Just like @pbones and @gruber, I was curious to see @AppleTVPlus include commercials in #FridayNightBaseball. They discussed how these, along with TV Plus subscription revenue, will constitute the income of the project.

I thought of a few other ways that Apple benefits.

Broadcasting live, high-res footage could yield significant tech, even if a big push into sports isn't the goal.

If broadcasts start to include 3D content for AR or VR, and this capability goes to other broadcasters, it will drive demand for tools that can bake that.

Developing the talent to host this experience is also applicable to many potential future broadcast scenarios.

John noted that the team was young, fresh, and diverse; they were also apparently green-lit to be clever, disarming and funny. Comedy will bring new fans to the sport.

Forming a team like this also heads off some of the hurt feelings and slippery slopes that can cut off normal expression and openness.

Gruber recalled when a golf announcer was dismissed for making a small joke. Often, those occurrences make sense; sometimes, confusions reigns.

A broadcast team of mostly women can help to avoid some of the confusion, and remind the commentariat that for the most part, joking around is normal and good.

Apple's original TV is very culturally sensitive, in a positive way, unlike pieces that focus on pain and alienation.

@MLB is basically the oldest and biggest partner for iOS, and having introduced iPad to the dugout, is a breeding ground for how expertly the hardware, software, and services can be tailored to a world-class operation.

The more Apple can bring them fans, the more they both win.

Pro sports statistics have long been a chief strength of Siri. They comprise an intersection of hard science and fuzzy language that is elemental to the premise of voice assistance.

Unleashing machine learning in real time on statistical analysis can bolster Siri and much more.