Apple Expected to Win Rights to Formula 1 With $150M Bid

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to win the rights to stream Formula 1 races on Apple TV+ in the United States thanks to a $150 million bid, Business Insider reports.

The rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States are currently held by Disney's ESPN. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Disney is apparently unwilling to match or beat Apple's offer. It pays around $85 million per year for its current rights, just over half of Apple's latest bid.

Interest from other suitors, such as Netflix, was also reportedly "muted," leaving Apple as the leading bidder for the U.S. rights to show the races. As a result, Apple is likely to have another sport to stream on Apple TV+ next year, alongside Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.

Apple's move to gain the rights to stream Formula comes amid the success of "F1: The Movie," which is Apple's first major box office hit, earning over $300 million globally already. It is expected to become available on Apple TV+ later in 2025.

Article Link: Apple Expected to Win Rights to Formula 1 With $150M Bid

 

[cicalinarrot]

Is nice to have a sport where some short dudes are treated like demigods to risk their lives and the team with more money is mathematically bound for victory.
Edit: love to see the triggered F1 fans

 

[klasma]

They should have launched the Vision Pro with an F1 racing game. Or something like Mario Kart 3D.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

Im not into the sport at all...but that said...if i could afford an apple vision pro, and could watch the races in it, either with a POV shot of the driver...or a multi window view of all of the drivers over a holographic map of the track and where each car is, with live feeds of those POV shots...that be insane.

I saw some wild concepts (i dont know if they are actually implemented in the AVP) of Basketball, Racing and even Golf..(the most borning sport on the planet...watching and playing golf to me is like watching paint dry) though an Apple Vision Pro...with where the ball is, the various stats, etc...that be kinda cool, enough for me to want to try it out.

 

[deaglecat]

They should have launched the Vision Pro with an F1 racing game. Or something like Mario Kart 3D.

Vision pro with live stream immersive 3D would sell some units... imagine 3D cameras in the pit lane or onboard the cars.

 

[mdatwood]

Formula 1 races on Apple TV+ in the United States thanks to a $150 million bid

These feels like a really small number. IIRC, Netflix paid ~150M for 2 NFL games.

 

[smartatarc]

Only in USA it seems. As with the two Major League (USA) sports, not a plus for us here in Oz.

 

[beanbaguk]

Is nice to have a sport where some short dudes are treated like demigods to risk their lives and the team with more money is mathematically bound for victory.

Have you ever watched a Formula 1 race in your life? In fact, have you ever watched sport?

 

[AdamHarbour]

Vision pro with live stream immersive 3D would sell some units... imagine 3D cameras in the pit lane or onboard the cars.

They buy a video stream from liberty media / F1 they don’t get to film it themselves ……. They the have to add or buy in commentary and presenters for “filler” content

 

[svish]

Looks like Apple is trying to ride on the success of the film. If Apple gets the rights, wonder whether it will be available for free to all TV+ subscribers or whether it will be an add on subscription. Think it will be the latter.

 

[darkcompass]

Sports have never been my thing, but I always watch the F1 Monaco Grand Prix. Racing those cars through streets in the middle of a city is a great watch. As it'll be on TV+, gives me more of an incentive to watch more.

 

[ands8]

Apple should buy F1 before others do so. Theres not many sporting bodies that could be purchased but F1 is owned by Libery Media & they would likely sell for the right price. Global TV rights, marketed & tied to Apple products. Best buy it before Google, Amazon, Netflix or even Musk get there hands on it.

 

[mrsmith1]

Interesting. In the UK F1 is broadcast by Sky Sports unlike MLS, which I believe Apple own the sole rights to. It can’t be to long before Apple bid for Premier League soccer in the US.

 

[apocalyarts]

These feels like a really small number. IIRC, Netflix paid ~150M for 2 NFL games.

It is. F1 is way more popular in Europe, which relates to the drivers and teams. There is currently only one US Team in F1 (Haas) but they are not driving competitively with their tractor on overheating wheels.

They are desperately trying to make it more popular in the US and added the Las Vegas GP for example, but that was met with a fair amount of criticism. Maybe the F1 Movie will indeed be a tipping point.

