The Bundesliga’s deal with Mark Goldbridge is odd, and exactly what MLS is missing with Apple

The Bundesliga, Germany's top football league, has struck an unusual streaming deal with popular YouTube personality Mark Goldbridge. This agreement allows Goldbridge to broadcast 20 live Bundesliga matches on his "That's Football" channel, which has over 1 million subscribers. The move represents the Bundesliga's effort to meet its fans where they are, rather than asking them to come to the league's own platform. The deal was kickstarted by Bayern Munich's opening weekend win over RB Leipzig, which drew nearly 500,000 viewers who watched along with Goldbridge's commentary. This type of fan-centric approach is seen as something that Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States has been lacking, as the league recently signed a deal with Apple TV that requires fans to subscribe to a new platform to access matches. The Bundesliga's partnership with Goldbridge is seen as a more innovative and fan-friendly model that other leagues could learn from.