Apple poised to win rights to stream F1 racing in US - Insider

Apple poised to win rights to stream F1 racing in US - Insider

Apple is reportedly leading the race to secure the broadcasting rights for Formula 1 (F1) races in the United States, with a bid that could see the tech giant streaming the sport starting in 2026. The current rights holder, Disney's ESPN, is not expected to match Apple's offer, according to sources familiar with the negotiations [2].

The move is part of Apple's broader strategy to expand its sports streaming portfolio. The company has already secured rights to stream some pro baseball games and all of Major League Soccer's games. However, it has yet to invest in rights for the NFL, the most popular programming on American TV [2].

Apple's interest in F1 comes on the heels of the success of its film "F1: The Movie," which starred Brad Pitt and grossed over $300 million globally [3]. The film's success has likely influenced Apple's decision to bid for the F1 rights, as the sport has seen increasing popularity in the US, driven in part by the Netflix documentary series "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" [2].

Netflix is also reported to be a competitor in the bidding process, but it has not been as aggressive in its pursuit of the F1 rights as Apple. Meanwhile, ESPN, which was paying around $85 million a year for its current F1 rights, has decided not to renew its contract, indicating that the company has concluded that it can spend its money more effectively elsewhere [2].

Apple's bid is significant, with the tech giant submitting an offer worth at least $150 million a year to stream the races starting in 2026 [2]. This investment is part of Apple's broader strategy to strengthen its sports content portfolio and attract more subscribers to its streaming service, Apple TV+.

The acquisition of the F1 broadcast rights would be a significant win for Apple, as it would allow the company to tap into the growing interest in F1 racing in the US. However, it remains to be seen how successful Apple will be in translating this interest into a large and loyal subscriber base.

References:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1lwejgq/apple_and_espn_leading_race_for_f1s_us_tv_rights/
[2] https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-f1-streaming-bidding-rights-espn-movie-2025-7
[3] https://voi.id/en/technology/493867