A “simple” name change was not the only important decision Apple TV made recently. The streaming service has announced a strategic decision to offer greater access to its most exciting phase: Playoff games will be available to all Apple TV subscribersWithout the need for an additional subscription to the MLS Season Pass.

This decision comes just ahead of the start of the postseason and highlights the future of Apple’s current sports streaming business model, especially considering the specifics of the F1 broadcast deal. While the company typically doesn’t announce final plans for the MLS Season Pass until February or March, the current move fuels speculation that the add-on product could disappear in 2026 and be fully integrated into the base subscription.

No additional payments required to watch MSL play-offs on Apple TV

Offering all playoff games for free to basic Apple TV subscribers is a significant change from the usual setup required by the MLS Season Pass. It currently costs $99 per season for fans in the United States.

Viewers’ resistance to paying additional fees, even if they already have an Apple TV subscription, has been questioned since the launch of the Season Pass in 2023. The general consensus in the industry is this: Removing this barrier will significantly increase the audienceThis is a factor Apple could try to offset, perhaps by increasing ad revenue on streams.

On the other hand, the recent news that Formula 1 (F1) will be broadcast in the United States via the basic Apple TV subscription starting from 2026 and that all F1 TV Premium content will be offered at no extra cost has set a precedent. Considering F1 TV Premium previously cost around $16.99 per month, this deal MLS’ separate “season pass” looks “a little dated,” according to analysts.

Of course, there are reasons supporting this. Differences in the model when transmitting F1 and MLS. While MLS a dozen weekly matches in the regular season and F1 has just 24 race weekends, the contrast in monetization model is inevitable.

Apple pays about $250 million a year for global MLS rights and $150 million for F1 rights in the United States. The main difference is that a portion of the MLS Season Pass fee is shared directly with the league; This may have initially justified the Season Pass as a standalone product with multiple hours of content.

This potential consolidation strategy will not only simplify the services offered to the consumer, but will also position Apple TV as a more competitive and attractive streaming destination in the saturated live sports market. The upcoming play-off schedule therefore becomes not only a fight for the MLS Cup, but also a challenge. An important strategic experiment for the future of sports broadcasting.

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