Apple’s Soccer Deal Might Ask Too Much of Lionel Messi
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Lionel Messi, his holiness, has arrived to play soccer in Miami. The only thing bigger than the crowds to greet him are the dollar signs bulging, like Looney Toons, from the eyes of the business magnates who made it happen. Awooga! It's payday!His signing to Inter Miami, completed earlier this month, was unlike any other in the history of the sport, in that success will be measured not by the number of trophies he can win but by how many streaming subscription signups he can inspire. Last year, Apple agreed a $2.5 billion deal to acquire the global rights to broadcast the US's Major League Soccer exclusively for 10 years, via a dedicated app that costs $14.99 per month or $49 for the season. Or, existing subscribers to Apple's TV service can get a discount, which is what this is ...