There are lots of causes for the elevated world reputation of Method 1, however close to the highest of that listing stays the Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive. Debuting in 2019, the primary season of Drive to Survive targeted closely on Daniel Ricciardo and his resolution to depart Purple Bull for Renault, and subsequent seasons have lined each main storyline on and off the monitor.
Now, the streaming service is contemplating stay protection of the game.
In accordance with a number of reviews, Netflix is making a push for F1 broadcast rights in the USA. As reported by Luke Smith in The Athletic, amongst others, ESPN’s exclusivity interval to bid on F1 broadcast rights past 2025 has expired, opening up curiosity from broadcasters in securing rights for the game in the USA.
Smith additionally reported that Ian Holmes, F1’s Director of Media Rights, has been in the USA this week for “exploratory” conferences with potential broadcasters.
The information comes as Netflix continues to develop its ebook of stay sports activities. The streaming service paid $150 million to have unique rights to a pair of NFL video games on Christmas Day, one between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the opposite between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans. Netflix went all out for the pair of video games, with a group of 20 analysts each within the studio and within the sales space for the 2 video games, together with expertise from different networks similar to ESPN’s Mina Kimes.
As well as, the sport between the Ravens and the Texans featured a halftime efficiency from none aside from Beyoncé.
That was not the one main sporting occasion Netflix streamed stay final season, because the streaming service additionally hosted the exhibition battle between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Nevertheless, that broadcast was criticized by many for the buffering points in the course of the night time of protection.
Netflix has additionally secured the rights for WWE Rad on a ten-year deal which begins this yr.
As well as, the streaming service’s first foray into stay sports activities got here forward of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, when Netflix broadcast the “Netflix Cup.” This exhibition golf occasion paired PGA Tour execs with F1 drivers similar to Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr.
The streaming service won’t be the one get together eager about F1 rights. Amazon Prime, which beforehand expressed curiosity in F1 broadcast rights, is taken into account to be one other candidate. That streaming providers has additionally made a push for extra stay sports activities protection in recent times, together with including the UEFA Champions League in the UK this season, in addition to the NFL’s Thursday Evening Soccer package deal.
This yr Amazon Prime additionally had unique rights for an NFL playoff recreation on Wild Card Weekend between the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Then there may be the potential for Apple to make a play for F1 broadcast rights within the states. Apple has broadcast Main League Soccer in the USA on Apple TV+ since 2022, a transfer that paid off handsomely when Lionel Messi moved to the league, prompting much more protection choices for this season. Apple additionally has a cope with Main League Baseball.
Then there may be the upcoming F1 film starring Brad Pitt, which is an Apple Unique movie.
This information comes because the motorsport panorama shifts in the USA. FOX Sports activities acquired the rights for IndyCar beginning with this season, and lately introduced that Will Buxton — who has been a part of Drive to Survive since its inception — can be a part of their IndyCar broadcast group. The community has rolled out a collection of commercials upfront of the IndyCar season selling the transfer, and with the upcoming Tremendous Bowl set to air on FOX, there may be each perception that one of many Tremendous Bowl adverts will promote the upcoming IndyCar season.
After all, ESPN may nonetheless renew the published rights for F1 in the USA, despite the fact that the interval of exclusivity has come to an finish. In accordance with this November report from Sports activities Enterprise Journal, the community “desires to resume its rights cope with the motorsports property and believes it’s nonetheless getting a very good ROI as a result of it additionally considers issues just like the cool issue across the collection.”
In that report it was famous that Tim Bunnell, senior vice chairman of programming for ESPN, was on the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November and “confirmed that ESPN is eager about a renewal for 2026 and past, and that talks have began.”
“It is a long-term play for us, and the rankings are one factor, however you take a look at the client-entertainment prospects, the advertising alternatives, simply the cachet of being related to Method 1, it pays us again in droves,” mentioned Bunnell. “We’ve been thrilled with the whole relationship with F1 from the get-go. They’re terrific to work with and we profit in so some ways. I imply, F1 has simply develop into cool. And a giant emphasis for us, for ESPN, is viewers growth.”
Broadcast rights right here in the USA could carry much more curiosity as 2026 looms. Not solely is F1 set to introduce a serious collection of laws in 2026 that may shake up the game, however that yr will see Cadillac be a part of the grid because the eleventh group.
Including an American group to the grid for 2026 would possibly see much more viewers in the USA, one thing Netflix and others could be trying to capitalize upon in securing F1 broadcast rights in America.
