F1 & MLS: Apple TV Kicks off a Whole New Era of Sports Streaming
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Last year, Apple surprised us when it not only nailed down an exclusive Formula 1 streaming deal, but announced that it would be offering an F1 premium package to all Apple TV subscribers at no extra charge. Then, it followed that up with another bombshell: the MLS Season Pass paywall was being dismantled so that Major League Soccer would follow suit.
Both of these initiatives were set to kick off for their 2026 seasons, and now that those dates are upon us we’re getting an idea of what these will actually look like.
On Monday, a new Formula 1 channel popped up in Apple’s TV app for folks in the US, sandwiched in the sidebar between “Apple TV,” where Apple Originals like F1: The Movie and The Studio live, and “MLS,” which was previously home to the MLS Season Pass.
As Apple promised last fall, the new Formula 1 channel will provide access to all F1 content in the US, including practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and the entire 2026 F1 Season Grand Prix, from Australia to Abu Dhabi. That’s fantastic news for racing fans, since this opens up a whole new world of content for the standard $12.99 monthly Apple TV subscription, and that’s even cheaper if you’re willing to commit to a year ($99), or you’re getting it as part of an Apple One bundle.
Apple TV subscribers can also access F1 TV Premium by signing in with their Apple Account in the F1 app. In other words, an Apple TV subscription effectively replaces the standalone F1 TV Pro subscription for folks in the US.
However, if you’re someone who has zero interest in F1 racing, you’ll be disappointed to know that you’re stuck with the “Formula 1” channel in your Apple TV app, with no way to remove it or hide it.
Some had hoped that Apple might work both Formula 1 and MLS into a new “Sports” section, but it’s not too surprising that Apple wants to keep them distinct. These two packages are a pretty big deal for Apple, and it’s also likely the leagues also want top billing.
This means that the MLS section still has its own spot. It’s been renamed from “MLS Season Pass” to just “MLS,” as there’s no longer a separate subscription required to access it. However, little has changed beyond that. It’s still the same MLS Season Pass that Apple has offered since 2023, but with open access to all Apple TV subscribers. Like Formula 1, that’s a pretty sweet deal for soccer fans, but it’s something that can be safely ignored if that’s not on your pitch. Still, Apple and MLS undoubtedly hope to attract a few more casual viewers now that it’s free, and MLS commissioner Don Garber said exactly that last fall when the deal was announced: “Bringing every MLS match to Apple TV takes that vision to the next level by making it easier than ever for fans everywhere to watch, connect, and be part of the game.”
Executives have said the same thing about the Formula 1 deal, hoping to parlay the enthusiasm that Apple’s blockbuster F1 movie generated for the sport into eyeballs that will tune in to watch the actual races on Apple TV.
While F1 races won’t move into pole position until next month, the 2026 Major League Soccer season kicks off this weekend, with all the live match, pregame, postgame, and whip-around coverage.
