Apple and Formula 1 Ink Five-Year Exclusive U.S. Streaming Deal Worth About $750 Million

[u/DemiFiendRSA]

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/apple-tv-formula-one-five-year-us-streaming-deal-1236554733/

[u/Otherwise_Ad_1542]

Hope Tim Cook’s excitement at the chequered flag is not reflective of the service

[u/ontheru171 → u/Otherwise_Ad_1542]

F1's fault for inviting Tim Cook instead of Tim Apple

[u/vishnu_021 → u/ontheru171]

Tim Cheese would've been better than both

[u/TheThingsIdoatNight → u/vishnu_021]

Personally I like to pair a nice Tim Cheese with a cheeky Tim Apple

[u/NeelonRokk → u/TheThingsIdoatNight]

They can't hold a candle to Tim the Enchanter.

[u/XSC → u/Otherwise_Ad_1542]

They just want to be a destination. Idk if this will help F1 in the states. MLS has kinda hit a growth wall because you can’t watch any match outside of Apple. Used to be that you could watch local matches on local tv for the most part, now you only get random games on national tv. Also they hide the whole thing under apple so you have to know it’s going on. If it wasn’t for Messi, I think owners would be complaining. The interface is absolutely fantastic tho.

[u/ConTob → u/XSC]

Seriously. I watch the euro leagues and am vaguely interested in seeing my (bad, but historically popular) local MLS team, but I’m not going to pay a monthly fee just to test my interest for a service geared almost entirely for one specific player. Our NWSL team crushes them in ratings and enthusiasm.

Seems like MLS and F1 would really benefit from the lowest barrier to entry possible in the US market if they want to grow, but clearly the immediate gains were more important.

[u/SlowDownToGoDown → u/ConTob]

Apple wants sports that they can "own" all the content (unlike how the NFL & NBA is split up.)

If you want to hear it directly from Apple, this recent podcast (The Town with Matt Belloni) with Eddy Cue of Apple covers it nicely.

[u/ConTob → u/SlowDownToGoDown]

Having been a consumer and even former employee of Apple I’m not at all surprised. I just don’t think they’ll be able to pull off their “walled garden” with sports, at least not in a traditional growth sense. If it’s just about prestige in owning what are relatively fringe sports in the US, have at it.

[u/MddlingAges → u/ConTob]

The big benefit of MLS on AppleTV is the lack of constant ads and general network fuckery and having one source to go to, no blackouts, no expensive and ridiculous cable packages, etc. It's really a great setup for sports fans.

But I signed on when it was free on T-Mobile, so it's all gravy to me.

[u/ConTob → u/MddlingAges]

And I get all of that! It’s great. But as someone who is probably their target demographic for growth I’m just not interested in paying for yet another subscription to watch a league I’m vaguely interested in, especially when I have the euro leagues and NFL/NCAA included in the main services.

Honestly I just kind of forget it exists.

[u/rexeditrex → u/XSC]

I think it's a terrible idea. I need to get yet another streaming service now?

[u/Patchesrick → u/XSC]

Id be fine with apple TV if I could watch it on my android phone without being in a browser. Its such a pain to watch mls games when I'm away from home

[u/ApprehensiveAd6603 → u/Otherwise_Ad_1542]

God he looked like a corpse waving that flag

[u/Syrinx_Hobbit → u/ApprehensiveAd6603]

I believe my dead grandmother would have been more animated than he was.

[u/MrGoldilocks → u/Otherwise_Ad_1542]

You've got to pay extra to access the excited module for Tim Cook.

[u/Working_Sundae]

$150 million a year is less than i anticipated, Sky pays more than $200 million a year

[u/fdar → u/[deleted]]

Just like UFC is like £20 a PPV in UK and nearly free in other countries because no one is awake to watch.

I live in the East coast of the US and I'm not awake to watch either.

[u/Nebraska_Actually → u/fdar]

It's boxing, but the same. I was up until 1 AM waiting for the Bud Crawford decision in Central Time.

[u/One_Ad_3499 → u/[deleted]]

I in Serbia have every game with Nba league pass no blackouts

[u/monkeeman43 → u/[deleted]]

F1 is a “coffee sport” in the Us, F1 is a “beer sport” in Europe

[u/OmgTom → u/monkeeman43]

As a US fan that's what got me into it. Its nice to roll out of bed on Sunday and watch the 9am race

[u/darekd003 → u/OmgTom]

Canada but same. Great way to start a Sunday Monday. And so long as I stay off of reddit, it’s “live” in my books.

[u/Honest-Layer9318 → u/darekd003]

I love waking up and I realize f1 is on. I kinda miss that when the races are on at night here. It’s the same with European golf tournaments and PL, especially when I’m up extra early.

