Apple allegedly at the forefront in the case of rights fight around Formula 1

Apple is apparently about to buy Formula 1 rights for the US market. Corresponding rumors had already existed, because Apple apparently believes in the racing series after the success of the movie “F1”. The group allegedly gave up the highest bid that is significantly higher than what the current rights holder, the Disney subsidiary ESPN, was ready to pay. According to one Report of the American edition of the financial blog Business Insider the negotiations are about to be completed.

Expensive purchase without world rights

Apple is therefore ready to pay a total of $ 150 million a year for streaming rights-as early as 2026. ESPN will neither bid here nor pay more, the report. ESPN currently only pays $ 85 million a year. Now the Disney subsidiary think that the money is “more efficiently” in other areas. Apple actually has politics that the group always tries to buy world rights to films, series and sport – if it does not produce them anyway. Service chief Eddy Cue is said to have stopped buying plans for the Premier League streaming rights because they were not global.

The media group Liberty Media Group currently holds Formula 1 marketing rights for the USA and sells it to other companies. Finally, the number of spectators is said to have risen again after Formula 1 in the USA traditionally was less popular than in Europe, Asia and Latin America. According to ESPN, 1.3 million viewers are now switching on per race, which is twice as much as in 2018. The “Drive to Survive” series placed on Netflix is said to have widened the market, it was published in 2019 and deals with the history of the racing series.

Apple gives 1 gas in Formula 1

With “F1” Apple had brought a big film to the cinemas this summer, in which Brad Pitt plays an aging Formula 1 star. The strip went well in the cinemas and could re -import its significantly three -digit million budget – without streaming, which is supposed to follow Apple TV+ exclusively in autumn.

It is still unclear how Apple will market Formula 1. It is conceivable that it will be a paid additional subscription, as you know it from the US soccer league MLS. Whether Apple will also buy world rights for Formula 1 will be awaited, but its price is said to be over a billion dollars a year.