MLS Season Pass [+]
Dec 11 2024
Apple gave Apple TV+ subscribers free remainder of season MLS Season Pass so I watched the last three months or so (archives only go back a month and a half, though it's number of games not time-based), basically all of Leagues Cup and onwards though I did have to watch quickly so that games didn't fall off the Past Matches page. So I guess that's my one big criticism in that you can't even watch from the beginning of the season if you are so inclined.
Initial VOD includes breaks and commercial time (commercials are blacked out so you just get "we'll return soon" type of message for a few minutes which you can skip over). Two or three days afterwards there is a clean VOD that skips commercials but pretty much only has the actual game (plus a minute or two of the intro before game starts) no halftime talk or post-game coverage so if you want that you need to watch it live or the VOD before it's updated (though if you're in the middle of watching a VOD when it's switched out you might resume and it's 20 minutes further on which is annoying).
I like that almost every clean VOD is about an hour and 45 minutes. Two halves each 45 minutes plus a few minutes of extra time then it's over. If tied it's tied. Only in the playoffs or Leagues Cup you might get an extra period and/or penalty kicks. I'm also fine that penalty kicks are playoffs only as they make playoffs a bit more exciting.
I didn't watch any of the special segments or the MLS sports talk show they have. I think they also have MLS Next Pro (a league that's a tier down and also used for training a la MLB Minor Leagues or NBA Developmental League) but I don't see those games available so I guess they take them down at the end of the Next Pro season.
Is it worth $100 a year ($80 if you have Apple TV+ subscription)? If you're really into MLS then definitely as the broadcasts are good and the commentators are good (and all games have an English commentary team and a Spanish commentary team with some games having a French commentary team). If you want to watch every game it's a lot but I guess doable if you don't watch anything else or have a hell of a lot of free time like I do. I guess still sort of worth it if you only follow one team since it's going to be like 30+ games.
One great thing is that you do get to see every MLS game, there is only one tier to subscribe to, and all games are available worldwide.
NFL+ ($50 per season) gives you some games, NFL+ Premium ($100 per season) gives you all games, though sometimes not live due to local tv contracts I assume.
NBA League Pass ($110) you can also watch every game but your local team's games delayed 3 days.
MLB Network ($7 per month) has blackouts for regular and post-season games so a much lesser offering than the others.
NHL does not seem to have a service that offers all games, or any games really — you're supposed to watch ESPN+ or other tv/cable channels.
Initial VOD includes breaks and commercial time (commercials are blacked out so you just get "we'll return soon" type of message for a few minutes which you can skip over). Two or three days afterwards there is a clean VOD that skips commercials but pretty much only has the actual game (plus a minute or two of the intro before game starts) no halftime talk or post-game coverage so if you want that you need to watch it live or the VOD before it's updated (though if you're in the middle of watching a VOD when it's switched out you might resume and it's 20 minutes further on which is annoying).
I like that almost every clean VOD is about an hour and 45 minutes. Two halves each 45 minutes plus a few minutes of extra time then it's over. If tied it's tied. Only in the playoffs or Leagues Cup you might get an extra period and/or penalty kicks. I'm also fine that penalty kicks are playoffs only as they make playoffs a bit more exciting.
I didn't watch any of the special segments or the MLS sports talk show they have. I think they also have MLS Next Pro (a league that's a tier down and also used for training a la MLB Minor Leagues or NBA Developmental League) but I don't see those games available so I guess they take them down at the end of the Next Pro season.
Is it worth $100 a year ($80 if you have Apple TV+ subscription)? If you're really into MLS then definitely as the broadcasts are good and the commentators are good (and all games have an English commentary team and a Spanish commentary team with some games having a French commentary team). If you want to watch every game it's a lot but I guess doable if you don't watch anything else or have a hell of a lot of free time like I do. I guess still sort of worth it if you only follow one team since it's going to be like 30+ games.
One great thing is that you do get to see every MLS game, there is only one tier to subscribe to, and all games are available worldwide.
NFL+ ($50 per season) gives you some games, NFL+ Premium ($100 per season) gives you all games, though sometimes not live due to local tv contracts I assume.
NBA League Pass ($110) you can also watch every game but your local team's games delayed 3 days.
MLB Network ($7 per month) has blackouts for regular and post-season games so a much lesser offering than the others.
NHL does not seem to have a service that offers all games, or any games really — you're supposed to watch ESPN+ or other tv/cable channels.