It’s a big day for sports at Apple (AAPL) — the technology giant just dropped an iPhone app dedicated to stats and scores, aiming to solve the problem of going to different sources for every game by putting it under one house. But Apple also has some news regarding MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The 2024 MLS Season kicks off today, February 21, 2024, with a match between Inter Miami CF and Real Salt Lake at 8 PM ET, which will include Lionel Messi. It will stream via the Apple TV app on iPhone, Apple TV 4K, Mac, iPad, Vision Pro, and countless other streaming platforms with the TV app.
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But for those who’ve invested $3,500 in a Vision Pro, Apple is finally giving us details on immersive sports content. The release notes, “Coming soon, all Apple Vision Pro users can experience the best of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with the first-ever sports film captured in Apple Immersive Video.” This is big news as it’s the first sport that will be delivered in the ultra-immersive format.
Apple
I remember during my first demo with the headset, Apple teased and showed footage of a camera behind a goal during an MLS game or from right next to first base—like in the baseball dirt—as a runner came across and a shortstop threw the ball to try and get him out. The way Apple Immersive Video is shot, you are put directly in the middle of the action.
In fact, for this 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs video, Apple recorded in 8K 3D with a 180-degree field of view with matching Spatial Audio. This means that depending on where Apple had these cameras, you could be right in the middle of the field, able to turn your head to view each side, or potentially right next to Messi during a pivotal moment of a match.
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Thus far, Apple is only saying that this “first-ever sports film” of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs is coming soon, but it will be available to anyone with a Vision Pro, even if you aren't subscribed to MLS Season Pass.
Reminder: MLS Season Pass is $14.99 a month or $99 for the whole season, but if you subscribe to Apple TV+, it’s $12.99 a month or $79. It also supports family sharing, so for the price, up to six members can watch, even at the same time.
Beyond this Apple Immersive Video Sports Film, you can stream every 2024 MLS game via the service, and it will still look sharp on a Vision Pro. You can watch it in an environment like the moon with the screen stretched to 100 inches. It’ll also look just as good on an iPhone, a standard TV, a Mac, or iPad. You also get access to shows, including MLS Countdown and MLS 360, a wraparound show.
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