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3d ago

Apple in Talks to Acquire US Formula 1 Streaming Rights

Surging US viewership driven by blockbuster F1 content has lifted projected annual rights fees beyond $120 million.

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From left to right: Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton, actor Brad Pitt, and Apple CEO Tim Cook
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Overview

  • Apple is reportedly in active talks with Liberty Media to secure exclusive US Formula 1 streaming rights on the Apple TV app starting with the 2026 season.
  • ESPN’s exclusive negotiating window expired in early 2025, and its current $85 million-per-year contract runs through the end of the year as Apple and potential bidders such as Netflix enter the race.
  • Analysts estimate the next US rights deal will cost between $120 million and $150 million annually, reflecting a sharp rise in the sport’s media value.
  • US viewership doubled from about 554,000 in 2023 to 1.1 million in 2024 and climbed to 1.3 million in early 2025, bolstered by Apple’s F1: The Movie and Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
  • Securing Formula 1 would expand Apple’s live sports portfolio beyond its existing MLB and MLS rights on Apple TV+, reinforcing its position in a competitive streaming market.