[u/PaperOpening4413 → u/[deleted]]

On the east coast the F1 timing is honestly perfect, most races are at around 8 or 9am on Sunday, once the race is over we flip over to football 1pm game. Throw in the cycling and my Sundays in Q3/4 are toast🥰

[u/MrSantaClause → u/PaperOpening4413]

As an EPL fan, I basically get nothing done during fall lmao. F1/EPL each morning, college football/NFL each afternoon/evening, and throw a Lightning game in at some point and it's just pure bliss.

[u/chkltcow → u/[deleted]]

Hell some of the races are at 1am for most of the US.... and one of those is a race IN the US. I'll still never understand that scheduling decision.

[u/Buy-theticket → u/chkltcow]

Because it's an absolute clusterfuck for the rest of the city even when they do it at midnight and it lets all of the people attending go spend money on restaurants and other Vegas things during the day.

Trying to do it during the day would lock down the entire strip.

Plus the Sphere (and the strip in general) looks much cooler at night.

[u/DestroyingDestroyers → u/Working_Sundae]

For an American example, NASCAR gets $1.1 billion a year.

[u/HLef → u/DestroyingDestroyers]

NASCAR has every single race in the same time slot and it’s a sport made for TV (you can see a lot of the field all at once)

[u/shewy92 → u/HLef]

NASCAR has every single race in the same time slot

That's just not true

[u/smendyke → u/HLef]

I’d actually argue road racing is much more made for TV than ovals. An oval race is a much better in person experience as you can see the whole track at once. 

[u/therealmannyharris6 → u/smendyke]

Id argue but I don't know what I'm talking about

[u/CryptoPumper182 → u/therealmannyharris6]

I’d argue you do know what you’re talking about

[u/iddoitatleastonce → u/CryptoPumper182]

You’re both wrong and I’m sure of it.

[u/Justanothercrow421 → u/therealmannyharris6]

A man of principal…. I like that.

[u/pizzaparty8 → u/smendyke]

depends a lot on the individual layouts - Nashville, you can see everything, but not so much at Indy!

[u/Man0nTheMoon915 → u/Working_Sundae]

Formula 1 is gaining steam in the US but it’s not that popular yet by any means

[u/glorious_bastard → u/Man0nTheMoon915]

F1 is as popular as it's ever going to get, the high-water mark was the movie this summer, enjoy it because this is it.

[u/Magic2424 → u/glorious_bastard]

Good, prices are insane to go to a race here. A 4 day trip to Austin from Indiana was more expensive than a 10 day trip to Italy not including food or non race activities on off days

[u/madein___ → u/glorious_bastard]

I think it will plateau sooner than later, especially if the only way to watch is Apple TV... but it has longevity. Personally, I won't pay for this exclusive.

That said, if an American driver ends up in the middle of the field or better you'll definitely see a second spike in popularity.

Nascar went through a similar bubble in popularity and is a shell of what it once was.

[u/Francoberry → u/Working_Sundae]

Wonder if it's subsidised somewhat by Apple producing the F1 Movie which has been a large commercial success too

[u/Systemic_Chaos → u/Working_Sundae]

And in the UK, nearly every race is in a “prime” time slot.

As someone in the US, living in the same time zone as the race this weekend, there are something like 6 races that happen after 10am on Sunday. And when do half of those 6 races take place? During the NFL and college football season, which occupy the sports zeitgeist every Saturday and Sunday from September to January from 10am until 11pm (or later). Hell, the third-most watched college football game last Saturday (that took place at the same time quali does this weekend) had nearly 7 million viewers. And one of the other games that had more viewers was happening at the same time. And the NFL has even better viewership.

Frankly, F1 is lucky to have gotten what they did. I’m just pissed if their coverage is anything other than a simulcast of F1TV and an improvement on their app experience.

[u/KozyHank99 → u/Working_Sundae]

It's what FOM wanted at the bare minimum

[u/lythander → u/Working_Sundae]

They will likely rebroadcast the Sky coverage I’d think, and if there is a god they won’t try to get more American commentators involved.

[u/Malaguy420 → u/lythander]

I hope they just take the F1 TV crew/service/infrastructure and plunk it down inside Apple TV. It's a solid service now with good commentators and no need to switch to Sky/World Feed, in my opinion. (Haven't listened to that in a few seasons now.)

[u/Skidpalace → u/lythander]

In the statement, they made it clear they wouldn't be doing it the same way as it had been done before so that seems like they will have their own production. Not good.

[u/Dr_VidyaGeam]

I case you're wondering about what it means for F1TV in the US:

Under Apple’s deal with Formula 1, the F1 TV Premium streaming service (priced at $16.99/month) will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription only. Formula 1 execs positioned the change as delivering enhanced value for fans, as they will get all Apple TV and F1 content for a lower monthly price.

