Apple Inc. is reportedly nearing a significant TV deal with FIFA to acquire the global television rights for an upcoming tournament featuring top soccer teams worldwide. The potential agreement, though not officially confirmed yet, could be announced in the coming month and would be the first time FIFA agrees to a single worldwide contract with Apple. This move follows Apple's recent entrance into soccer broadcasting with a $2.5 billion deal secured for Major League Soccer streaming rights.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest that the value of this deal could be considerably lower than FIFA's initial estimate, possibly even as low as a quarter of the $4 billion figure initially projected. There is uncertainty surrounding whether the deal with Apple will include any free-to-air rights, raising questions about whether the tournament might only be accessible to Apple TV+ subscribers, a concern expressed by FIFA senior executives. The reported collaboration between FIFA and Apple underscores the increasing involvement of tech companies in sports broadcasting, aligning with trends where platforms like Peacock and Amazon Prime have ventured into streaming live sports events like NFL games.
Apple's pursuit of sports media rights reflects a broader strategy by tech giants to expand their influence in the sports entertainment industry, as evidenced by endeavors like Netflix's focus on sports documentaries and Amazon Prime streaming Thursday night NFL games. Additionally, Apple's previous agreements, such as the one to stream Major League Baseball games, illustrate the company's growing interest in diversifying its content offerings. This potential partnership between Apple and FIFA signifies a significant development at the intersection of sports and technology, illustrating the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting influenced by digital platforms.