Apple TV+ Review: Plans, Availability and Sports Rights
There is plenty to choose from when it comes to television options nowadays, and Apple TV+ makes a strong case as to why you should side with them. Launched in 2019, Apple TV+ is one of the newer names on the market, but they have wasted no time in making a mark. Shows like Ted Lasso and Severance have brought people in, but are they a welcoming platform for the sports enthusiast? This review provides an in-depth look at Apple TV+, helping you decide if it fits your entertainment and sports viewing needs.
- Affiliation: Apple
- Notable Sports Rights: Major League Soccer (MLS), Friday Night Baseball
- Cheapest Subscription Plan: $9.99/month
- Free Trial: 7 days (3 months free when you purchase an Apple device)
- Availability: Worldwide. Apple TV+ is watchable on iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Macs, select smart TVs, and streaming devices (Roku, Amazon Fire TV) via the Apple TV app.
What is Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is a subscription-based service offering a range of original programming across a wide range of genres. Having only arrived as an option in 2019, Apple TV is on the newer end of the spectrum, and its library of viewing options is a touch behind some of its bigger competitors. Nevertheless, it is growing, and it has already produced original programming that has taken the world by storm. Most notably, shows such as ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘The Morning Show’, ‘Severance’ and ‘For All Mankind’.
If it is crime and mystery that you are after, then new offerings such as ‘Presumed Innocent’, starring Jake Gyllenhall, or ‘Criminal Record’, featuring Peter Capaldi might make Apple TV+ the right service for you. Subscribers will also find popular family favorites such as The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, but the overall array of options doesn’t quite match up with the likes of Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Unfortunately, the same can be said about sport. At present, the only live sport that Apple TV+ carries is Major League Soccer (MLS) and Friday Night Baseball (MLB). Subscribers can increase the availability of sports, but it will involve adding in another subscription to a service like Paramount+.
Why Apple TV+
Apple TV+ boasts a slick and enjoyable user experience, with rapid loading speeds, reduced adverts (Apple originals are ad-free), and an aesthetically strong dashboard. For families, it is particularly appealing because of the flexibility of 6 concurrent streams. This helps to keep the peace in the evenings when no one can agree on what show to watch. If it is an Apple Original that you can agree on, then settle in for a picture-perfect evening of entertainment, thanks to Apple TV+’s 4k HDR video with immersive Spatial Audio.
Major League Soccer (MLS)
Despite the overall sports offering being fairly restricted, if you are an MLS fan, then Apple TV+ is the platform for you. Last year (2023), Apple secured a landmark deal with the MLS to offer exclusive coverage of all MLS matches. Soccer fans on Apple TV+ benefit from unrivaled access to live games, on-demand replays, highlights, and in-depth analysis from former players such as Bradley Wright-Phillips and Kaylyn Kyle. Those two can be found on MLS 360, a whip-around show that digs into weekly matchups and keeps you up-to-date with all the news you need.
Unfortunately, the exclusive Major League Soccer action does come at an additional cost. Fans will need an MLS Season Pass subscription, which costs an additional $12.99 a month or $39 for the season.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Apple TV+ also features exclusive Friday Night Baseball games, which is a very nice perk for baseball fans. This deal includes two live games each Friday during the MLB season, complete with all the pre and post-game analysis and coverage you need.
Whilst Apple TV+ does lack a wide range of live sports, sports fans can enjoy on-demand programs such as ‘The Dynasty: New England Patriots’, ‘Stephen Curry: Underrated’, ‘Real Madrid: Until the End’, and more.
Subscription Plans
Apple TV+ keeps things relatively simple, offering just the one subscription service at $9.99 a month, or $99.99 a year. If you want to go all-in on Apple, then it might be worth having a look at their Apple One bundles, which offer up to six Apple subscriptions for one lower monthly price, in addition to giving you up to 2TB or iCloud storage. These range from $19.95 a month to $37.95 a month, depending on your usage requirements, but the baseline features are Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade.
Offers & Free trial
Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, allowing potential users to test out their original content before committing to a long-term subscription. If you’re a huge fan of Ted Lasso, you might be able to get through it all during that 7-day free trial, but make sure to tune into some Friday Night Baseball and other Apple content while you're at it. If you decide it is not for you, then make sure you remember to cancel the free trial to avoid being handed a hefty bill.
If you’re in the market for a new device, then you can land 3 free months of Apple TV+ alongside a purchase of an Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Conclusion
Through original content such as Ted Lasso, Severance, and more, Apple TV+ is beginning to make a name for itself in a competitive entertainment market. It has already established itself as the home of the MLS, but a lack of other sports, aside from Friday Night Baseball, does leave a lot to be desired for Sports fans. Unless you are a die-hard soccer fan, you may want to consider another service if you are looking to expand your sports viewing options.
Author: Venuse, Inc.