Apple in Talks to Acquire U.S. Formula 1 Broadcast Rights [Report]
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Posted July 9, 2025 at 3:08pm by iClarified
Apple is reportedly in talks to acquire the U.S. rights to broadcast Formula 1 races, according to a new report from the Financial Times. The move comes as the company's F1 movie starring Brad Pitt becomes a box office success, and would pit Apple against current rights holder, Disney's ESPN.
The tech giant's interest in the racing series follows the theatrical release of its film "F1," which has generated about $300 million at the box office, making it Apple's highest-grossing movie to date. A recent report from Variety offered an inside look at the film, with Apple's Tim Cook noting the company threw its full weight behind the project, which was filmed with custom iPhone camera rigs to capture authentic racing footage. The movie is seen as a key part of a broader effort by Formula 1's U.S. owner, Liberty Media, to boost the sport's value by attracting new American audiences.
This isn't Apple's first foray into live sports. The company already has a deal with Major League Baseball to broadcast games on Friday nights, as well as a larger deal with North America's Major League Soccer.
According to the Financial Times report, which cites two people familiar with the discussions, the broadcast contract with ESPN becomes available next year. ESPN's exclusive window to negotiate a new deal reportedly ended last year, opening the process to rivals. The current deal nets Formula 1 around $85 million a year, but analysts at Citi have previously estimated the next contract could be worth $121 million annually—a figure that was calculated before the release of the "F1" movie.
The report also highlights the significant growth in F1's U.S. viewership, which has doubled on ESPN since 2018. A person with direct knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times that a decision has not yet been made and that ESPN may still retain the rights.
Apple, Liberty Media, and Formula 1 all declined to comment on the report.