Four Observations Propelled by Apple TV's MLS Cup Final Broadcast
Upon launching its partnership with MLS as the league's new global streaming partner, Apple TV guaranteed an improvement in the quality of coverage, aiming to meet the standards expected by American fans from established major North American sports.
For the MLS Cup final on Saturday, Apple TV upheld this commitment by offering an extensive set of pre-game and post-game programming, starting 90 minutes before the Los Angeles Galaxy's 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, extending into the night on the West Coast.
Here are some observations from the culmination of the second season of MLS's 10-year, $2.5 billion worldwide streaming deal:
The Big Event Ambiance is Rarely Present
Saturday's televised extravaganza resembled ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcasts with its slick pre-game and post-game studio setups, player and coach interviews, and other trappings.
However, it was striking how different the big-game atmosphere was compared to most Apple TV coverage this year, even during the postseason.
It's challenging to take the league seriously if their in-house productions lack the same intensity as common national broadcasts of NFL or NBA games.
Given that MLS bears the production costs as part of their agreement, it's unrealistic to provide full sideline coverage and pre-game and post-game features for all league matches. But it would be beneficial if the league could establish a "national broadcast package" within the Apple TV schedule, separate from the bulk of league games on Wednesday and Saturday nights, that fosters a bigger event feeling.
Dax McCarty's Impressive Debut
Following his final stint as an MLS player, Dax McCarty was appointed as the latest ex-league player to analyse Apple TV's English-language offerings.
McCarty was renowned for giving engaging interviews throughout his nearly two-decade career in the league, and his talent was evident immediately, though the scope of his new role remains to be seen.
His extensive experience as a defensive midfielder—a position that typically involves a significant degree of on-field coaching—should make him adept at dissecting matches in real-time.
One Conspicuous Missing Narrative
A disadvantage of MLS producing its broadcasts in-house is that viewers often miss out on compelling storylines, and that was evident in the lack of coverage of a notable aspect of MLS Cup.
Both the Galaxy and Red Bulls have experienced notable fan protests in recent seasons. In Los Angeles, an extensive supporter group boycott managed to oust former team president Chris Klein, setting the stage for the subsequent hiring of Will Kuntz as the club's new general manager a year ago.
Kuntz is credited with orchestrating several major changes that helped the Galaxy escape a decade of mediocrity and return to their championship-contending ways of their first 19 years in the league.
Despite this, none of the MLS analysts directly mentioned the fan protests when discussing Kuntz or the Galaxy's resurgence. Former Galaxy legend Landon Donovan did indirectly allude to them when he spoke of his belief that the club had lost some of its essence over the past wayward decade.
The Red Bulls' Postgame Absence
Though it was reasonable to focus on the triumphant Galaxy in the post-game analysis, Apple TV's preoccupation with the Galaxy was so pronounced that it seemed as if the Red Bulls hadn't even participated.
During more than an hour of the post-game analysis, there was no mention of manager Sandro Schwarz, star man Emil Forsberg, homegrown talents Dylan and Sean Nealis, or MLS Comeback Player of the Year Lewis Morgan. Even if they chose not to conduct separate interviews for Apple TV, at least some videos from the general post-game press conferences could have been included to provide a balanced perspective.
Perhaps most of the post-game audience were celebratory Galaxy fans, but this editorial decision or oversight leaves MLS vulnerable to accusations of favoritism towards certain clubs. And it's a decision that would have been incomprehensible if the situation had been reversed and LA's star-studded squad had been defeated at home.
In the excitement of the MLS Cup final, fans of both the New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy were treated to enhanced coverage on Apple TV, with extensive pre-game and post-game programming leading up to the Los Angeles Galaxy's 2-1 victory. This special treatment continued the league's commitment to improving coverage as part of their partnership with Apple TV, aiming to match the quality expected from major North American sports.
Post-match analysis on Apple TV focused heavily on the Los Angeles Galaxy's triumph, leaving some viewers feeling that the New York Red Bulls' contributions were overlooked. Despite the Galaxy's victory, missing out on discussing the Red Bulls' key players and manager Sandro Schwarz in the post-game analysis could leave some viewers questioning the platform's impartiality, making it all the more important for Apple TV to ensure balanced coverage in the future.