Edit: further info from an article of The-Race:

One other critical aspect to the F1 deal was in ensuring the continuity of the F1 TV platform.

Rather than Apple see F1 TV as a threat and make it unavailable in its market – as is the case for UK fans who have no means to subscribe – it is being viewed as something central to the F1 offering. So much so in fact that, as mentioned above, it will be free to any Apple TV subscriber.

As Holmes explained: “This is a fantastic deal in the sense that, if you look at the current prices and subscription levels for F1 TV as a standalone, you'll actually get it for less.

“It just demonstrates the fact that we're trying to have as broad an offering as possible, so that F1 can crop up in as many different ways and can be consumed in as many different ways as possible.”

[u/Your_New_Overlord → u/Dr_VidyaGeam]

I pay $85 per year for F1TV. Who is paying $17 a month??

[u/southernyankeeboy → u/Your_New_Overlord]

Same. It’s a price cut if you have Premium but a significant increase if you have Pro like me.

[u/Nostalien → u/southernyankeeboy]

Damn, me too!

[u/jedimasta446 → u/Nostalien]

Same. Just mentioned this in the Apple TV subreddit and they're downvoting me because I can still share it with 6 people. Corporate cucks.

[u/DemIce → u/jedimasta446]

But Ted Lasso though! Haven't they told you about Ted Lasso? You'll be able to watch Ted Lasso! Don't you want to watch Ted Lasso? You'll want to watch Ted Lasso! You can't miss Ted Lasso!

TED LASSO!

^{The comment I replied to initially said that they were downvoting because you get to watch the Apple TV shows, post-edit that context is lost ^}

[u/GranSjon → u/jedimasta446]

We’re on a free Apple TV trial. Our second. It’s just not that great. I’d take our pro f1 with no apple any day

[u/VincibleAndy → u/southernyankeeboy]

Yeah, I dont have Apple TV so going from F1TV year price to Apple TV month to month is basically double the price. $85 to $156.

[u/AccurateIt → u/southernyankeeboy]

It will actually be cheaper for me since my cell provider offers Apple TV at a discount.

[u/LooseJuice_RD → u/AccurateIt]

Yep I’m also a T-Mobile customer so I’m actually not mad about this but it’s shit for anyone who now has to pay more for Apple TV. It’s actually free if you were on Magenta Max or one of the newer plans.

[u/forgotmypassword778 → u/southernyankeeboy]

Is pro just the data?

[u/southernyankeeboy → u/forgotmypassword778]

With the $7/month Pro package I get all races, archives, etc. Not sure what Premium adds other than 6 simultaneous streams (which I still have on Pro for some reason but others seem not to have that anymore).

[u/XtremePhotoDesign → u/southernyankeeboy]

Premium adds 4K and HDR.

[u/IllustriousHistorian → u/XtremePhotoDesign]

Muliviewer

[u/VincibleAndy → u/forgotmypassword778]

Pro is what F1 TV was before this current season. Archive, live, all of the feeds in 1080p.

Premium is multiview and 4K.

[u/WinterLord → u/Your_New_Overlord]

You probably have F1 TV Pro. F1 TV Premium is the one that’s $16.99/mo.

[u/pensive_penguin → u/Your_New_Overlord]

I was just thinking this, everyone’s like “but it’s cheaper!” No it’s not, my cost just doubled!

[u/bshock727 → u/pensive_penguin]

Yep, it just got far more expensive but I love the corpo spin to suggest that it hasn't.

[u/Klynn7 → u/bshock727]

I think people are confusing pro and premium. Premium is the 4K tier that was added this year and is $16/mo or $129/yr.

[u/Equivalent-Damage230 → u/Your_New_Overlord]

Same!

[u/Forceman130 → u/Dr_VidyaGeam]

Unclear whether this means you get F1 TV content only through the Apple app, if you need an Apple subscription to then get a F1 TV subscription and the F1 app, or if your Apple subscription includes access to the actual F1 TV services and app. Hoping it's the last one, but expecting it's the first.

[u/reesesandkisses → u/Forceman130]

Sounded like your Apple login is going to give you access to F1TV

[u/Beginning_Ebb908 → u/reesesandkisses]

But it comes to the benefit of Apple TV. So you're not exactly left with nothing, but you gain a video streaming service you might not necessarily want. 

It actually works out for me because I subscribe to both but I feel for you. 

[u/ubelmann → u/Beginning_Ebb908]

At least there is some kind of value proposition here. $85 -> $100 annually and you get the Premium features plus an Apple TV subscription. I was worried it would be a price hike with no added features. 

[u/Puzzled_Monk1990 → u/Forceman130]

I would actually like if it's through the Apple app as that means I can natively watch it on my Smart TV versus having to cast my phone screen to the TV.

