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Some want to suggest that the \u201csuccess\u201d of the F1 movie at the box office shows that Apple can and will make more movies of this scale for theatres. However, Apple\u2019s interest in the F1 movie extends far beyond the content. Apple spent a year developing advanced camera technology to capture the sheer force of auto racing, and Apple\u2019s CEO, Tim Cook, highlighted that the same tech is baked into the camera of the latest iPhone model. For Apple, the F1 movie was about much more than content. Additionally, Eddy Cue, Apple\u2019s SVP of Services, is a racing enthusiast who sits on the board of directors of Ferrari, so there\u2019s a personal interest in the subject.<\/p>\n
With Apple\u2019s F1 movie nearing $300 million in box office receipts, headlines again suggest that Apple is reportedly in talks to acquire the U.S. broadcasting rights for Formula 1, when they become available in 2026. ESPN failed to strike a new deal with Formula 1 during an exclusive negotiating window that closed last year. However, it has been reported that ESPN is rumored to be still interested in Formula 1, but only if they can license select races, rather than the entire season.<\/p>\n
Apple has previously stated that it prefers content licensing deals similar to those of the MLS, where it holds global rights. However, a worldwide deal with Formula 1 would be too complicated, as Sky Sports currently holds F1\u2019s media rights for the UK, Germany, and Italy until at least 2029. And last year, Formula 1 announced a 10-year deal naming beIN SPORTS the exclusive broadcaster of Formula 1 racing across the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and Turkey through 2033.<\/p>\n
One of the most significant problems for any company licensing content is that Formula 1 races occur worldwide, and many take place early in the morning or overnight in the U.S. For most content owners, the Formula 1 audience isn\u2019t large enough to justify the rumored $150 million and $190 million per year in domestic rights fees that Formula 1 is seeking.<\/p>\n
On July 8th, ESPN reported that across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, the 2025 Formula 1 races are averaging 1.3 million viewers, a 7% percent increase over the season-to-date average for the 2024 season.<\/p>\n
Even Versant, the new soon-to-be publicly traded company that Comcast NBCUniversal is creating by spinning off most of its cable television networks and related digital assets, who said they are looking to bid on live sports to add to its current portfolio, stated it is not interested in the Formula 1, as the audience is too small.<\/p>\n
If a company outside of ESPN wins exclusive or partial rights for the U.S. market, it would be interesting to see if they change the viewer experience. ESPN uses Sky Sports\u2019 feed, so U.S. viewers get the same coverage as fans in the UK. But a new distributor could develop its own coverage, making it more U.S.-focused.<\/p>\n