 

[Trusteft]

I used to love F1. Especially in the 80s and 90s. I loved playing video games that were about F1 too. Like Sega's Monaco GP (1979) to several other games in the 80s and early 90s. I remember watching the GP of the weekend (on free to air TV back then, and live) and also playing the F1 game I liked at the time. For example 1988's Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix, or 1991's Microprose's Formula One. Both on my Atari ST computers. Funnily enough even though I also liked Vroom when it became a thing, it didn't feel right to me for this purpose. Great game though.

I stopped watching F1 races years ago just before the retirement of M.S. It just wasn't fun any more. It didn't feel like there was any competition or excitement. I still like the older games though, up to early 2000s (for F1).

 

[headlessmike]

Have you ever watched a Formula 1 race in your life? In fact, have you ever watched sport?

I've followed F1 for decades and their assessment sounds pretty fair to me.

 

[Unami]

Have you ever watched a Formula 1 race in your life? In fact, have you ever watched sport?

In my youth I used to watch them on sunday afternoons, falling asleep to the sound of the cars (that is, if it wasn't winter and there was no ski jumping).Sure, they need skills as well, but again, back in the day it was either McLaren or Ferrari leading the worldcup, because they had the most money. I haven't watched it for decades, but I've heard that Red Bull entered. They have a lot of money, so, how is it going for them? And yes, the dudes are short.

 

[RedGT]

I used to love F1. Especially in the 80s and 90s. I loved playing video games that were about F1 too. Like Sega's Monaco GP (1979) to several other games in the 80s and early 90s. I remember watching the GP of the weekend (on free to air TV back then, and live) and also playing the F1 game I liked at the time. For example 1988's Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix, or 1991's Microprose's Formula One. Both on my Atari ST computers. Funnily enough even though I also liked Vroom when it became a thing, it didn't feel right to me for this purpose. Great game though.

I stopped watching F1 races years ago just before the retirement of M.S. It just wasn't fun any more. It didn't feel like there was any competition or excitement. I still like the older games though, up to early 2000s (for F1).

Exactly this pretty much.


It was Geoff Crammond’s Grand Prix game that got me interested in F1

Gave up watching a few years back, found it a bit sterile, especially the new tracks, and DRS made overtaking much less of a challenge.

Seems to be getting really popular now. Not sure why though.

 

[jblank]

I’m actually happy about this and think it’s money well spent. I hope they continue to have the Sky feed, like ESPN does now, so we get Crofty and Martin calling the races.

 

[Wanted797]

These feels like a really small number. IIRC, Netflix paid ~150M for 2 NFL games.

A quick google just told me the NFL averages 15-20m views per game in the US.

While an F1 race averages 1.5m views.

F1 might be bigger globally. But this is in the US only where it’s much smaller than the NFL.

 

[oldwatery]

Is nice to have a sport where some short dudes are treated like demigods to risk their lives and the team with more money is mathematically bound for victory.

You know nothing about the sport mate. There is a very strict cost cap that all teams have to adhere to. Educate yourself. And these short dudes are among the most impressive athletes in the world.

 

[oldwatery]

I’m actually happy about this and think it’s money well spent. I hope they continue to have the Sky feed, like ESPN does now, so we get Crofty and Martin calling the races.

Are you joking. Crofty is terrible. Can’t stand to listen to his screaming for a minute.

 

[DFZD]

F1 is the real Motorsport. Apple gets it. Hope the audience does too this time.

 

[AdamHarbour]

Apple should buy F1 before others do so. Theres not many sporting bodies that could be purchased but F1 is owned by Libery Media & they would likely sell for the right price. Global TV rights, marketed & tied to Apple products. Best buy it before Google, Amazon, Netflix or even Musk get there hands on it.

F1 is not owned by liberty media ! Liberty media owns the commercial rights …. The sport is covered by the FIA which covers many branches of motorsport ! You can’t buy the governing body the FIA. 😂

 

[Macalicious2011]

That's a really good price - especially if the braodcast is in 4k with pausing function and possibly an iPhone companion app