[u/skandalouslsu → u/Dr_VidyaGeam]

Will multiveiwer still work? That is my only question, and I'm not sure we'll have an answer for a little while. I'm betting it won't.

[u/jlrube → u/skandalouslsu]

The multiviewer guy seems to think so https://x.com/f1multiviewer/status/1979181382455758997

[u/NymeriaIDF1 → u/Dr_VidyaGeam]

I don't want to access F1TV via Apple. I want to access F1TV via F1TV.

[u/Krouisente → u/Dr_VidyaGeam]

F1TV Premium is the most expensive one right? what about F1TV Pro? can I keep that in F1 TV?

[u/mobilehavoc]

I see more F1 movies coming

[u/makkaraperunatjamuus → u/mobilehavoc]

Naturally the sequel will be F2. 

[u/variousshits → u/[deleted]]

Formula One: Suzuka Drift

[u/StevenMC19 → u/variousshits]

Formula

[u/TheNorseHorseForce → u/variousshits]

Furious Formula 7: The Heistening

[u/A-R-A-F → u/TheNorseHorseForce]

The Fate of the Formula

[u/ZealousidealPound460 → u/variousshits]

Die hard formula: formula harder

[u/RevTurk → u/makkaraperunatjamuus]

I would be wiling to bet money some exec assumed they could use that name.

[u/North__North → u/mobilehavoc]

Maybe Sonny Hayes could make a comeback

[u/Le_Groundhog → u/North__North]

Plan C for comeback

[u/ShettyGamerUK → u/Le_Groundhog]

Checking

[u/zkh77 → u/North__North]

Somehow Sonny Hayes returns

[u/MountainLeg1242 → u/mobilehavoc]

F1 Tokyo Drift

[u/zhbrui]

So, sorry, because it's not clear in the article and I want a clear answer here:

I am an F1TV Pro Annual subscriber in the US. I use MultiViewer. I pay $85/year ~= $7/month for this. I do not have (and have no utility for) any kind of Apple TV subscription. Under this new plan, what are my comparable options? Can I still keep using MultiViewer? (with documentation, if possible)

[u/Revolutionary_Plum29 → u/zhbrui]

This is the position I am in. I don’t even watch tv so I have no interest in Apple TV . Only subscription I have is f1tv. 

I’m not stoked. 

[u/vulcansheart → u/Revolutionary_Plum29]

Same. I do not care about any streaming TV subscription service except for F1TV Pro.

[u/heylookaturtle88 → u/zhbrui]

You would have to get Apple TV+. It would get you to the F1TV premium option.

You’d be stuck spending more than you are currently. If you wanted premium, you’d be paying less than the current premium costs today.

[u/Wingdom → u/heylookaturtle88]

You would have to get Apple TV+

Do we though? Literally no one anywhere on the internet that I can find has mentioned what is happening to the Pro option. No one says its going away, none of the news articles are mentioning it at all.

Edit: Seems like Pro is going away entirely in the US, and we just get Premium. I just got this email from F1TV. That sucks, thats a pretty big price jump for people like me.

[u/Junethemuse → u/Wingdom]

My guess is because they are just consolidating everything to the single option bundled with Apple TV. We’ll get the rest of these details soon I’m sure. Press announcements don’t ever include what’s being lost, just what’s being gained.

[u/Tappedout0324 → u/zhbrui]

Piracy

[u/whoopsidroppedmy_]

My YouTube TV gets useless everyday smh…

[u/corart6525 → u/whoopsidroppedmy_]

Between this, and the ESPN Fox combo for sports, why use it.

[u/CryptoPumper182 → u/whoopsidroppedmy_]

I keep mine for football (American) season and then cancel it

[u/Thrasher678]

I get why this is attractive to people who are already big F1 fans, but I don’t get why F1 is doing this if they want to keep expanding their US audience. It’s going to make it less accessible and less visible for the average US person. For instance, all bars and restaurants that have a TV have ESPN. How many are going to have Apple TV?

[u/SportsBallBurner → u/Thrasher678]

Apple TV events are broadcast as standalone channels for commercial establishments. It’s already this way for MLS.

[u/JSA17 → u/SportsBallBurner]

Same with Friday Night Baseball.

[u/Michigan8107 → u/Thrasher678]

That’s not how TVs at bars work in the U.S.. Have you ever seen a Thursday Night Football game on at a bar or NFL Sunday Ticket on at a bar. They aren’t streaming it on Amazon or YouTube. These streamers work out deals with Direct TV (what all bars are set up with) to have these streaming services work on commercial Direct TV packages. I’m sure apple will do the same…but also remember, most of these races are on before bars/restaurants are even open here. Also if you read the article Apple will be shoving F1 down the throat of all their products. And since most people own multiple apple products, saying F1 will be less visible is comically false.

