The live broadcast of two American Major League Baseball (MLB) games every Friday is a big blow for Apple TV+, although it must be recognized that the popularity of this sport is concentrated in a handful of countries. It is indeed the first time that the Apple streaming service has entered this field, and it is quite easy to imagine that Apple’s ambition does not stop at baseball.
But despite its deep pockets which would allow it to pay full price for the sports rights of almost all the sports championships in the world, the manufacturer has played the card of a certain frugality. According to figures released by ForbesApple would indeed have committed to the MLB to the tune of 85 million dollars per year for seven years.
In detail, Apple would pay 55 million for broadcasting rights, plus 30 million in advertising. In exchange, Apple TV+ will broadcast two “Friday Night Baseball” games every Friday, which represents about fifty games per regular season (this one is due to start on March 18, but there is a strike action that could postpone the launch). In addition, the manufacturer obtained the right to terminate the agreement from the first or second year.
So certainly, it’s a lot of greenbacks in absolute terms, but for a behemoth like Apple, it’s pocket money. The comparison is worth what it is because the rights are not the same, but Amazon has pocketed one of the big prizes in Ligue 1 football against an annual check for 250 million euros (eight games a day).
Friday Night Baseball will be offered in eight countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan, with the possibility of expansion in other countries.
Apple TV+: today live baseball, and tomorrow why not other sports?
