Full Breakdown
Major League Soccer Adjusts Broadcast Strategy Ahead of 2026 Season
1/30/2026, 8:28:11 AM
Overview of Broadcast Changes
Major League Soccer (MLS) is implementing significant changes to its broadcast strategy on Apple TV for the upcoming season. These adjustments include a notable reduction in Spanish-language broadcast talent and a downsizing of English-language offerings. Sources familiar with the league's plans, who spoke under anonymity, indicated that the league will employ approximately half as many two-man Spanish-language commentary teams, leaving some matches with only a single play-by-play announcer. This shift comes as MLS transitions its matches from the Season Pass paywall to Apple TV+, impacting how Spanish-language content is produced and delivered.
Details of the Changes
The league's Spanish-language broadcasts, which initially featured a dedicated team for every match, will now focus on high-energy live broadcasts from stadiums, enhancing pre- and post-game shows. Notably, MLS will no longer produce a Spanish-language version of MLS 360, a show that provided live commentary on multiple matches. Instead, the English-language version will remain unchanged. MLS executive vice-president for media, Seth Bacon, stated that the changes are a response to fan feedback, aiming to better align with audience preferences.
In addition to the reduction in Spanish-language broadcasts, MLS plans to produce about half of its matches from the UK, utilizing IMG's studios in London. This move is part of a broader adjustment in the league's production processes, which have already seen some matches called remotely. While some sources expressed concerns about potential communication issues between US and UK production teams, others believe that the expertise of IMG could enhance broadcast quality.
Implications for Viewership and Engagement
MLS Commissioner Don Garber noted that the league averaged around 120,000 viewers per match midway through 2025, with a total of 3.7 million global viewers over a weekend slate of games. The adjustments to the broadcast budget are strategically timed ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which Garber has referred to as "jet fuel" for the league's growth. The league's relationship with Apple, initially set to run through 2032, will now conclude in 2029, with Apple paying $107.5 million for the upcoming short season and $275 million for the subsequent two seasons.
Criticism and Concerns
Critics of the broadcast changes have raised concerns that the scaling back of Spanish-language talent may signal a diminished value placed on Spanish-speaking and Latino fans. One source involved in the league's Spanish-language broadcasts remarked that the viewership data suggested a preference for match viewing over in-studio programming. In contrast, Bacon defended the changes, emphasizing that the league is evolving its programming to better reflect audience engagement.
Conflicting Reports
There has been some confusion regarding the extent of the cuts to Spanish-language talent. A previous version of reports indicated that MLS had cut half of its Spanish-language broadcast talent, but it has since been clarified that the league has reduced its two-commentator teams by half, equating to a quarter of the overall talent.
What's Next
As MLS prepares for the 2026 season and the World Cup, the league will continue to refine its broadcast strategy, focusing on enhancing live match experiences while navigating the challenges of international production.
