Known for being one of the most valuable companies in the world and a technology giant in the computer, mobile phones, tablets, and wearables spaces, Apple Inc AAPL has been working to grow its presence in the highly competitive streaming market.
With a hit show returning for a potential last season, the launch of a new sports rights package, and a series with an impressive all-star cast, AppleTV+ could have a big couple of months ahead.
What Happened: The battle for streaming rights to professional sports leagues could be one of the biggest storylines in the streaming sector. Apple secured the rights to Major League Soccer for 10 years, with the deal set to kick off in late February.
The deal will see AppleTV+ become the home of MLS coverage. Apple paid an estimated $2.5 billion for the sports rights in one of its largest streaming bets since launching AppleTV+.
Along with streaming games, Apple is also launching MLS Season Pass, a new subscription service for soccer fans in over 100 countries and regions. The MLS Season Pass has a cost of $99 per season or $79 per season for existing AppleTV+ subscribers. Monthly subscriptions are also available for $14.99 and $12.99, respectively.
The MLS 2023 regular season begins on Feb. 25 and Apple will be at the forefront of the league, which could make the streaming company a big player in the sports space.
The Success Of 'Ted Lasso': And speaking of soccer, a third season of the hit show “Ted Lasso” comes to AppleTV+ on March 15 with 12 episodes being released on a weekly basis. While it has not been officially announced, the third season could be the last in the highly successful show’s history.
Season 2 of “Ted Lasso” had the biggest premiere audience for AppleTV+ when it was released in 2021, according to Variety.
Apple does not break out the actual viewership figures, but said at the time the premier episode had more viewership than any show premiere or movie on the platform. The company also said that viewership of other AppleTV+ comedies saw a lift during the premiere week of the second season of “Ted Lasso.”
Season 1 of “Ted Lasso” also held the record for the most-watched premiere on the streaming platform previously. The first season of “Ted Lasso” helped Apple make Emmy history with a record 20 Primetime Emmy nominations, the most ever for a freshman comedy series.
“Ted Lasso” has won several Emmys and Golden Globes and has been well-received by fans and critics alike.
New Series With A-Listers: Along with the MLS season and a third season of “Ted Lasso,” AppleTV+ also has a new series that might not be getting a lot of attention yet, despite an all-star cast that The Verse said “only Apple money can buy.”
“Extrapolations” is an eight-episode series that covers a 33-year timespan and takes a look at the future of Earth after climate change. The series will feature a rotating cast, with some appearing in all episodes and others appearing in only one episode, according to IMDb. The series will feature interconnected stories about how changes to the planet “affect love, faith, work and family on a personal and human scale.”
Among the cast listed are Eliza Gonzalez, Marion Cotillard, Tobey Maguire and Forest Whitaker for all eight episodes. Those listed for one episode include Keri Russell, Edward Norton, Meryl Streep, Diane Lane, Heather Graham, Sienna Miller and Kit Harington.
The show will debut on AppleTV+ on March 17 with the first three episodes. An additional five episodes will air a week later, changing up the typical one-episode-per-week release schedule.
“Extrapolations” comes from Scott Burns, who previously wrote screenplays for “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Informant!” and “Contagion.” Burns was also a producer on “An Inconvenient Truth,” an Academy Award-winning documentary about global warming.
Related Link: BELIEVE: Football Is Life And Ted Lasso Is Now In A FIFA Video Game
The Streaming Landscape: AppleTV+ is one of the smaller players in the streaming space, but could become a larger player thanks to the deep pockets of its parent company.
While some streamers like Netflix Inc NFLX have opted to avoid hefty spending on live sports rights, Apple has the MLS deal, select Major League Baseball games and was a bidder on some National Football League coverage.
The success of acquiring MLS rights could also be a test for Apple ahead of the National Basketball Association looking for a new partner for its rights.
With its soccer rights and a couple potential hit shows launching around the same time, Apple could see an increase in subscribers paying $6.99 per month.
Once known as the home of hit shows “Ted Lasso” and “The Morning Show,” AppleTV+ is quickly cementing its place as the home of huge movie stars and a growing sports media platform.
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Nick Mohammed and Jason Sudeikis in "Ted Lasso." Photo courtesy of Apple.
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