Former Union TV analyst Danny Higginbotham joins Apple MLS broadcasts

Apple and MLS announced Monday that former Union local TV analyst Danny Higginbotham will be a game analyst on the new streaming package that launches next month.

Higginbotham, who called Union games from 2021-22, was one of 31 hires announced Monday across studio, play-by-play and analyst roles. He will also continue to work as a studio analyst for NBC’s English Premier League coverage.

“I’m delighted,” Higginbotham told The Inquirer. “For the two years I was just covering [the] Philadelphia Union, it was great, loved every single minute of it. And now to go on to a broader spectrum of covering the league is something that I can’t wait to get going.”

Higginbotham is the fourth hire with ties to Philadelphia on the MLS-Apple team. Former Union stars Maurice Edu and Sébastien Le Toux will call games in English and French, respectively, and Philadelphia-based former U.S. women’s national team (and Independence) player Lori Lindsey will call games in English.

» READ MORE: Ex-Union players Sébastien Le Toux, Maurice Edu to call MLS games on Apple’s streaming platform

MLS plans to have 14 English-language commentary teams, 14 Spanish commentary teams, and three French teams — one for each of the league’s Canadian teams. It’s not clear yet whether Higginbotham will have the same broadcast partner for every game, or whether he’ll be doing nationwide travel or just regional.

So far, the league and Apple have hired 49 broadcasters across game-calling and studio positions. There’s one more batch to announce before the season starts on Feb. 25.

“The people have been named so far, I have worked with a lot of them as well,” Higginbotham said. “But I also feel that regardless of the person you’re working with, you’re working with people who are like-minded with you, which is only going to be a good thing.”

The season starts Feb. 25, and Apple’s subscription streaming package goes on sale Feb. 1. It will cost $99 for the year or $14.99 per month, with discounts to $79 for the year or $12.99 per month for existing Apple TV+ subscribers. Some games will also be free on Apple’s streaming platform, but it’s not yet known how many.

There will no longer be any games on local TV, just a few on national TV from Fox and Univision.

The list of broadcaster hires announced Monday is as follows. Each name includes a mention of some of their previous work.

» READ MORE: MLS and Apple announce the price of their new streaming package

English: Andres Cordero (CBS, Inter Miami), Keith Costigan (Fox, Seattle Sounders), Kevin Egan (Atlanta United), Mark Followill (Fox, FC Dallas), Adrian Healey (ESPN, Austin FC), Eric Krakauer (beIN Sports, Charlotte FC), Mark Rogondino (Fox, Los Angeles FC), Tyler Terens (Chicago Fire), Callum Williams (beIN Sports, Minnesota United)

Spanish: Adrian Garcia-Márquez (Fox), Jorge Perez-Navarro (Fox), Francisco X. Rivera (Fox), Sergio Ruiz (Orlando City)

French: Matt Cullen (Canada’s CBC)

English: Brian Dunseth (ESPN, Real Salt Lake), Danny Higginbotham (NBC, Union), Cobi Jones (Fox, Los Angeles Galaxy), Devon Kerr (D.C. United), Heath Pearce (CBS, Orange Slices podcast), Lloyd Sam (Charlotte FC), Ross Smith (Portland Timbers), Jamie Watson (Nashville SC)

Spanish: Eduardo Biscayart (Telemundo, beIN Sports), Jaime Macias (beIN Sports), Francisco Pinto (Los Angeles Chargers), Carlos Suárez (beIN Sports)

French: Patrice Bernier (Canada’s TVA Sports)

English: Kaylyn Kyle (beIN Sports)

Spanish: Stefano Fusaro (ESPN, New York Red Bulls)

English: Shep Messing (New York Red Bulls), Christina Unkel (longtime referee, CBS, Fox)

» READ MORE: MLS announces a limited TV package to go with its big Apple streaming deal