The United States Grand Prix takes place this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, and this morning, Formula 1 used the occasion to announce a new broadcast deal for the sport in the US. Starting next year, F1 will no longer be broadcast on ESPN—it’s moving to Apple TV in a five-year, $750 million deal.
Apple boss Tim Cook has been seen at F1 races in the past, and earlier this year, Apple released F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt as a 50-something racing driver who improbably gets a second bite at the cherry 30 years after a brutal crash seemingly ended his F1 career.
But securing the rights to the sport itself means Apple has snagged a very fast-growing series, with races almost every other week—currently, the sport has expanded to 24 races a year.
“We are no strangers to each other, having spent the past three years working together to create F1: The Movie, which has already proven to be a huge hit around the world. We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the US and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked,” said Stefano Domenicali, F1 president and CEO.
Apple says Apple TV subscribers will be able to watch every practice and qualifying session, as well as all the sprint races and grands prix. And “select races and all practice sessions will also be available for free in the Apple TV app throughout the course of the season,” the company said.
