F1 News
Netflix considering bid for F1 broadcast rights in the US
Netflix is reportedly considering making a bid for Formula 1 broadcast rights in the United States. That would mean the streaming service would have to compete with ESPN, who currently holds the broadcast rights, and other interested services.
Netflix interested in F1 broadcast rights in US
Netflix is reportedly considering a bid for F1 broadcast rights in the USA, The Times reports. This would be a huge step for the streaming service as it would be their first time obtaining and streaming an entire season of a mainstream sport. In recent years, sporting events have been broadcast live on the platform, but they have only been for one-off events rather than a full season.
The broadcasting rights for F1 in the US are currently held by ESPN, who paid $90 million for the deal. However, the channel's exclusivity period to negotiate a new contract has just expired, which means that the market will be open to bids from other parties. Netflix reportedly plans to bid for the broadcast rights from the 2026 season onwards.
This new deal is expected to be worth significantly more than the current one. Apple, which will release the highly anticipated F1 film starring Brad Pitt in June, was also previously linked to a bid for the broadcast rights.
Netflix already has a strong link to Formula 1 due to its globally successful series 'Drive to Survive' which offers a unique behind the scenes look at the sport. 'Drive to Survive' was particularly popular in the USA, attracting a new audience to the sport. The seventh season of the series, which focuses on the 2024 F1 season, will be released ahead of the 2025 season.
This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder.
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