By: Nick Gambino
In a surprising announcement, Apple has just snatched up the exclusive streaming rights to all Formula 1 races.
Up until now, ESPN (which is owned by Disney) has enjoyed those exclusive rights. At the end of this season they switch over to Apple who has just inked a 5-year deal with the auto racing organization. The agreement which is rumored to be worth $160 million a year kicks in in 2026.
“We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet,” the Senior VP of Services at Apple, Eddy Cue, said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
A $12.99 per month Apple TV subscription will get you access to a lot of F1 racing, including every event, practice, qualifying race and a lot more. There will even be content available for free to those who don’t subscribe. Apple is really positioning themselves to be the home of F1.
This whole thing is right on the heels of Apple TV’s smash-hit F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt. That flick took in $629 million at the worldwide box office before it even landed on the streamer, giving Apple its biggest theatrical haul ever. Not only that, it was a critical success topping out at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes.
It just makes sense that the next home for Formula 1 racing would be Apple. It makes you wonder if this was all a big marketing tie-in. The Brad Pitt helmer was called F1: The Movie after all. That title screams “advertising for the sport of formula racing.”
“We are no strangers to each other, having spent the past three years working together to create F1 The Movie, which has already proven to be a huge hit around the world,” the CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, also said in the Apple announcement. “We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to getting them hooked.”
