Apple TV+ is “already benefitting from what we’re calling the Lionel Mess effect” as within a month of Messi joining Inter Miami “subscribers to Apple’s MLS season pass have more than doubled,” according to CNBC’s Julia Boorstin. Evercore ISI Senior Managing Dir Mark Mahaney noted “streaming platforms are going after live sports rights” especially with the ongoing writers’ strike “which is a real issue for all streaming companies.” Mahaney: “It does make people who’ve got live sports more attractive to audiences through the balance of the year when there’s probably going to be a deficit of new content launched.” CNBC’s Steve Kovach noted “it’s more than just, ‘Let’s get more subscribers for Apple TV.’ Sports could be a huge thing for this next computing platform,” such as Apple’s Vision Pro, “they’re trying to make happen.” Boorstin noted there have been reports Amazon is in discussions with Disney about partnering with ESPN, but the “question here is whether Apple might be interested in talking to ESPN as well.” Boorstin: “But I would be surprised if Disney/ESPN are not talking to all the potential platform partners here that are interested in sports” (“The Exchange,” CNBC, 8/28).
