Apple TV Takes Formula 1 Exclusive Broad Rights In The US For Five Years, Shifts ESPN And YouTube TV

Apple has officially become a new home for the Formula 1 (F1) racing event in the United States (photo: dock. apple)

JAKARTA - Apple has officially become a new home for the Formula 1 racing event (F1) in the United States after winning exclusive broadcasting rights for the next five years, starting from the 2026 season. This big deal marks the end of the era of F1 broadcasts on ESPN and YouTube TV, while making Apple TV the only official streaming platform for F1 fans in Uncle Sam's country.

The contract value, which is rumored to reach US$750 million (around Rp11.7 trillion) will cover all official F1 shows ranging from training sessions, qualifications, Sprint Race, to the main Grand Prix, all of which are available exclusively to Apple TV subscribers.

"We are excited to expand our cooperation with Formula 1 and give Apple TV customers access to enjoy one of the most exciting and rapidly growing sports in the world," said Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President for the Service Division, quoted by VOI from Apple Insider. The 2026 season will be a new era full of transformation for Formula 1 with a new team, new regulations, and high-tech cars and we are ready to bring it in a way that only Apple can do.

Since 2017, the F1 broadcast rights in the US have been held by ESPN, which also broadcasts it via YouTube TV as part of a basic subscription package. However, with the transfer of broadcasting rights to Apple, the two platforms will no longer be able to broadcast F1 races starting 2026.

The move also means that Premium TV F1 services will remain available globally, but in the United States it can only be accessed via the Apple TV app.

Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed the cooperation. "We have the same vision to bring this extraordinary sport to fans in the US and attract new audiences through live broadcasts, interesting content, and approaches throughout the year to maintain their enthusiasm," he said. I thank Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and the entire Apple team for their vision and enthusiasm. We look forward to extraordinary cooperation over the next five years.

Not only on Apple TV, Apple also plans to provide a comprehensive Formula 1 experience through its ecosystem. Content and related F1 updates will be available on Apple Sports (with real-time score and statistics updates), Apple Music, Apple Maps, Apple Fitness+, and Apple News.

Some races will also be broadcast for free every season, while paid subscribers can enjoy full access at no additional cost.

This big deal is actually a continuation of the close relationship between Apple and F1 that has been established since the production of the film F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt and released by Apple Studios. The film is one of Apple's biggest successes on the big screen and has also boosted F1's popularity in the United States market.

Tim Cook bahkan sempat terlihat memegang bendera sefinis di Grand Prix Texas 2022, menandai kekatan Apple dengan dunia balap jet darat ini.

The success of F1: The Movie' makes Apple even more serious in the world of sports. After previously securing the broadcasting rights of Major League Soccer (MLS) through MLS Season Pass, now Apple is going further with F1 a sport that is considered to have a very loyal global fan base.

Eddy Cue had said that Apple wanted to 'improve' the way sports broadcasts have been spread across various subscription platforms. "In the past, there was only one cable TV subscription, now users must have many accounts. That's a problem that needs to be solved," he said.

With this contract, Formula 1 fans in the US now have enough of an Apple TV subscription to enjoy all exclusive action, statistics, and content around racing from track to digital Apple.

The deal also marks Apple's great step in expanding its dominance in the global entertainment and sports industry, making it a major player in the competition for premium streaming platforms.