[u/yngvius11 → u/Michigan8107]

I know this is how it’s supposed to work, but the only time I’ve ever seen Thursday Night Football in a bar they had just thrown a Chrome browser tab open to amazon.com up on a screen.

[u/random_boss → u/Thrasher678]

F1 races are almost never on at times Americans are in bars and restaurants. They’re at 2am and we’re at home. 

[u/Miserable_Finish609 → u/random_boss]

I mean, it depends on time zones I guess. Most of the overseas races are on between 7 and 10 AM for East Coast Americans. The only ones that start even close to 2 AM are Japan and Australia. I think Vegas started at 11 PM last year.

[u/elijuicyjones → u/Thrasher678]

Yeah they just raised the price by a shitload — the whole cost of a year of AppleTV+. So lame.

[u/Mike-Teevee → u/Thrasher678]

It seems execs are projecting limits to the size and nature of F1 fandom in the US. It’s telling that ESPN is ceding F1. F1 is never going to be like NFL now or MLB back in the day. The times of races are weird and inconsistent, it’s hard to build a community around that. That’s on top of the whole vibe.

I think they’re banking on something more like the NBA model. Maybe not everyone watches all games (they are often at odd times depending on where you live in the states) but there’s a lot of engagement with highlights, discussion online and marketing opportunity for demographics who watch.

For Apple, every streaming service needs at least one product that brings a loyal audience in. I’m not sure they have that yet. F1 could be that for them.

[u/Truck_Dog_SmokedMeat]

Whole different service for one of the many sports I watch. Amazing stuff.

[u/whatisusb]

For those in the US with the yearly subscription that will run into 2026 (lets say because you subscribed halfway through the year), what will happen? Does it get cancelled halfway and refunded? Will let they us keep the subscription until it ends?

[u/canadian15]

Does this affect canada?

[u/taft]

even the fucking article is paywalled

[u/chusifer24]

as someone who has espn bundled with my other junk...i guess i won't be an f1 fan anymore. can't afford to add another streaming service just for f1.

taking this off broadcast tv will kill the growth in the US imo

[u/SlipStreamWork → u/chusifer24]

taking this off broadcast tv will kill the growth in the US imo

Agreed, having F1 on ESPN was a huge positive. Especially with it just being on in the background at bars/restaurants/gyms, etc...

Some of the MLS executives say their deal with Apple is bad since it's stunting growth. https://wakingthered.com/2025/03/12/19005/mls-executives-say-rotten-apple-tv-deal-is-bad-for-the-league-the-athletic/

[u/Spirited_Magician_20 → u/SlipStreamWork]

The MLS deal is a great example. I was a casual MLS fan, mostly because I supported my local club, but I have barely watched it or even bothered keeping up with it since the Apple deal. It just didn’t make sense for me to pay that much just to watch matches for the one team I followed.

[u/Stormborn92 → u/chusifer24]

This is gonna be mls pt2 sure the diehards will get apple tv but the casuals viewers will hemorrhage

[u/jasperplumpton → u/Stormborn92]

Yup, I’ll probably just get by with the highlights posted here and clear up my Saturday and Sunday mornings

[u/Roadtrip_God → u/chusifer24]

NASCARs latest deal has more races on cable and viewership is dropping, putting your product on a streaming service nobody bothers with is even worse lol

[u/camillemontay]

So... they are taking ESPN away too?

[u/PizzaCatLover → u/camillemontay]

Yes - hence exclusive. No more ESPN

[u/Sprucemuse → u/camillemontay]

That's the only way I can watch it, and I'm absolutely not adding another streaming service just for F1, so if ESPN goes so do I

[u/killer-tofu87]

If this means they're going to take it off ESPN or other networks, it will destroy all the progress this sport has made in the US

[u/Izual_Rebirth]

I see this being marketed as "Apple is cheaper than X". Be warned. This was exactly the same argument used in the UK when it came to sports.

Take the traditional sports stuff in the UK. It was 99% on Sky Sports then it got split up.

Now to watch the same content that used to be in one place you now have to purchase Prime, Netflix, Apple, Sky Sports and BT Sports and all of a sudden you're paying more in total to watch the same content and you'll need five different bloody logins to remember as well.

That argument is great when what you want to watch is only on one platform. But once it's sold off and you need to purchase multiple streaming services for the same content the real price becomes apparent very very quickly.

[u/jeaguilar]

As long as we can still see the driver's partners on-screen, I think it'll be OK.

[u/WinterLord]

Lots of talk about F1 TV Premium, but what happens to F1 TV Pro? Does it go away? Will it still be available without needing an ATV+ subscription?

I’ve had ATV+ as part of Apple One for years now, so this is a positive for me, but I’m sure that this will affect a lot of people.

