From CNBC: 2024-10-01 07:30:01

Lionel Messi continues to make waves in Major League Soccer as Inter Miami faces St. Louis City at Chase Stadium. MLS partners with OneFootball to share highlights and stats to a global audience. OneFootball secures financial backing from various investors, clubs, and MLS itself, aiming to expand the league’s reach and capitalize on Messi’s popularity. Messi’s impact on MLS attendance, audience, and sponsorship revenue is evident, with global social media engagement seeing a significant boost.

Apple’s exclusive global media rights deal with MLS sets it apart from other major U.S. sports leagues. With the launch of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, viewers can access all MLS games alongside Apple TV+ programming. Viewership stats post-Apple deal are not publicly disclosed, but executives note increased viewership, especially with Messi’s involvement. MLS is focused on expanding its reach through different distribution platforms, driving subscriptions for Apple TV platform.

OneFootball CEO Patrick Fischer sees the addition of MLS to the platform as a strategic move, given the increasing interest in soccer in the U.S. and the impact of Messi joining MLS. The partnership with MLS allows for a new level of fan engagement and content distribution internationally, further solidifying OneFootball’s presence in the soccer media landscape.



Read more at CNBC: MLS-OneFootball deal seeks to expand global audience