The Future of F1 Broadcasting in the U.S. Post-ESPN

[feelingempty]

ESPN has announced it will not renew its F1 broadcasting rights after 2025, leading to speculation about who will take over. Options like Netflix and Amazon are being discussed, each with its pros and cons. For those interested, here's a detailed breakdown of the situation: How do you feel about these potential changes?

[rbirules]

As an American, with several streaming subscriptions, I'm pretty excited about ESPN dropping F1. My cable subscription is by far my most expensive streaming subscription as well as the least used one. My young kids never use it and I only use it for live sports (F1 and two local sports teams I support). My local sports team is also going to offer its own streaming option this year. That will be far cheaper than my cable subscription (F1 is not free if I have to have an expensive subscription to view it), so adding that a la carte and F1 going to Netflix or Prime is a huge benefit for me. Even if I had to buy F1TV pro and another sports streaming app that is still cheaper than cable is currently.

Another benefit is no more Sky broadcast which I will be glad to be rid of.

[dren]

F1TV is definitely worth it.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

As an American, with several streaming subscriptions, I'm pretty excited about ESPN dropping F1. My cable subscription is by far my most expensive streaming subscription as well as the least used one. My young kids never use it and I only use it for live sports (F1 and two local sports teams I support). My local sports team is also going to offer its own streaming option this year. That will be far cheaper than my cable subscription (F1 is not free if I have to have an expensive subscription to view it), so adding that a la carte and F1 going to Netflix or Prime is a huge benefit for me. Even if I had to buy F1TV pro and another sports streaming app that is still cheaper than cable is currently.

Another benefit is no more Sky broadcast which I will be glad to be rid of.

No guarantee that Amazon or Netflix wouldn't just use the Sky broadcast.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

I certainly wouldn't mind if Sky followed suit in the UK and then Netflix or Amazon picked it up. One less (expensive) subscription. I literally don't watch any other sport on Sky.

[Sawtooth-spike]

I certainly wouldn't mind if Sky followed suit in the UK and then Netflix or Amazon picked it up. One less (expensive) subscription. I literally don't watch any other sport on Sky.

Same, Its the only reason i have sky. I looked at now TV, but i cant record the races and watch when i like (or even delay). So F1 is the most expensive Sub i have.

[rbirules]

As an American, with several streaming subscriptions, I'm pretty excited about ESPN dropping F1. My cable subscription is by far my most expensive streaming subscription as well as the least used one. My young kids never use it and I only use it for live sports (F1 and two local sports teams I support). My local sports team is also going to offer its own streaming option this year. That will be far cheaper than my cable subscription (F1 is not free if I have to have an expensive subscription to view it), so adding that a la carte and F1 going to Netflix or Prime is a huge benefit for me. Even if I had to buy F1TV pro and another sports streaming app that is still cheaper than cable is currently.

Another benefit is no more Sky broadcast which I will be glad to be rid of.

No guarantee that Amazon or Netflix wouldn't just use the Sky broadcast.

True. In that case I would simply be able to cancel my cable subscription (get another, cheaper, app for other sports) and have access to the same broadcast I currently get.

But for now I can at least hope for a different broadcast.

[dialtone]

F1TV is the better way anyway, nothing changed, I would expect other countries to follow suit.

[Richard C]

I use F1TV here in the US today. I believe there are examples of geo-blocking in the EU in which you don't have access to F1TV and are instead expected to access F1 via some other (local to you) provider. I assume these agreements are part of the negotiations between your local broadcaster and F1/FOM. And I also assume that this level exclusivity would come via a higher cost paid by the local broadcaster. Is there not a risk that someone like Netflix might not do the same? Hopefully not as I would prefer to remain on F1TV.

Richard

[zeph]

I canceled my cable subscription when F1TV became reliable. It's been good since 2021, IME.

I don't really care about or watch other sports, so it was an easy choice for me.


Unfortunately, the reality is that cable is just being supplanted by an ever-increasing number of streaming services. And now my internet bill plus all the streaming is approaching the cost of what my cable bill used to be.

Oh well...


As for F1TV geofencing, I experienced some of that in Indonesia last year. Annoying and it prompted me to get a VPN. You guessed it, yet another subscription.

[kptaylor]

Same. I'm completely satisfied with F1TV and have no care who gets the broadcast rights in the US.

[jaysvw]

F1TV access in some or all of the USA is in the danger zone depending on who they get to pick this up. No way an Amazon or Netflix pays big money to buy the rights just to get undercut by F1TV.

[Biffle]

Apple & Amazon have so much money in the bank, I think either one of them could snap this up for at least a year. Remember these companies don’t always operate on common sense (well what company does hahah.) All it takes is some ambitious zealot to sell the bigwigs on F1 as the “next big media beachhead” and boom, off to the races.

What excites me is the potential for new broadcasters! but I'm not holding my breath. As said above, amazon could scoop it up and slap the SKY audio on there

[zeph]

F1TV access in some or all of the USA is in the danger zone depending on who they get to pick this up. No way an Amazon or Netflix pays big money to buy the rights just to get undercut by F1TV.

I highly doubt that.

My understanding is that F1TV is unavailable only in territories where broadcasters had exclusive contracts in place before its launch. Those contracts have to be honored, but when they are up for renewal, broadcasters will have to accept the new terms, meaning co-existing with F1TV.

I believe Liberty Media's objective is to have everybody watch races on F1TV, globally. They are okay with simultaneous broadcasts on TV, but I'd be very surprised if they would prioritize TV over their own channel.

I remember reading somewhere they looked to implement MLB's model.

[Macklaren]

F1TV has become pretty good after the first year but I cant stand their commentary team vs. the Sky commentary. That is the biggest drawback to F1TV