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F1 Shifts U.S. Rights to Apple TV as CEO Predicts Bigger Reach Than ESPN

Media analysis highlights Apple TV’s smaller U.S. footprint, raising doubts about immediate viewership parity.

Overview

  • The five-year exclusive U.S. deal begins this season, ending ESPN’s run that peaked at about 1.3 million viewers per race in 2025.
  • Stefano Domenicali touts Apple’s ecosystem to embed F1 across devices and apps, with plans to tie F1 TV subscribers into Apple TV offers.
  • Race weekends will stream on Apple TV, and select events will screen in IMAX theaters, reflecting a push into nontraditional distribution.
  • Motorsport.com reports the U.S. rights are valued around $140 million per year, a figure not officially disclosed by the parties.
  • Nielsen data show Apple TV accounts for less than 0.5% of U.S. TV viewing and analysts expect a possible short-term audience drop compared with ESPN.