5 ms·

I watched the last Dallas/Miami match on AppleTV because it was free. No MLS subscription required. I do have to say — I watched one baseball game and one MLS

I watched the last Dallas/Miami match on AppleTV because it was free. No MLS subscription required. I do have to say — I watched one baseball game and one MLS game so far, and the commentators are 100% the worst. Constant conversation, constant drivel and often not about the game proceedings. They must’ve said “the best ever to play the game” about 1000x in 2 hours. I won’t ever pay for sports from Apple just on that point. This has been my “grumpy post of the day”.

EstesPark 3y ago
As a long time MLS supporter (late 90's), I agree with you, however, every other aspect of the deal has been a significant improvement over the mix of ESPN+, FS1, ect. Not having blackouts, greatly improved streaming quality, single subscription, the pre- and post-match shows, global audience, added content, etc have taken the league to another level - to a point where we are even seeing the changes at one of the lowest payrolled clubs in the league in Colorado. Additionally, Apple played a big role in Messi signing with an MLS club. (Side note: found this in his Instagram bio being followed by 482 million people.. apple.co/mlsmessi) The main complaints I have seen are the commentary as well as lack of Android application. Other than those two items, people seem to be thrilled with the service so far.
- mateo- 3y ago
  100% this. I got MLB.tv free via T-mobile. It's not even worth the effort to figure out how to VPN out my AppleTV. I've watched 1 Mariners game this year, and it was because it was on Apple's Friday Night series. Whaddya know, make it easy to consume content, and people consume it.
frutiger 3y ago
I’m curious if the commentators were English or American (or neither)?
- EstesPark 3y ago
  From all over - it's a mix.
mstade 3y ago
I feel this development holds true for commentators everywhere though, and I think they made great fun of this in the show Ted Lasso. I wish more streaming services would allow turning off commentary altogether. If I recall, NHL Game Center used to have this feature, along with the ability to switch video feeds which was also pretty cool. I'd have the main feed on while also streaming the view from right above each goal. When I was a kid we used to turn off the tv audio and turn up the radio instead, because the commentary there was usually much better. It was often a little bit ahead but not by more than a second or two so it didn't really screw things up too much. These days with streaming though you can be minutes behind, which is especially evident during big tournaments like the World Cup when you can hear people yelling from their apartments at different times, depending on where they're streaming the game from.
atonse 3y ago
I think the commentary does play a big part in enjoyment of these broadcasts. It also gives you the subconscious feeling of watching with a familiar friend every time. One example is F1, where we watch the races with the "international" commentary (with David Croft) as opposed to the F1 official commentary. Nothing really wrong with F1's, but the familiarity of Crofty's voice adds to the enjoyment. I bet Apple could add celebrity commentators to MLS if this continues to grow.
poidos 3y ago
Were you watching in English? The Spanish commentators are significantly better. Of course that doesn’t help if you don’t speak it.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- lesuorac 3y ago
  idk, sometimes its better when you can't understand the commentators. I don't always find them to be a value add.
  - EstesPark 3y ago
    Made me think of this: https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/2018/jan/25/italian-football-premier-league-serie-a-language https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/20...
- jareklupinski 3y ago
  simpsons did it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjp1Zrvn8VQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjp1Zrvn8VQ
- AtlasBarfed 3y ago
  Still awesome for GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL. All the Spanish I need
barkerja 3y ago
FWIW, Apple provides both national and local feeds for audio for games. It's not a well-known fact as it's kind of hidden, but while watching, there is an option to change the audio feed.
NickC25 3y ago
The problem with Baseball is that games are so long and there's so much down-time (in between pitches, in between batters, in between innings) that commentators feel the need to fill the air with chatter, which I find to be annoying. The Brits do soccer (football) play-by-play very well - it's often times 1 guy - not even a color commentator. It's done in a very monotone, factual and dry way, which is all I really need. So-and-so wins the ball in his own half, and passes the ball to such-and-such, who takes a shot from X yards, and it's saved by the opposition goalkeeper. Occasionally a small bit of relevant color commentary is thrown in for context by the main announcer (so-and-so wins the ball from his international teammate or academy teammate or former club mate; or such-and-such has scored X# goals this year). The color commentary is usually a former pro who gives insight into tactics or the seasonal narratives or the officiating or whatever. Here in the USA the soccer commentators don't do that well, and blur the lines between play-by-play and color commentary - and to make matters worse, there's usually 2-3 of them in the booth at the same time. No thanks.
MavisBacon 3y ago
I'm generally pretty easy on the commentators in sports as I think it's an incredibly difficult job that isn't often recognized, but yes, Apple's soccer commentators are noticeably terrible. As an MLS fan I rarely like the American (as in from the US) soccer commentators in general but the ones Apple hired are so heavy handed yet clumsy. Also- Messi isn't objectively the best ever to play the game, so that was odd how often it was stated lol
- inemesitaffia 3y ago
  Messi is the best ever by far. Best season the one after he scored 91 goals
sparc24 3y ago
Just watch the Spanish broadcast. It's 1000 times better even if you don't understand the language. No Taylor Twattman there.

