Apple is getting ready to submit a bid for the privilege of streaming the English Premier League in the UK. The British tabloid asserts that the tech giant is eager to expand its sports coverage by expanding on the ten-year deal it just obtained to begin exclusively streaming Major League Soccer through Apple TV+ starting next month, without identifying any of its sources. Around 250 million USD, or 1.08 billion RM annually, could be spent on the deal by the internet giant.
According to the source, Apple would move up to the fourth-largest contender for the domestic broadcasting rights to top-flight soccer, or football as it is more often known in the UK. That would probably result in a significant increase in the domestic EPL rights’ present worth of £5.1 billion or $6.23 billion, which is based on a 3-year renewal cycle. Later this year, tender rights will be renewed, and the current three-year period’s rights will terminate in 2025.
Other major North American sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), were also sought after by Apple in the past. In reality, the firm and the latter were in advanced negotiations for Sunday Ticket, but YouTube finally won the contract.
Amazon Prime Video, BT Sport, and Sky Sports have engaged in bidding wars in recent years, with Sky Sports frequently being the main player. Apple would not be able to match the exclusivity agreement the firm successfully negotiated with Major League Soccer because of package restrictions, which ensure that no other broadcaster will be granted access to all English Premier League games.
In related news, “Super League: The War for Football,” a documentary series about the failed attempt to create a separate European league that would pit the sport’s top clubs against one another, made its debut on Apple TV+.