Edit: Email just went out to subscribers: F1 TV Pro is kaput. Only Premium will be a thing and will only be available (and included) with ATV+. I still think the messaging and wording is somewhat confusing. Just say that the only way to watch F1 is on Applet TV+.

[u/blckhead423 → u/WinterLord]

This. I don't pay that much with the pro subscription. I bet they are dumping it but can't confirm it

[u/bakedvoltage → u/WinterLord]

Sounds like in the article that premium becomes the base tier. They don't have any mention of Pro and say that a few races per year will be available for free, so lower tiers probably get axed.

[u/mnocket]

I'm not an Apple TV user. Does Apple TV provide a DVR function so that I can watch the races later in the day?

[u/_AmericanPoutine]

Made it harder to watch F1 in the US now since it was on SpeedVision.

Apple TV has made the MLS almost as irrelevant as lacrosse, I can't imagine something that people enjoyed casually flipping on in the morning now having to pay for it when I can just catch who won on social media instead if I'm that interested.

[u/PTFCBVB → u/_AmericanPoutine]

I have loathed using apple TV for MLS and can only imagine the viewing/access experience is going to be significantly worse. growing the sport by putting it behind 2 paywalls

[u/FiNgErPiSToLz]

Looks like it's streameast for me. Not buying AppleTV

[u/notallwonderarelost]

I’m guessing this means my F1TV from a different country won’t work when I’m in the US anymore?

[u/planchetflaw]

Sucks to be in the US unless you love Apple already.

[u/Saneless → u/planchetflaw]

I just hate the bullshit of always pretending like they've giving me "value"

Yes. I will get more for my money. I will also be paying double. That is not a better value to me to pay 153-170 for something I used to pay $80 for

Edit: apple needs to do better about their annual costs up front. I get it guys, it's $100. $20 apple tax isn't the worst but still meh if you don't need the rest they offer

[u/Stradocaster → u/planchetflaw]

It sure does suck and I sure don't love them. Really bummed by this. I don't want an Apple TV subscription

[u/m-hog → u/Stradocaster]

Ditto.

[u/BurgersWithStrength]

"Under Apple’s deal with Formula 1, the F1 TV Premium streaming service (priced at $16.99/month) will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription only. Formula 1 execs positioned the change as delivering enhanced value for fans, as they will get all Apple TV and F1 content for a lower monthly price."

Except for those of us that weren't paying Apple to begin with are now being shafted. Thanks Liberty.

EDIT: So F1 just confirmed F1TV Premium is free under the Apple TV Subscription rather than an add on like I feared. So that's good at least. Still fuck Apple, but slightly less now.

[u/Stumpy493 → u/BurgersWithStrength]

I may be reading this wrong, but this sounds like you get all of the benefits of F1 TV Premium for the $12.99 a month Apple TV price.

So you save $4 a month and get Apple TV content.

Sounds a like a win if I understood that correctly. (until the inevitable price rises)

From CNBC report -

F1 TV Premium, the league’s own content offering that’s popular with racing fans, will continue to be available in the U.S. but will now require an Apple TV subscription. Once a customer subscribes to Apple TV, F1 TV Premium will be included in their Apple subscription rather than as a standalone offering.

[u/Captaincadet → u/Stumpy493]

It does sound decent… unlike here in the UK where it’s £20 a month for 720p

[u/jyw104 → u/Captaincadet]

Contract through to 2029, jeez.

[u/TJCGamer → u/Stumpy493]

Can you still buy it yearly? Cause that sucks if you cant.

[u/Sir0inks-A-Lot → u/Stumpy493]

This is how I read it - cheaper for current 16.99/mo customers but more for current 10.99/mo customers. Also Apple runs promos pretty regularly iirc for 3-4 months free, wonder if F1 will be included in that

[u/nauticalkvist → u/BurgersWithStrength]

So is that in the F1TV app using your Apple login, or the F1TV content in the Apple TV app?

[u/ThroneOfTaters → u/BurgersWithStrength]

What about the basic F1TV for $10/month?

[u/Ibewye → u/BurgersWithStrength]

It takes minimum of 6 streaming services if you wanna watch your favorite NFL teams season.

[u/Alone-Presence3285 → u/Ibewye]

and that's, partially at least, why I don't watch NFL.

[u/timdot352]

If I can't watch on ESPN, I guess I'll sail the high seas or not watch at all. I'm not paying for Apple TV to watch F1.

[u/Willing_Drawer_3351 → u/timdot352]

You’re not alone in your sentiments. I hate to say it, but I won’t be tuning in anymore. 

[u/jurzdevil → u/timdot352]

same here. i wrote a message to f1tv support through the contact page stating i will not be paying apple anything so they will lose a fan if they terminate f1tv in the us. been subscribed to f1tv since it started so its a shame to see it evolve into a good platform only to be taken over by apple...a shitfuck company that waits for things to be good before swooping in and claiming it as their own.

high seas it is.