EstesPark 3y ago

As a long time MLS supporter (late 90's), I agree with you, however, every other aspect of the deal has been a significant improvement over the mix of ESPN+, FS1, ect. Not having blackouts, greatly improved streaming quality, single subscription, the pre- and post-match shows, global audience, added content, etc have taken the league to another level - to a point where we are even seeing the changes at one of the lowest payrolled clubs in the league in Colorado. Additionally, Apple played a big role in Messi signing with an MLS club. (Side note: found this in his Instagram bio being followed by 482 million people.. apple.co/mlsmessi) The main complaints I have seen are the commentary as well as lack of Android application. Other than those two items, people seem to be thrilled with the service so far.

mateo- 3y ago
100% this. I got MLB.tv free via T-mobile. It's not even worth the effort to figure out how to VPN out my AppleTV. I've watched 1 Mariners game this year, and it was because it was on Apple's Friday Night series. Whaddya know, make it easy to consume content, and people consume it.

frutiger 3y ago

I’m curious if the commentators were English or American (or neither)?

EstesPark 3y ago
From all over - it's a mix.

mstade 3y ago

I feel this development holds true for commentators everywhere though, and I think they made great fun of this in the show Ted Lasso. I wish more streaming services would allow turning off commentary altogether. If I recall, NHL Game Center used to have this feature, along with the ability to switch video feeds which was also pretty cool. I'd have the main feed on while also streaming the view from right above each goal. When I was a kid we used to turn off the tv audio and turn up the radio instead, because the commentary there was usually much better. It was often a little bit ahead but not by more than a second or two so it didn't really screw things up too much. These days with streaming though you can be minutes behind, which is especially evident during big tournaments like the World Cup when you can hear people yelling from their apartments at different times, depending on where they're streaming the game from.

atonse 3y ago

I think the commentary does play a big part in enjoyment of these broadcasts. It also gives you the subconscious feeling of watching with a familiar friend every time. One example is F1, where we watch the races with the "international" commentary (with David Croft) as opposed to the F1 official commentary. Nothing really wrong with F1's, but the familiarity of Crofty's voice adds to the enjoyment. I bet Apple could add celebrity commentators to MLS if this continues to grow.

poidos 3y ago

Were you watching in English? The Spanish commentators are significantly better. Of course that doesn’t help if you don’t speak it.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
lesuorac 3y ago
idk, sometimes its better when you can't understand the commentators. I don't always find them to be a value add.
- EstesPark 3y ago
  Made me think of this: https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/2018/jan/25/italian-football-premier-league-serie-a-language https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/20...
jareklupinski 3y ago
simpsons did it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjp1Zrvn8VQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjp1Zrvn8VQ
AtlasBarfed 3y ago
Still awesome for GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL. All the Spanish I need

barkerja 3y ago

FWIW, Apple provides both national and local feeds for audio for games. It's not a well-known fact as it's kind of hidden, but while watching, there is an option to change the audio feed.

NickC25 3y ago

The problem with Baseball is that games are so long and there's so much down-time (in between pitches, in between batters, in between innings) that commentators feel the need to fill the air with chatter, which I find to be annoying. The Brits do soccer (football) play-by-play very well - it's often times 1 guy - not even a color commentator. It's done in a very monotone, factual and dry way, which is all I really need. So-and-so wins the ball in his own half, and passes the ball to such-and-such, who takes a shot from X yards, and it's saved by the opposition goalkeeper. Occasionally a small bit of relevant color commentary is thrown in for context by the main announcer (so-and-so wins the ball from his international teammate or academy teammate or former club mate; or such-and-such has scored X# goals this year). The color commentary is usually a former pro who gives insight into tactics or the seasonal narratives or the officiating or whatever. Here in the USA the soccer commentators don't do that well, and blur the lines between play-by-play and color commentary - and to make matters worse, there's usually 2-3 of them in the booth at the same time. No thanks.

MavisBacon 3y ago

I'm generally pretty easy on the commentators in sports as I think it's an incredibly difficult job that isn't often recognized, but yes, Apple's soccer commentators are noticeably terrible. As an MLS fan I rarely like the American (as in from the US) soccer commentators in general but the ones Apple hired are so heavy handed yet clumsy. Also- Messi isn't objectively the best ever to play the game, so that was odd how often it was stated lol

inemesitaffia 3y ago
Messi is the best ever by far. Best season the one after he scored 91 goals

sparc24 3y ago

Just watch the Spanish broadcast. It's 1000 times better even if you don't understand the language. No Taylor Twattman there.