Racers understand that Apple and ESPN are two of the leading candidates amid greater interest in US Formula 1 broadcasting rights.
As reported in February, Netflix and Amazon are also parties to negotiate with Formula 1. This is a source close to issues that involves streaming Giants in the mix to focus attention on sports rights as part of the product. However, ESPN has always been set to maintain strong interest as an existing broadcast partner that has held the rights since 2018.
The sport can remain at US ESPN, but the network boasts an average of 1.3 million viewers per race this year, an increase of 7% from the viewer season, but interest from Apple has only been strengthened by the success of the F1 film released late last month.
The film is an original Apple film project from director Joseph Kosinski, producer Jerry Brookheimer and starring Brad Pitt, which has so far earned more than $300 million worldwide.
Apple currently offers MLB live sports rights Friday night baseball, but it fully covers the regular season and playoffs of the MLS.
ESPN remained in the race to extend its contract despite the exclusivity period ending without an agreement earlier this year, and even before the release of the Formula 1 film, it once again increased its audience figures this season with race broadcasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.
Many stakeholders involved were keen to see the impact of film releases on audience demographics and perceptions of sports before further debate. The current rights agreement will expire at the end of this fiscal year. In other words, it takes more than five months to secure your contract prior to the 2026 campaign.
