Apple buys the American rights to F1 for 700 million dollars, soon France?

While the film F1 is due to come to the Apple TV streaming service (and no longer Apple TV+) on December 12, Apple still seems to appreciate (motor) sport more and more. This is evidenced by its latest investment across the Atlantic: a 5-year deal starting next year to broadcast Formula 1 instead of ESPN. This change of hands bodes well for possible changes to come in the world of sport and its broadcasting.

F1 at Apple: the start of a more general change?

The announcement was made by Apple on the eve of United States Grand Prix. If the exact value of the check signed by Apple has not been revealed, the latest rumors spoke of a massive investment.

According to CNBC, Apple agreed to pay $140 million per year, compared to ESPN’s $90 million. An investment which proves, if it were still necessary, the growing appetite of Apple and streaming services for broadcasting live sports.

It now remains to be seen whether Apple will seek to extend its F1 broadcast rights outside the United States, including in France, where Canal+ must retain exclusive rights until 2029. Moreover, while the broadcast status of the 2027-2030 Champions League is currently in the balance on several streaming platformsare we witnessing the real beginning of the shift?

Is the broadcasting of sport on television experiencing its final years, taken over by SVoD services? Perhaps so, and the preserve of Canal+ could also be coming to an end. Last summer, the broadcast of the Olympics on HBO Max was a good first indicator. To be continued, therefore…

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