With all of next season’s MLS (starting Feb. 25) and Leagues Cup (starting Aug. 4) games broadcast by Apple under a 10-year, $2.5 billion global deal, there has been much discussion about how much they will be easy. be accessible to many people. While some games will be simulcast on linear TV, the full package will require an MLS Season Pass subscription, which will cost US consumers $14.99 per month or $99 per year. But Thursday saw some important developments there: T-Mobile announced that they would be offering a free year of the MLS Season Pass to all of their T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers, and DirecTV for Business announced that they would added MLS Season Pass to their sports offerings, allowing bars, restaurants, hotels and more that subscribe to their service to show these games:
?️GOOALL!!
#MLSSeasonPassThe unprecedented new subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer is available on February 25 to US Letter merchants. #DIRECTTVforBUSINESS hand over the tip @MLS action when the season begins! https://t.co/XiTmcvffFT pic.twitter.com/SgM8CakZq5— DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS (@directvbusiness) February 16, 2023
Here’s more on that from DirecTV’s release:
DIRECTV For BUSINESS is the national provider for MLS Season Pass, the unprecedented subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer for commercial establishments. Through this agreement, DIRECTV will provide prime action from all MLS clubs in its network of more than 300,000 restaurants, bars, hotel lounges, retail stores and other venues during the 2023 MLS season on their existing satellite devices.
When the 2023 MLS season begins on February 25, MLS fans can head to their favorite gathering spot to enjoy MLS matches and coverage available through the MLS Season Pass powered by DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS. Finding MLS Season Pass businesses is made easy by downloading the DIRECTV Sports Bar Finder app, available in the App Store. MLS Season Pass games will be on DIRECTV for BUSINESS channels 9475-9490.
“DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS boasts an unmatched nationwide network of more than 300,000 local sports fans who rely on us to deliver the best in live action,” said Rob Thun, DIRECTV Chief Content Officer. “We welcome the addition of the MLS Season Pass to an already market-leading lineup of sports properties that our commercial customers can continue to seamlessly receive through their existing satellite equipment and offer to their customers.”
This also comes on the same day that DirecTV for Business signed a five-year partnership with the National Restaurant Association. And it fits with several previous moves they’ve made around streaming content, including a Thursday Night Football deal with Amazon this past fall and an earlier deal with ESPN+. But this looks like a pretty important match for MLS, as the league has many fan clubs that often meet in bars to watch away games. It should be easier to proceed with a deal like this. And many restaurants and bars are excited about it, too, as Buffalo Wild Wings chief marketing officer Tristan Meline said in a quote provided to AA:
“Buffalo Wild Wings is thrilled DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS has added the MLS Season Pass to an already amazing lineup of national sports offerings. With the addition of the MLS Season Pass, we’re able to give even more sports fans a reason to come to our sports bars to watch their favorite teams play.”
[DirecTV for Business]
