<p>Last week, MLS <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-and-apple-miss-chance-to-tell-mls-season-pass-success-story-20240111-WST-482847.html">re-announced</a> its partnership with Box to Box Productions, the company that made the hit Formula 1 series <em>Drive to Survive</em>. The partnership will produce a documentary series on Major League Soccer. For F1, <em>Drive to Survive</em> was a massive success in expanding the audience of the motorsport league. Apple wants the same impact with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a>. However, there are concerns about whether it can deliver the same effect.</p>



<p>James Gay-Rees is one of the producers of <em>Drive to Survive</em> and is one of the founders of Box to Box Productions. Gay-Rees says documentaries, like Dr<em>ive to Survive,</em> are the future of sports programming because of the audience they draw in. </p>



<p>“All sports are competing for the same younger audience,” <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/e6dc1b78-fc2e-4e95-a1fc-3e1ff8624480" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he said</a>. “Modern audiences are fascinated by what goes on with athletes behind the scenes.”</p>



<p>Netflix, which streams <em>Drive to Survive</em>, said its sports documentaries delivered enormous value. The streaming service also has <em>Break Point</em> and a series about the Tour de France. The variety of content allowed Netflix to say it was “having great success,” as reported in its third-quarter earnings.</p>



<p>F1’s audience grew substantially because of the documentary series, and that was a credit to the in-depth storytelling the series did on the drivers. Those who watched <em>Drive to</em> <em>Survive</em> felt a connection to the drivers. But can it do the same for MLS on Apple TV+?</p>



<h2>MLS will try to ‘replicate’ Drive to Survive</h2>



<p>Paul Martin, the other founder of Box to Box Productions, says part of the intrigue for the rise in sports documentary series is that they cover different sports. Netflix has streamed documentary series on Formula 1, tennis, golf, cycling and more. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240116_WST_483754_Drive-to-Survive-1200x670_6cce88c7.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-483768" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Drive-to-Survive-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Drive-to-Survive-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Drive-to-Survive-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Drive-to-Survive.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>“We’ve never approached them from a perspective of: Let’s just replicate Drive to Survive on every single one of the shows,” he said.</p>



<p>However, that is what MLS is going to try and do. Major League Soccer wants to capture audiences in the same way <em>Drive to Survive</em> did in the United States and across the world. Since the launch of <em>Drive to Survive,</em> Formula 1 has seen consistent viewership increases over the last four years. While it is hard to develop a true, direct causation relationship, the correlation between the docuseries and viewership of the sport certainly exists.</p>



<p>Major League Soccer viewership has been equally hard to quantify because of the prominence of <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">MLS Season Pass</a> and the secrecy about the viewing numbers that Apple and MLS do not want to share. However, an in-depth look at MLS and its clubs could give fans added reason to watch. Additionally, people will tune in to watch Lionel Messi. If Box to Box and the producers can get access to Messi, people will tune in, which could spark more viewership for MLS games and MLS Season Pass subscriptions.</p>



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<h2>MLS drive to survive: A legitimate look at MLS?</h2>



<p>The question remains as to whether viewers of this docuseries will get a true look at the ins and outs of Major League Soccer or a sterilized version Apple and the league want fans to see. In other words, Apple may control what the documentary crew records and uses in the final program. Only showing the positives would put the league in a good light at the same time that it avoids any drama that transpires in the league. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>



<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to Major League Soccer</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of MLS Season Pass!</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-faq-20230203-WST-413216.html/"><strong>Season Pass FAQ:</strong></a> We <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-faq-20230203-WST-413216.html/">answer your questions</a> about MLS Season Pass</div>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-announcers-and-analysts-for-apple-deal-20230203-WST-416042.html"><strong>Commentators:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-announcers-and-analysts-for-apple-deal-20230203-WST-416042.html">who&apos;s</a> calling the action for the MLS season</div>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-mls-season-pass-on-android-20230203-WST-416910.html"><strong>Android users</strong></a> Tips for fans <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-mls-season-pass-on-android-20230203-WST-416910.html">Android users</a> on how to watch MLS Season Pass</div></div>

Can MLS' version of Drive to Survive win over soccer fans?

Apple announced that it is partnering with Box to Box Films, producers of Drive to Survive, to bring a documentary series for MLS.

