Following a season of remote broadcasting, Apple TV announced it will bring Major League Soccer (MLS) announcers back to stadiums starting in 2026. This decision, confirmed by MLS executive vice president of media Seth Bacon, aims to enhance broadcast quality by allowing commentators to capture live game atmosphere, as well as pre-game and post-game interviews and features, for both English and Spanish-language coverage.
Remote Announcing Short-Lived Amid Viewer Backlash
The remote broadcast approach began in 2025 after two seasons of all announcers working on-site during Apple TV’s partnership with MLS. The shift was initially a cost-saving effort, with some commentators calling matches remotely from NEP Vista Worldlink in Dania Beach, Florida. However, this move sparked immediate criticism from both fans and media, including Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald, who publicly challenged the decision.
MLS exec Seth Bacon confirms: yes, announcers will call games remotely this year.
He makes the case it’s no different. (He knows I and many viewers disagree.)
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Many fans questioned why the quality of broadcast presentations was diminishing despite paying $99 for the MLS Season Pass. Although the league insisted most broadcasts would maintain on-site announcing, the introduction of remote commentary for select games undermined viewer confidence in the partnership, whose sustainability was already under scrutiny due to concerns about accessibility and declining audience numbers.
Improved Content Opportunities Drive Reversal of Remote Announcing
A year later, Seth Bacon defended the decision to return announcers to stadiums, emphasizing the value of having commentators physically present. He pointed out that on-site announcers contribute more than just live commentary—they assist in generating additional content outside the standard 90 minutes of gameplay, enriching the experience across Apple’s platforms and affiliated channels.
We understand the value of having the announcers closer to the action for the match itself,
Bacon said, according to Sports Business Journal.
But we have also really started to understand having those announcers on site, the ability for them to help us capture more content outside the 90 minutes that can then get pushed out across Apple and our own and operated channels is a big benefit to us.
Cost Cuts Continue in Spanish-Language Broadcasts
While the league reinstates on-site announcers to improve broadcast quality, it is simultaneously making financial cuts elsewhere to balance costs. The Spanish-language version of MLS 360, a whiparound-style show airing on Saturdays, has been discontinued after data indicated over 90 percent of the audience preferred English-language content. Furthermore, MLS is reducing Spanish-language broadcast personnel, reportedly cutting around 25 percent of the talent, with several games operated by a single announcer instead of two.
Commentary teams such as Sammy Sadovnik and Diego Valeri, as well as Ramses Sandoval and Miguel Gallardo, will remain part of the roster, alongside Jorge Perez-Navarro and Marcelo Balboa. Additionally, about half of the season’s matches are planned to be produced from overseas, with IMG managing production out of London, reflecting the league’s ongoing restructuring.
After careful consideration and in response to fan feedback, we are evolving our Spanish-language programming to better reflect how our audience engages with the game,
Bacon stated to The Guardian.
Our Spanish-language coverage will focus on what fans value most in shoulder programming: high-energy, live broadcasts from the stadium that bring them closer to the action through pre- and post-game shows.
Apple Partnership Adjustments Amid Audience and Accessibility Concerns
The decision to reintegrate announcers at stadiums comes during the fourth year of Apple’s $2.5 billion partnership with MLS, a period marked by notable operational shifts. One such change includes folding MLS Season Pass content into standard Apple TV subscriptions, eliminating a separate paywall after lengthy criticism over accessibility and disappointing viewership figures. The focus on in-person announcers aligns with the goal to deliver a truly premium streaming experience that matches the scale of the investment.
Despite the course correction, it remains uncertain whether reinstating on-site announcers will reverse declining viewer trends. However, the move signals MLS’s recognition that delivering improved production quality is essential to upholding their promises to subscribers and sustaining the league’s growing presence on the streaming platform.
