, this would be just a quarter of the $4 billion FIFA apparently initially estimated for the rights. It is also unclear if the rights would be exclusive to Apple and its subscribers, or if there will be some form of free-to-air element.
The tournament will feature teams from around the globe, playing over the course of a month in a competition similar in structure to the World Cup. Successful teams from around the world are set to take part, including 12 from Europe.
However, the tournament has struggled to get underway so far, thanks to allegedly poor planning and delays. Sponsors have also apparently been reluctant to confirm they will pay the $150 million for sponsorship packages for the sporting event.
This is far from the only bid made to increase what sports content could be viewed on Apple TV+, as Apple has reportedly made numerous attempts to get more sporting rights.
In September 2023, Apple was allegedly mulling over a $2 billion per year deal for exclusive Formula 1 coverage, and looked into getting local NBA TV rights in August of the same year.
Apple already offers sports fans a lot of games and matches in a few major franchises to watch via their streaming devices. While the Major League Soccer’s Season Pass has been successful and airs many matches to subscribers, Apple’s next foray could provide even more.
According to sources of the New York Times, soccer’s governing body FIFA is close to making an agreement with Apple. The agreement would give Apple the rights to stream a month-long World Cup-style tournament between top teams around the world.
Multiple sources say that the deal could be announced in April. As to how much it could cost Apple, it is thought that the deal could be valued at $1 billion.
Even so, this would be just a quarter of the $4 billion FIFA apparently initially estimated for the rights. It is also unclear if the rights would be exclusive to Apple and its subscribers, or if there will be some form of free-to-air element.
The tournament will feature teams from around the globe, playing over the course of a month in a competition similar in structure to the World Cup. Successful teams from around the world are set to take part, including 12 from Europe.
However, the tournament has struggled to get underway so far, thanks to allegedly poor planning and delays. Sponsors have also apparently been reluctant to confirm they will pay the $150 million for sponsorship packages for the sporting event.
This is far from the only bid made to increase what sports content could be viewed on Apple TV+, as Apple has reportedly made numerous attempts to get more sporting rights.
In September 2023, Apple was allegedly mulling over a $2 billion per year deal for exclusive Formula 1 coverage, and looked into getting local NBA TV rights in August of the same year.
Based in South Wales, Malcolm Owen has written about tech since 2012, and previously wrote for Electronista and MacNN. In his downtime, he pursues photography, has an interest in magic tricks, and is bothered by his c…
I have to wonder if this tournament is worth so much. I don’t think there are that many US soccer fans.
If you guys are going to copy and paste from a news organization’s articles, you should at least use quotes and attribute properly. Shameless.
An update to Spotify's app has been rejected by the App Store review process, after the streaming service failed to follow rules allowing links to external sites for purchases.
The iPhone's slice of the smartphone activation pie has shrunk to its smallest size in six years, marking a concerning trend for Apple as it grapples with the longest gap yet between its iPhone releases.
A new supply chain rumor claims that Apple will switch to thinner resin-coated copper motherboards for a future Apple Watch, echoing previous reports of the same coming to the iPhone 17.
President Biden has now formally signed the bill that means TikTok owner ByteDance must sell the platform, or face being banned in the US from 2025.
Supply chain sources apparently vary on when Apple may release a 12.9-inch iPad Air with mini LED, with a new rumor pushing the release much later.
The best M2 Mac mini price we've seen at Amazon has returned, with the standard model dipping to just $499.99. Plus, save up to $250 on upgraded models with an exclusive coupon discount.
Epic Games has convinced a US District Court to order a hearing over its assertion that Apple is failing to comply with the games company's one App Store victory.
Apple has publicly shared four open-source models boasting of enhanced accuracy for queries, which could help the development of future AI models.
Apple's May iPad "Let Loose" event is right around the corner. Here's how to watch it, live.
Decades ago, Apple started down a path that has revolutionized both its own products and the entire technology industry. Here's where Apple Silicon began, and where it's going.
Apple TV+ hit "For All Mankind" has been renewed for a fifth season, and a spin-off is also going back to the beginning for a new look at the Soviet space race.
{{ summary }}
