
Apple developing new SportsKit framework for Apple TV
It’s no secret that Apple is becoming more interested in the sports market, since the company has been investing in and hiring athletes for its TV business. We’ve found evidence to support these theories, including a new “SportsKit” basis for iOS and tvOS apps.
Since the first developer beta of iOS 15.2 was released in late October, 9to5Mac has identified references to “SportsKit” in the system’s internal files. There isn’t much information available about this framework yet, as it is most likely still under development, however it is integrated with the Apple TV app, Siri, and even home screen widgets.
The “SportsKit” home screen widget may get real-time information on sporting events. Apple is likely to expand this interaction to other elements of iOS and tvOS because Siri can presently provide sports scores.
One thing to keep in mind about this API is that SportsKit is currently being developed as a private framework, which means it won’t be available to every developer – which makes sense given that sports-related content typically necessitates special deals, and Apple may have to work directly with providers.
Prepare for Sports on Apple TV+
Apple is rumored to be working on its own sports platform as part of its Apple TV+ streaming service. According to a 2019 rumor, Apple was in talks with the PAC-12 about bringing live sports to Apple TV+ subscribers. In 2020, the former president of Amazon Prime Video’s sports area will join the Apple TV team.
Other rumors earlier this year indicated that Apple was in discussions with the NFL to buy the rights to Sunday Ticket, which would be a fantastic addition to Apple TV+. A former ESPN executive was recently appointed to manage the creation of documentary films and unscripted programming for Apple’s streaming service.
The discovery of the first signs of a new sports-related architecture in iOS suggests that Apple will finally have something new to talk about in the coming months.