Apple is planning to spend BILLIONS on live sports in its biggest bet outside the App Store

Apple Inc. is planning to spend billions of dollars to offer live sports packages on its platform as soon as next year, according to people familiar with the matter, the biggest bet it’s ever placed outside the App Store. The company is working on a business that would allow customers to subscribe to individual sporting events, including NFL games. A deal for its highly coveted Sunday Ticket could be announced by the end of the year. Apple has also discussed a subscription service that could be priced at a premium to the $85-a-month NFL Sunday Ticket, which offers live national broadcasts of local market games.<br><br>The tech giant has also been in talks to buy rights to Major League Baseball games, the National Basketball Association and soccer from Europe. It is also looking to lure top talent. Apple has discussed a deal with CEO of the NFL, Roger Goodell, to run its sports efforts. And it has eyed the NBA’s Adam Silver.<br><br>Apple’s talks to run Major League Soccer’s new media company are still ongoing after the tech company offered to pay about $250 million annually for 10 years, a person familiar with the matter said. The offer is for the rights to stream games, highlights and other content. Each game produced by Apple would feature the company’s branding and MLS has discussed the future rollout of an Apple TV app. The streaming company has also sought a board seat in Major League Soccer’s new media company. Apple has also been eyeing rights to Formula One races.