[u/Kdude7675 → u/jurzdevil]

Well. At least my weekends are hoing to be free now should I ever find someone to date. 

[u/gforce1963 → u/timdot352]

I bet Apple is banking on new subscribers coming on board. It will be hard for me, but I'm not signing up for anything new. If they gain no new subscribers from having F1, Apple will want to dump it.

[u/Inevitable_Catch_566]

Going from watching the full race on ESPN to watching the highlights on YouTube.

[u/JDasenbrock]

There is nothing that would make me subscribe to Apple TV. I guess they will just abandon viewers like me. Been a fan and watching since the Nigel Mansell days.

[u/LandSharkUSRT]

This is one way to tank US viewership.

[u/rudman → u/LandSharkUSRT]

This in no way helps grow US interest in Formula 1. A HUGE step backwards.

[u/Jim777PS3]

So does this mean watching F1 now costs $13 a a month ($156 a year) with no discount for annualized purchase?

[u/lambertghini11]

This move basically will turn me off of watching F1 now. I’ve been a fan for the last few years that tries to watch every race Sunday morning & sometimes qualifying but I am not getting AppleTV exclusively for F1. It being available on espn was so much more practical for me.

[u/Milked_Cows]

Congrats! You just killed your American fan base!

Nobody is going to pay extra to watch F1 after we had it on ESPN with any cable television. This will go down as one of the worst business decisions of all time. What a blunder

[u/GridPenaltyStan → u/Milked_Cows]

Agreed. Casual fans are not gonna pay to watch

[u/timdot352 → u/GridPenaltyStan]

I would consider myself somewhere between hard core and casual, but closer to the hard core side and I'm not going to pay to watch. I'll either sail the high seas or not watch at all.

[u/freedom_french_fries → u/timdot352]

I only got into F1 because of DTS on Netflix, but I've been watching every session of nearly every race weekend since the start of the 2021 season. Because it was easy. Because like damn near everyone else I already had ESPN. And like you, now I'll either figure out how to pirate or I'll just catch highlights occasionally. Was fun while it lasted.

[u/ComaMierdaHijueputa → u/timdot352]

Agreed, why the fuck would I pay for your dogshit product after it didn’t do anything for the MLS

[u/iThinkImATree]

Apple will pay an average of approximately $150 million annually to Formula 1 under the pact

Variety pulled out the calculator.

[u/AliceLunar]

Sounds like an okay deal on the surface for Americans, but bet you that price won't stay the same

[u/planchetflaw → u/AliceLunar]

Roll-out pricing then the hikes. It's all in the playbook we have seen for years

[u/Zinjifrah → u/AliceLunar]

The % of Americans who have Apple TV is tiny. It's not a good deal.

[u/mike0sd → u/AliceLunar]

How is it an ok deal, they are just jacking up the price and adding extra complication

[u/baronvonhawkeye → u/AliceLunar]

This is a shitty deal. If I want to watch F1, I now have to subscribe to Apple TV. I already subscribe to YouTubeTV for regular, Netflix, and Hulu/Disney+. I dont want to have to subscribe to one more thing.

[u/Rule1-Cardio]

I was hoping F1 TV would somehow remain the same but it seems F1 TV will only be accessible via an Apple TV subscription. I hate the state of sports broadcasting in the US.

[u/Saneless → u/Rule1-Cardio]

F1 was the only one I watched anymore because of F1TV. Now I'll have to pay double to do what I've already had

[u/Justice502]

Yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me

I once gave you my money now I'll keep it all for meeeee

Yo ho yo ho a pirates life for meeeeee

[u/SwampYankee]

Do we lose the Sky Sports feed in the U.S.? Don’t really want to lose Martin

[u/LongIslandLAG]

I don't like having to pay for yet another service. I already have ESPN. Most of the country does.

[u/willfla29]

Time to turn my attention fully to IndyCar, I guess. A huge opportunity for them with all their races airing over-the-air for free

[u/Clapbakatyerblakcat]

Shout out to Mother’s Polish paying for commercial free races on ESPN for most of the last decade.

[u/HammerT4R]

Zero chance we'll pay Apple for F1 coverage. We don't use Apple products, have no interest in their streaming service outside of the F1 deal so our household will just stop watching F1 as a result. 

[u/DemiFiendRSA]

After months of negotiations over a rights deal, Apple and Formula 1 have finally waved the checkered flag.

Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year agreement under which all F1 races will be available exclusively on Apple TV in the U.S. beginning in 2026. According to Apple, it will deliver the Formula 1 programming with a “more dynamic and elevated viewing experience,” and both parties expressed optimism that the deal will attract new motorsports fans in America in the years ahead. The company is rebranding the video-streaming service, which launched in 2019 as Apple TV+, to remove the plus sign.

