Apple bids $150M annually for exclusive US F1 streaming rights starting in 2026
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 14, 2025, 21:15 IST
( Image credit : TIL Creatives )
Highlight of the story: Apple is reportedly vying for exclusive Formula One streaming rights in the U.S., offering over $150 million annually starting in 2026. This bid challenges ESPN's current hold and underscores Apple's ambition to dominate live sports broadcasting. The move follows the success of Apple's F1-themed film, capitalizing on the sport's growing U.S. popularity and potentially shifting viewership to Apple TV+.
Apple Inc. is reportedly making a bold move to secure exclusive streaming rights for Formula One in the United States, offering over $150 million per year for the rights starting in 2026. This makes Apple a strong contender to outbid ESPN, the current broadcaster, which holds the rights until the end of this season. ESPN, owned by Walt Disney Co., is unlikely to match Apple's ambitious offer, especially since its exclusivity window for renewing the contract has already closed.
The proposed deal marks a key moment in Apple’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in live sports broadcasting. In recent years, Apple has made significant inroads with streaming deals for Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball, and securing the F1 rights would further cement its role in the sports streaming space. With its extensive digital ecosystem, Apple is positioning Apple TV+ as a go-to hub for premium sports content, potentially shifting the viewing habits of U.S. motorsports fans from traditional cable to streaming platforms.
The move comes shortly after the success of Apple’s Formula 1-themed film, F1: The Movie, which starred Brad Pitt and earned more than $300 million globally. The film's success has generated a growing interest in F1 in the U.S., and Apple sees this as an opportunity to capitalize on that momentum.
If the deal is finalized, it would represent a significant shift in the way Americans watch F1, moving the sport away from conventional cable services and into Apple’s streaming ecosystem. This would also allow Apple to tap into the growing popularity of Formula 1 in the U.S., where the sport has been seeing a surge in fans, especially after the success of the Drive to Survive series on Netflix.
Neither Apple, Formula 1, nor Liberty Media, the parent company of F1, have officially commented on the report. However, if this deal materializes, it would likely have a lasting impact on the sports media landscape, potentially altering how major sports leagues and fans engage with live sports content in the digital age.