The movie "F1" achieves box office success, and Apple takes the opportunity to enter the competition for F1 broadcasting rights!

The box office success of the movie "F1" is becoming a catalyst for Apple Inc.'s deeper foray into the sports landscape.

According to media reports on the 9th, citing two informed sources, Apple is negotiating to acquire the broadcasting rights for F1 in the United States. When the broadcasting contract expires next year, Apple will compete directly with F1's current U.S. broadcaster—ESPN, a subsidiary of Disney.

The "F1" movie has become Apple's first major box office success since entering the original content production business, with global box office revenue of approximately $300 million, setting a record for Apple's highest-grossing film.

F1's owner, Liberty Media, hopes that this film, along with Netflix's documentary "Drive to Survive," will attract younger audiences, more women, and domestic viewers in the U.S., thereby increasing the value of the broadcasting rights. Currently, F1 generates about $85 million annually from ESPN.

F1's Market Value in the U.S. Soars, Broadcasting Rights Competition Intensifies

The movie "F1" has grossed approximately $300 million globally, making it Apple's highest-grossing film to date. Following the underperformance of films like "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Napoleon," this success marks a shift in Apple's content strategy towards mainstream blockbuster films.

This bidding process continues Apple's strategy in live sports broadcasting. Previously, Apple reached an agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2022 to broadcast Friday night games and established a broader partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS).

The United States is a key strategic market for F1's owner, Liberty Media. In recent years, in addition to the Austin Grand Prix, Liberty Media has added two races in Miami and Las Vegas to its calendar. The American brand Cadillac, supported by billionaire financier Mark Walter's TWG Motorsports and General Motors, will join F1 as the 11th team in 2026.

Audience data also confirms F1's strong growth in the U.S. The average viewership for F1 events on ESPN has doubled from 554,000 per race in 2018 to approximately 1.1 million in 2024. In the first 10 races of this year, F1 averaged 1.3 million viewers, with races in Australia, China, Monaco, Spain, Canada, and Austria all setting viewership records.

Citigroup analysts previously predicted that F1's next U.S. broadcasting contract could be worth $121 million per year, and this prediction was made before the release of the movie "F1." The strong growth momentum is also reflected in F1's global financial data, with total global media rights revenue projected to grow nearly 8% in 2024, reaching approximately $1.1 billion.

ESPN previously enjoyed an exclusive negotiation period, allowing it to negotiate a renewal without competitors. However, that window closed last year without an agreement, opening the door for other bidders. According to informed sources, other bidders are expected to seek these broadcasting rights F1's global media broadcasting rights revenue is expected to grow by nearly 8% in 2024, reaching approximately $1.1 billion. F1 has not yet made a decision regarding its future broadcasting arrangements, and ESPN may still retain the broadcasting rights. The sport currently also streams races live in the U.S. through its own streaming service, charging fans directly