Apple is reportedly ‘loading up’ on sports media talent

Apple reportedly plans to slow hiring and spending growth next year in some divisions to cope with a potential economic downturn. However, as Apple gets deeper into sports programming, it’s loading up on sports media talent, according to Front Office Sports.

The article notes that, on its careers page, the tech giant currently has 60 jobs with the word “sports” in the title or description, with more than 50 posted since May. 

Many openings are directly related to sports content, ad sales, or logistics — Senior Sports Writer, Sports Programming Strategy, Sports Production Designer, etc. — while several others are more tech-centric, such as Senior iOS Engineer. Front Office Sports notes that sSeveral of the jobs are based at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, but many — especially the ones directly involved in TV production — would be based out of the media hubs of the Los Angeles area and New York City.

Apple TV+ has been airing baseball games via its “Friday Night Baseball” package with MLB this season. In June the company agreed to a historic 10-year, $2.5 billion media rights deal with Major League Soccer that begins in 2023.

Apple says this partnership is a historic first for a major professional sports league, and will allow fans around the world to watch all MLS, Leagues Cup, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches in one place — without any local broadcast blackouts or the need for a traditional pay TV bundle.

From early 2023 through 2032, fans can get every live MLS match by subscribing to a new MLS streaming service, available exclusively through the Apple TV app. In addition to all of the match content, the service will provide fans a new weekly live match whip-around show so they never miss a goal or save, and also game replays, highlights, analysis, and other original programming.