The F1 movie is a great success! Apple is eyeing the broadcasting rights for F1 in the United States
Apple is negotiating to acquire the broadcasting rights for F1 in the United States, leveraging the success of the "F1" movie to further expand its influence in the sports broadcasting sector. The film has a global box office of approximately $300 million, making it Apple's first major box office success. The contract between F1 and the current broadcaster ESPN will expire next year, and Apple's bid indicates its intention to deepen its presence in live sports
According to reports, after the success of the "F1" movie, Apple (AAPL.US) is negotiating to acquire the broadcasting rights for F1 in the United States, hoping to leverage this momentum to further expand its influence in the sports broadcasting field.
The "F1" movie has become Apple's first major box office success since entering the original content production business. The film, starring Brad Pitt, has grossed approximately $300 million worldwide, setting a record for Apple's highest box office earnings. 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.
F1's owner, Liberty Media Group, hopes that this film, along with Netflix's (NFLX.US) documentary "Drive to Survive," will enhance the value of broadcasting rights by attracting younger audiences, more women, and local American viewers.
It is reported that F1's current broadcasting contract with its U.S. broadcaster, ESPN, a subsidiary of Disney (DIS.US), will expire next year. Currently, F1 receives approximately $85 million annually from ESPN. Notably, with the exclusive negotiation period between ESPN and F1 for a new contract having ended, Netflix has also emerged as a strong competitor for the F1 U.S. broadcasting rights starting from the 2026 season.
The bidding for F1's U.S. broadcasting rights indicates that Apple intends to deepen its involvement in live sports. Previously, Apple reached an agreement in 2022 with Major League Baseball (MLB) to broadcast Friday night games and established a broader partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS)
