Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
MLB is about to make a million dollars off an iPhone app
Lots of developers are saying that they can't sell their apps at $9.99 in the App Store, but Major League Baseball is apparently the exception -- the $9.99 At Bat app is not only gaining accolades from users, but it's selling like nachos at the ballpark, too: with 130,000 copies sold so far this year, MLB is about to break a million dollars in revenue, even after Apple takes its cut.Pretty impressive for a pricey app. Of course, that's chump change when you consider exactly what MLB is dealing with -- the app integrates the Gameday Audio service, which sells for $14.99 on its own, and baseball's television and video content makes much, much more than a million dollars. The iPhone revenue, big as it is, is just a drop in the bucket for MLB, really.
But nevertheless, the MLB app stands out as proof that, even if you have to include exclusive live audio content from major sporting events around the country, it is possible to make an app that people will happily pay $9.99 for. Stands to reason that if developers can make their app at least as functional and useful as At Bat, they too can make a million dollars.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
emil said 10:26PM on 4-28-2009
I wish the NFL made an app like this. It makes it so much easier to keep up with your favorite team(s)!
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Charles R Hamilton said 11:19PM on 4-28-2009
I second Emil. NFL,NHL,Nascar, they all should copy this model.
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Brian Kaempen said 11:40PM on 4-28-2009
Both of you are dead on. I was on public transportation last fall coming back from the airport using Sports Tap to keep track of my team on Sunday Night football. But as for At Bat, I want more video "top plays" from MLB as well, since 1. they seem to rate every video as a "Top Play" and 2. better quality; I thought last year they were downconverting the HD broadcasts for stellar video quality and aspect ration, but this year even on wifi, I'm getting squished and non-widescreen video "highlights."
-Brian
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Jim In Holland said 12:13AM on 4-29-2009
I really want it to offer game audio on stream after the event - a 3 day window afterwards to listen to the game if you miss it or if you're like me, living overseas, and all the games start at 9:30pm or 2am! I'd have paid a bit more for that feature. Then again, my team is in the bottom of the standings... :(
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Matthew Heidenreich said 12:19AM on 4-29-2009
I love this app, and deserves a spot on my main screen. I can't go through the day without opening it up multiple times
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Tony Bowman said 12:19AM on 4-29-2009
I kind of wonder what the costs to provide the backend services for this app are to MLB. Does the revenue generated cover those costs?
Basically, do they see it as a marketing tool and loss-leader for driving sales elsewhere like the full-blown MLB.tv(which I have and is amazing), or do they see it as a profit-maker?
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Tyler R. said 12:44AM on 4-29-2009
I wondered about that too. I imagine the backend to support the app isn't much. They are already generating the content for MLB.com. The only additional cost for them would be the development cost of the app and the bandwidth for the streaming audio. So at $1 million I'm dire they recouped the development costs and probably even covered the bandwidth.
Justin Smith said 1:16AM on 4-29-2009
Absolutely incredible
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Jeremy said 2:38AM on 4-29-2009
Well, duh, sure, if developers can provide an entire season of major league baseball, they can sell an app for ten bucks and make a million. That pretty much rules out almost everyone else. :)
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Chuck said 5:54AM on 4-29-2009
Keep in mind this is the same crowd that will gladly pay $10 for a hot dog.
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TheIcemanCometh said 8:11AM on 4-29-2009
Yep - absolutely. Nothing beats ballpark food. :-)
Oh, and that also means MLB knows their audience. Nothing wrong with that. This app is TOTALLY worth the price.
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Galley said 8:25AM on 4-29-2009
The only 3rd-party app to ever occupy a spot in my dock.
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Rox said 9:07AM on 4-29-2009
MLB Voting Feature:
Let iPhone users vote on the worst owners in baseball. At the end of the year the owner with the most votes is forced to sell their team.
I nominate the Monfort brothers from the Colorado Rockies.
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Patriks7 said 10:41AM on 4-29-2009
Now if they make one for the NHL (you know, the sport for real men) I will jump in joy!
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Jas said 11:30AM on 4-29-2009
Huh...
All this clamour for an application about baseball. And they say that Apple customers are elitist!
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Eric said 12:40PM on 4-29-2009
This is an app I use everyday, multiple times a day. I would gladly pay more on the next go around. Excellent app. Congrats to the developers & production team.
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YodaMac said 1:14PM on 4-29-2009
I guess it makes sense: since gambling on sports is a regular source of income for these "enthusiasts". The $10 app gets paid back by their less-informed co-workers.
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Erick said 5:42PM on 4-29-2009
If they pack in live video streaming of the game, ill pay 20
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MLBHomeRun.com said 1:29PM on 5-01-2009
The app is doing so well because it is flawlessly awesome. I love getting a choice of listening to either the home or away broadcast. Keep up the good work MLB!
http://www.mlbhomerun.com
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Lindty said 6:49AM on 5-25-2009
I love this app, and deserves a spot on my main screen. I can't go through the day without opening it up multiple times
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http://www.audiocdripper.net
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