Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Wednesday, January 29th, 2025:
THE PROBLEM WITH APPLE TV
I would argue that dollar-for-dollar, Apple TV+ has had a higher creative success rate than any other streamer. And their shows are covered incessantly in the entertainment news press, in large part because while the subscriber base for Apple TV+ might be small, it skews wealthier than the average reader.
But Apple TV+ has also struggled to grow its subscriber base, despite having released a string of critically-acclaimed shows that in theory should have encouraged people to sign up. The fact that one of the streamers big promotional deals for the new season of Severance involved making the entire first season of the show free to watch on rival The Roku Channel is a pretty solid indication the company is frantically pushing to expand its audience. Which has to be a disappointing outcome for a streaming service designed in large part to drive new customers to Apple TV.
Another one of the ways Apple TV hoped to grow its streaming device was by signing several high-profile, high-priced sports rights deals, including an exclusive deal in 2022 to distribute MLS Season Pass, which offers streaming access to games from Major Soccer.
There hasn't been any solid reporting on what impact that deal had on the growth of the Apple TV platform, but the consensus from sports executives I've spoken with in recent months is that it was a middling success at best.
Which might explain why today it was reported that Apple has signed deals with DirecTV and Comcast to distribute the MLS Season Pass to their customers:
DirecTV has committed to distributing MLS Season Pass games through its satellite and streaming platforms. The service will cost $15 per month when billed through DirecTV via Internet, DirecTV via Satellite or DirecTV Stream; on satellite, MLS Season Pass games will be offered on Channels 480 through 495, and a free preview of MLS Season Pass will be available to DirecTV customers from February 22 to March 1.
Likewise, Comcast says it is offering MLS Season Pass to its Xfinity TV and Xfinity Internet subscribers. Comcast is making all MLS Season Pass games available through the electronic program guide of its X1, Flex and Xumo Stream Box devices for Xfinity TV and Xfinity Internet subscribers, and a free preview of MLS Season Pass will be available from February 22 to March 1.
Comcast is also distributing MLS 360, a whip-around channel that will be available to Xfinity TV and Xfinity Internet subscribers with X1, Flex or Xumo Stream Boxes, marking the first time that the channel has been offered outside a MLS Season Pass subscription, the company said.
The deals are interesting for a couple of reasons. Offering outside platforms the chance to distribute MLS Season Pass is a recognition of the inability of Apple to reach the number of soccer fans it was hoping for when it signed the deal. And there has been some unhappiness in professional soccer circles about the lack of buzz around the MLS Season Pass. So this certainly seems like an effort to expand the audience.
But it's also fascinating because in both cases, the billing for MLS Season Pass will happen through DirecTV or Comcast, not Apple TV. And that ability for Apple to capture contact and credit card info for subscribers was a primary reason why the MLS deal was cut in the first place. Subscriber info is important and having it allows you to contact the customer directly. That's why Netflix doesn't allow its service to be sold through places such as Amazon Channels. Amazon would then control that customer relationship and Netflix doesn't want to put someone between them and their subscribers.
The fact Apple TV has now decided they need to give up that control right now is an indication of how much pressure they are under to make the MLS deal work on some level, even if it's not what they were hoping for.
And one last point. On Wednesday, Apple also announced it had renewed its partnership with wireless provider T-Mobile to make MLS Season Pass available to eligible T-Mobile subscribers through the “T-Mobile Tuesdays” perk, with the freebie offered starting February 18th via the T-Life app. Under the terms of that deal, the cell provider pays Apple TV a discounted subscriber fee for each customer who takes advantage of the deal. Which grows the subscriber base for MLS Season Pass, but once again doesn't provide Apple TV with only minimal customer data.
HOW RANDOM, REALLY IS SPOTIFY'S SHUFFLE FEATURE
One of the common complaints I hear from streaming TV subscribers is that the various streaming algorithims tend to do a terrible job of recommending shows they might actually watch.
There are a lot of valid complaints about the process, but it's also true that human behavior and expectations can often be unpredictable.
TWEET OF THE DAY
A BAD WEEK FOR NICHE SPORTS FANS IN THE UK
Warner Bros. Discovery is consolidating its Eurosport service into TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland at the end of next month. And for many fans of sports such as cycling, that means a massive price increase, shooting up from up from £6.99 to £30.99:
A limited selection of cycling will still be available on the network's free-to-air channel Quest with highlights of the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España available in addition to a weekly cycling show. However WBD confirmed that it will not broadcast free-to-air live coverage of the Tour de France from 2026 when the ITV television rights deal ends and WBD become the exclusive broadcaster for the Tour in Great Britain.
I think it's enlightening that when WBD sent out a release on the decision, there was plenty of talk about how the move was great for the leagues and various sports rights holders. But not much of a mention of the fans or the streamer's customers:
"This move in the UK and Ireland will also continue to best deliver value for our leagues and federation partners, as we continue our 35 years plus commitment to investment and championing of sport on our screens, which remains a fundamental part of the success of grassroots through to elite."
ODDS AND SODS
* Celebrations With Lacey Chabert has been renewed for Season 2 at Hallmark+.
* In a nice bit of streaming counter-programming, on the same day that Netflix released its new OJ Simpson documentary, Hulu is promoting the older FX docuseries The People Vs. OJ Simpson.
* Prime Video has ordered the drama series Sterling Point, created by Megan Park (My Old Ass), who will also direct, executive-produce, and co-showrun alongside Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (The OC, Gossip Girl). No details yet on the plot.
* How random, really, is Spotify's shuffle feature? As it turns out, humans aren't a great judge of random probability.
* For Laternighter, Bill Carter writes about Jimmy Fallon's seeming desire not to tell anti-Trump jokes in recent shows.
* Netflix has ordered a reboot of Little House On The Prairie. Which I suppose is a better than a reboot of Highway To Heaven.
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29TH:
All-American Season Premiere (The CW)
American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson (Netflix)
Mythic Quest Season Four Premiere (Apple TV+)
6 Nations: Full Contact Season Two Premiere (Netflix)
The Challenge: All-Stars Season Premiere (MTV)
The Hooligan (Netflix)
The Hot Spot (Netflix)
The Flip Off Series Premiere (HGTV)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Series Premiere (Disney+)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH:
Elsbeth Spring Premiere (CBS)
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Spring Premiere (CBS)
Ghosts Spring Premiere (CBS)
Matlock Spring Premiere (CBS)
Mermicorno: Starfall Series Premiere (Max)
Mo Season Premiere (Netflix)
Scamanda (ABC)
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter Season Premiere (MTV)
The Recruit Season Two Premiere (Netflix)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights Of The Apocalypse Season Two Premiere (Netflix)
You're Cordially Invited (Prime Video)
SEE YOU ON THURSDAY!