A brand-new, free Apple Sports app was released by Apple on Wednesday.

Why this matters: Numerous sports scores and data are currently available to consumers online, “but not in a single place and not that easy to use,” according to Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue.

• Apple Sports is available for download on the Apple App Store.
• For present, only the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada can download the app.

Details: The customised app is made to display the most recent standings and statistics for the clubs and leagues that users are most interested in.

• Users of the app may click into any game in real-time to get a variety of information, including, if desired, real-time DraftKings betting data. (DraftKings is not an authorised collaborator. Apple merely uses its information. If desired, users can disable betting data.)

Apple will push live activity updates to users‘ lock screens for teams they have chosen as favourites, allowing them to check scores without ever picking up their phone.

• If MLS Season Pass holders want to watch live football matches, for which Apple has the rights, they may easily click into Apple TV+ using the app.

• Through Apple News, the app can also direct users to additional information about their favourite teams.

Between the lines: You can follow the majority of major leagues that are now playing on the app, including MLS, NBA, NCAA women’s and men’s basketball, NHL, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga MX, Ligue 1, Premier League, and Serie A.

• Following the start of their respective seasons, more leagues will be added, such as the MLB, NFL, college football, and other international leagues.

• According to Cue, the business eventually wants to include other lifestyle, non-team sports like tennis and golf.

Be savvy: According to Cue, one of the reasons the app isn’t now pre-installed on Apple devices is that by placing it on the App Store, Apple is able to make updates more quickly. There are very few major operating system updates that occur annually.

• Additionally, the business has no plans to directly monetize the app through sports betting or advertising. For the time being, the company believes it will benefit many owners of Apple devices.

• “We’re trying to do things that are great for the fan,” said Cue.

The big picture: Apple Sports is a component of the company’s larger sports coverage initiative.

• Apple is entering its third season of streaming Major League Baseball events on Friday nights. Last year, the company inked a 10-year exclusive rights deal to disseminate Major League Soccer matches to paid users. It has put more money into expanding Apple TV+, its subscription streaming service, with sports programmes and documentaries.

• The New York Times-owned sports media organisation The Athletic was introduced by the firm to its Apple News+ subscription service in the latter part of the previous year.