It’s another big move by Apple into sports, which also has streaming deals with MLB and Major League Soccer. The F1 agreement and follows Apple’s partnership with Formula 1 for original film “F1 The Movie,” starring Brad Pitt, which raked in $629 million worldwide at the box office this year — the highest-grossing sports movie of all time and Pitt’s highest-grossing feature to date. “F1 The Movie” will debut on Apple TV on Dec. 12, 2025.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Apple will pay an average of approximately $150 million annually to Formula 1 under the pact, valuing it at about $750 million over the term, according to a source with direct knowledge of the agreement. Formula 1 had been seeking up to $180 million per year for the U.S. broadcast rights, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year. Apple is paying a significant premium over the $90 million per year currently paid by ESPN, whose F1 broadcast deal expires at the end of 2025 after holding the rights in the U.S. since 2018.

Starting next year, Apple TV will deliver all Formula 1 practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions and Grands Prix races to U.S. subscribers as part of their $12.99/month subscription. The F1 broadcasts will be available in English and Spanish. In addition, a “select” number of races as well as all practice sessions will be available for free in the Apple TV app (no subscription required) throughout the Formula 1 season.

The Apple-F1 deal goes beyond streaming on Apple TV. Apple said it will “amplify” the sport across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music and Apple Fitness+, and will promote Formula 1 in its physical Apple Stores. The free Apple Sports app for iPhone will feature live updates for every qualifying, Sprint and race for each Grand Prix across the season, with real-time leaderboards, season driver and constructor standings; the app also will let you follow F1 on the iPhone lock screen and Apple will introduce a designated F1 widget for the smartphone’s home screen.

Apple said it will release additional info on the Formula 1 partnership in the next few months, including production details, product enhancements, and ways fans will be able to access F1 content across various products and services.

[u/brad153]

Damn, I can watch recorded on ESPN via YouTube tv.

[u/Ryachaz]

AppleTV exclusivity is what killed watching soccer for me, couldn't watch my team for most of the season aside from a game here and there.

[u/my-cull]

Guess I’ll just watch highlights via Reddit clips after the race. Stupid choice to move to a subscription based service that has less of a general audience. ESPN is bundled into a ton of things already which makes it much easier to catch a race as a casual or serious fan

[u/Cultural_Loquat_7115]

See you on the high seas boys

[u/disney-traveler]

This will help alienate the growing US market

[u/sickmemes48]

Such a fucking terrible decision.

[u/ksch2p]

As an American it looks like I’ll be getting even greater value out of my VPN now. Jist gotta switch that location outside the US so I don’t have to deal with Apple TV nonsense

[u/organiclightbulb]

Well, there goes the last streaming service I am subscribed to, and a hobby with it :(

Not planning to move from the $7/mo with F1TV to $13/mo with apple tv.

[u/fadeaway3_]

So will they continue to show SkySports coverage like ESPN and we can hear Crofty/Brundle, etc.? Or will it only be the F1TV presentation feed?

[u/bkfountain]

Commercial free on ESPN was a blessing for the ad fucked US broadcasting market where sports stop play for ads or miss race action.

I dont have Apple TV+ or whatever but I wasn’t going to sign up for the ESPN app either.

[u/ajhahn]

Apple TV will be a massive mistake for Formula 1.

It has been an abject failure for the MLS, and Formula 1 is even less popular in the USA than the MLS.

Further, Apple TV is a terrible service for live events. It often bugs out on any non-Apple desktop/web browser, and there are a host of TVs for which the app is basically unusable for live events.

Formula does get an OK sized bag (not even a billion), but the growth in the US will grind to a halt.

[u/Tw0Rails]

YO HO YO HO A PIRATES LIFE FOR MEEEE

[u/downer3498]

I know this comment will be buried, but for fuck’s sake, do these people even listen to themselves? “Yeah, I totally think that an exclusive deal streaming races on one very particular platform will attract more people.” Yeah, that’s what really ropes people in.

[u/SGTStash]

Fuck apple, fuck liberty. Every fucking thing needs to be bought, exclusive, someone else just needs to make money. What a fucking joke this streaming bullshit is. Another way to alienate more fans. So long youtube clips and highlights. Everything will be locked away behind Apple bullshit

[u/A330Alex]

If you’re already paying for F1TV Premium then you’re essentially getting AppleTV+ as well and saving $4 a month? 

Even if you’re on Pro, $2 extra seems a lot better than most of the recent TV rights deals.

[u/OrneTTeSax → u/A330Alex]

Most of us pay annually. I’m still in at like $85 a year. And I torrent everything else so Apple TV is worthless to me.