<p>What does it say about MLS when you have nothing new or positive to say in a press briefing about MLS Season Pass other than announcing details about a production deal that was announced ten months ago?</p>



<p>That happened in today’s MLS and Apple briefing to the media, held in Miami, Florida. With reporters from around the country gathered on-site to interview executives, players, and coaches, it was an opportunity lost. After all, Apple and MLS could have, for the first time, shared viewing numbers for any individual game from 2023. Or they could have shared an update on the number of <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">MLS Season Pass</a> subscribers. Instead, we got a retread of old news, packaged to look like new.</p>



<p>Don’t be misled by today’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/apple-tv-announces-all-access-major-league-soccer-docuseries-for-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">news</a> about MLS chasing the success of the <em>Drive to Survive</em> effect. Ten months ago, in March 2023, MLS Commissioner Don Garber told <em>The Athletic</em> about the same partnership deal with Box To Box Productions (producers of the Netflix series <em>Drive to Survive</em> about F1) to <a href="https://theathletic.com/4273822/2023/03/04/mls-expansion-apple-tv-messi-don-garber-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">produce a documentary series about MLS</a> for Apple TV+.</p>



<p>Garber, at the time, explained it as “Every team has the opportunity to do their own ‘Drive to Survive,’ and have the largest technology and the most innovative consumer-facing company in the world provide the platform for that … This is going to be a test for our teams. But I can assure you that the teams that are really, really good will create very innovative, exciting, globally interesting content, and that will drive subscribers.”</p>



<p>Ten months later, Box to Box Productions is finally ready to start filming.</p>



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<tbody>
<tr class="table5" style="width:100%">
<td style="width:70%">
<center><h4>Our Pick:</h4>
Includes: Every regular season game, MLS Cup Playoffs, Leagues Cup, &amp; More</center>
</td>
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<center><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4&amp;ct=rvo" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow"><figure class="image"><img src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240111_WST_482847_MLSSPRVO_cc89c72f.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=100" alt="MLS Season Pass" width="200" height="100"></figure></a></center></td>
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<h2>Is MLS Season Pass a success story?</h2>



<p>Today’s press briefing did allow producers Paul Martin and Steve Rankin to share their excitement about taking on the eight-part yet-as-untitled project. Despite this, the new MLS 2024 docuseries is not available to MLS fans on MLS Season Pass. Instead, just like <em>Messi Meets America</em> and <em>Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend</em>, they’re exclusive to Apple TV+.</p>



<p>For MLS fans, that’ll mean they’ll need to cough up <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.4000?at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">$9.99/month</a> extra to subscribe to Apple TV+ in addition to the already <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">$99 per year</a> that they’re paying for MLS Season Pass.</p>



<p>It’s 41 days until the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">2024 season of Major League Soccer</a> begins. MLS spokespeople say that more details about MLS Season Pass will be announced in the upcoming weeks. We hope that it’ll give MLS and Apple another opportunity to share details about the MLS Season Pass success story at that time.</p>



<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to Major League Soccer</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of MLS Season Pass!</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-faq-20230203-WST-413216.html/"><strong>Season Pass FAQ:</strong></a> We <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-faq-20230203-WST-413216.html/">answer your questions</a> about MLS Season Pass</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-get-mls-season-pass-20230203-WST-417725.html"><strong>Sign up:</strong></a> Learn <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-get-mls-season-pass-20230203-WST-417725.html">how to subscribe</a> to MLS Season Pass</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-announcers-and-analysts-for-apple-deal-20230203-WST-416042.html"><strong>Commentators:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-announcers-and-analysts-for-apple-deal-20230203-WST-416042.html">who&apos;s</a> calling the action for the MLS season</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-mls-season-pass-on-android-20230203-WST-416910.html"><strong>Android users</strong></a> Tips for fans <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-mls-season-pass-on-android-20230203-WST-416910.html">Android users</a> on how to watch MLS Season Pass</div></div>

MLS and Apple miss chance to tell MLS Season Pass success story

Both MLS and Apple missed an opportunity this week to share the MLS Season Pass success story to reporters from around the country

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Box to Box Productions"

Apple TV

Can MLS' version of Drive to Survive win over soccer fans?

Apple TV

MLS and Apple miss chance to tell MLS Season Pass success story