<p>Apple is reportedly looking into expanding their investment in sports programming with Formula 1.</p>



<p>The move would make Apple the exclusive streaming home of the popular international racing division.</p>



<p>According to a report by <em><a href="https://businessf1magazine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BusinessF1 Magazine</a></em>, the massive media tech company is mulling a $2 billion annual deal to stream F1 races. </p>



<p><em><a href="https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/30/apple-formula-1-tv-sports-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">9to5Mac</a></em> claims that the potential offer would essentially be double of F1’s current streaming deal with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/channels/espn/">ESPN</a>. The traditional American sports network holds the broadcasting rights to the racing circuit in the United States. ESPN’s deal with F1 is, however, set to expire in 2025. This is where Apple could come into play.</p>



<h2>Potential Apple deal for F1 rights may not start as a full exclusive agreement</h2>



<p>According to the aforementioned reports, F1 may strike a massive deal with Apple, but only for a percentage of the streaming rights. This could see Apple initially hold on to about 25% of the broadcasting rights at first. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Unveiled in the recent Business F1 magazine, Apple is considering a massive $2 billion per year investment into Formula 1 for the global streaming rights.<br><br>Imagine an Apple F1 pass, an exclusive, standalone subscription that seamlessly interfaces with Apple TV+. <a href="https://t.co/OC2XA7jcWt">pic.twitter.com/OC2XA7jcWt</a></p>— Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) <a href="https://twitter.com/vincenzolandino/status/1708172388695687439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>However, the tech company’s streaming exclusivity could then increase over the years to reach 100%. This would allow current contracts in place time to expire. Apple is apparently eyeing a seven-year agreement with F1. While ESPN’s deal is set to expire in 2025, other global deals extend up until 2029.  </p>



<h2>Tech company looking to build on MLS success</h2>



<p>Apple’s apparent interest in obtaining rights to F1 supposedly stems from their success with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a>. The tech company previously struck a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal to become the exclusive streaming home of the North American soccer league. </p>



<p>Lionel Messi’s arrival to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> has certainly helped Apple’s confidence in their agreement with MLS. Early <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/messi-on-mls-season-pass-boosts-apple-tv-viewership-by-75-20230728-WST-446136.html">reports</a> suggested that Messi boosted <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-get-mls-season-pass-20230203-WST-417725.html">MLS Season Pass</a> viewership by 75%. Nevertheless, the superstar has been injured as of late, which is obviously not ideal for Apple.</p>



<p>Any possible partnership between Apple and F1 would likely see the tech company add a standalone subscription to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/apple-tv/">Apple TV+</a>. Soccer fans will be familiar with the situation, as MLS Season Pass is solely available on the streaming service.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire </p>


Apple considers bid for F1 rights to expand sports portfolio

After seeing their MLS success, Apple will look to expand their sports division by acquiring the broadcast rights for F1

<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-401533" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2022/09/Netflix-Premier-League-docuseries-1200x725.webp" alt="Netflix Premier League docuseries" width="1200" height="725" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div>
<p>Netflix and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> are reportedly in talks to produce a new docuseries. The production company that made the streaming service’s popular <em>Formula 1: Drive to Survive</em> docudrama already reached out to the league about the proposal.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/premier-league-set-for-its-own-drive-to-survive-style-netflix-series-23znjd5sd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Times</a>, Box to Box Films also contacted individual clubs about the proposal. This production company has experience in soccer with Steven Gerrard’s <em>Make Us Dream</em>.</p>
<p>The benefits of the potential docuseries on Netflix about the Premier League are clear. For the league, it is a chance to grow the popularity of the league not just in the United States, but around the world. Then, for Netflix, this is an opportunity to gain subscribers in a soccer world that grows increasingly towards streaming. The service previously declared a net loss of 200,000 subscribers in April. Nevertheless, both sides will be banking on similar success as the F1 doc.</p>
<h3>Netflix and Premier League docuseries</h3>
<p><em>Formula 1: Drive to Survive</em> has been a massive success for Netflix. Introduced in 2019, the series featured exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at both the drivers and races of Formula One. As of July, the show was <a href="https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/what-to-watch/most-popular-new-documentaries-on-netflix-in-2022-so-far/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> the second most-watched documentaries on Netflix for 2022. In just a two week period, the series supposedly had been watched for over 57 million total hours. Season four of the show was released on March 11th of this year.</p>
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Formula 1: Drive to Survive | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtJPe1ksS6E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p>Popularity of the show has made a huge impact on U.S. fans. Star F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo claimed that the <em>Drive to Survive</em> helped grow interest in the sport. “I definitely feel F1 is becoming much more of a thing here in the States,” <a href="https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ricciardo-drive-to-survive-helped-put-f1-on-the-map-in-the-us-4984263/4984263/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> Ricciardo. “<em>Drive to Survive</em> put it on the map. Putting a face to a name, that helped.”</p>
<p>The Premier League will be hoping that a similar impact can be done with their documentary. Although the league is certainly growing here in the States, officials will want to continue this incline in interest. In fact, the 2021/22 Premier League season was the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/05/24/premier-league-season-2nd-most-watched-us-history/">second most-watched</a> campaign on U.S. TV history.</p>
<p>British soccer docuseries such as <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1398101245915709442" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sunderland ‘Til I Die</em></a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/podcasts/humphrey-ker-interview-executive-director-at-wrexham-afc/"><em>Welcome to Wrexham</em></a>, and Amazon’s <em>All or Nothing</em> have all been a hit in the U.S. as well. The 20 Premier League clubs will have a final say on the potential show once the details are ironed out.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto</em></p>


Netflix and Premier League in talks for new docuseries

In a similar fashion to F1's 'Drive to Survive,' the Premier League and Netflix could be producing a new docuseries soon.

Netflix and Premier League in talks for new docuseries - World Soccer Talk

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Apple considers bid for F1 rights to expand sports portfolio

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Netflix and Premier League in talks for new docuseries