Brad Pitt F1 Movie Sparks Interest in Apple TV Originals

Apple is gearing up to make a big announcement about streaming Formula 1 events in the United States. Recently, the company has been in talks with Formula 1 to potentially take over ESPN as the main broadcast partner for the 2026 racing season. The big reveal might come during the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, happening from October 17-19. If all goes according to plan, Apple could be shelling out up to $150 million per year for the exclusive US streaming rights. This deal wouldn’t impact Formula 1 broadcasting in the UK or other regions.

If Apple secures the rights, it would be in good company with its other live sports coverage offerings. For instance, Apple already holds the exclusive rights to Major League Soccer globally through its Season Pass, as well as access to Friday Night Baseball games from Major League Baseball. Instead of including Formula 1 in the Apple TV+ subscription, it’s expected that Apple would charge an additional fee, similar to the MLS Season Pass model.

This move by Apple would further diversify the sports streaming landscape in the US, given the proliferation of services like Apple TV+, Paramount+, Peacock, Amazon Prime, ESPN+, and others holding exclusive rights to a range of sports content. In recent years, F1 has been easily accessible to US viewers through cable or satellite subscriptions via ESPN channel. However, in the upcoming seasons, Formula 1 enthusiasts might need an Apple TV+ subscription at the very least. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, is a big fan of F1, and the success of a fictional Brad Pitt movie likely fueled Apple’s determination to secure the rights when they became available.