Formula 1 Signs New Multi-Year Contract With ESPN And Walt Disney Company
22.10.2022 - 18:59
/ deadline.com
Formula 1 races will continue on ESPN Networks in the United States through the 2025 season.
A new multi-year contract renewal was announced in Austin at the second of two US stops for F1 during the 2022 season.
Under the renewal, at least 16 races will air on ABC and ESPN each season, more than in the previous five years since F1 returned to ESPN networks in 2018. Also, all race telecasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will continue the commercial-free presentation used over the past five seasons.
In what may be a harbinger of an as-yet unannounced but long-rumored online gambling venture, the new agreement also gives ESPN flexibility to roll out additional ways for US fans to explore F1 content over the next three years, including on ESPN+. The companies said details on that are to be announced later.
“Formula 1 and ESPN have been a strong and successful team and we’re delighted to extend our relationship,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN President, Programming and Original Content. “We look forward to serving fans in some new and innovative ways in the next three years as we continue to bring the reach and relevance of the Walt Disney Company networks and platforms to Formula 1.”
After setting a record in 2021 for the most-viewed F1 season on US television, with an average of 949,000 viewers per race, the average has moved into seven figures in 2022. Through 18 races, live F1 telecasts are averaging 1.2 million viewers on ESPN networks – with multiple events attracting race-record television audiences.
Earlier this year, the telecast of the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on ABC generated an average viewership of 2.6 million, the largest US audience on record for a live F1 race.
“We are delighted to announce that our partnership