Apple and Formula 1 Sign 5-Year US Streaming Agreement for Races on Apple TV

Apple and Formula 1 have just signed a game-changing deal that will bring all Formula 1 races to Apple TV in the United States for the next five years. This means that all practice sessions, qualifying rounds, Sprint races, and Grand Prix races will be available exclusively to Apple TV subscribers. Some races and practice sessions will also be free to watch on the Apple TV app throughout the season.

According to reports, Apple outbid ESPN by offering between $140 million to $150 million annually for the streaming rights, a significant increase from ESPN’s current $85 million annual deal. The total value of Apple’s contract amounts to around $750 million over five years.

This announcement comes shortly after Apple rebranded its streaming service from “Apple TV+” to simply “Apple TV” and partnered with Formula 1 on the successful film “F1 The Movie,” starring Brad Pitt. The film grossed $629 million worldwide and is set to debut on Apple TV this December.

In addition to broadcasting Formula 1 races, Apple plans to integrate the sport across various platforms like Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+. The Apple Sports app will feature live updates on qualifying rounds, Sprint races, and Grand Prix events, along with real-time leaderboards, driver and constructor standings, Live Activities on the Lock Screen, and a Home Screen widget.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “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. We look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.”