Major League Soccer (MLS) is set to implement significant changes to its Apple TV broadcasts for the upcoming season, including a reduction in its Spanish-language broadcast talent. According to sources familiar with the league's plans, about half of the Spanish-language broadcast team will be let go. These sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

When the MLS Season Pass debuted in 2023, both MLS and Apple executives emphasized the importance of their Spanish-language broadcast plans, suggesting they would be on par with their English-language counterparts. Initially, this was the case, with a Spanish-language broadcast team sent to every match. However, with MLS matches now available outside the Season Pass paywall on Apple TV+, this is set to change.

Despite the reduction in talent, MLS plans to retain what it considers its seven best Spanish-language play-by-play and commentary pairings. Some of the pairings expected to be retained include Sammy Sadovnik and Diego Valeri; Ramses Sandoval and Miguel Gallardo; and Jorge Perez-Navarro and Marcelo Balboa.

In addition to the talent cuts, MLS will discontinue the Spanish-language version of MLS 360, a whip-around show featuring live look-ins and commentary on multiple matches. The English-language version of MLS 360 will remain unaffected. A league source indicated that viewership data suggested Spanish-language consumers preferred watching matches to in-studio programming.

These changes come amidst other adjustments to the MLS-Apple TV partnership. Recently, Apple TV dropped the MLS Season Pass add-on, making every match available with a standard Apple TV subscription. Furthermore, MLS and Apple have agreed to end their exclusive media rights agreement three years early, concluding after the 2028/29 season. As part of this early termination agreement, Apple TV will remove the Season Pass paywall and increase its total payment to MLS by $50 million from 2026 to 2029.

MLS is also making moves to enhance the viewing experience in other ways. The league has announced the launch of "Walmart Saturday Showdown," a weekly marquee matchup broadcast on Apple TV. These games will feature enhanced production elements, including a "Shot on iPhone" view, designed to bring fans closer to the action. The first "Walmart Saturday Showdown" will feature Inter Miami CF visiting LAFC on February 21.