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Netflix trying to secure broadcasting rights for F1 in historic first for streaming giants
The broadcaster showed the most-watched sports event ever last year
NETFLIX is working to secure broadcasting rights to Formula One, according to reports.
It would be the first time Netflix branched out into season-long mainstream sports rights.
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Netflix is “considering a bid” to cash in on the success of its Drive to Survive series.
Sources said that the streaming giant is “expected to bid” for the rights in the United States starting from the 2026 season, according to
ESPN currently holds the US rights under a £72m deal, but it is understood that the broadcaster’s exclusivity period to negotiate a new contract with F1 has just expired.
That has opened the market for bids from any other interested party but ESPN can always bid again.
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There has been huge growth in F1 fan numbers in the US - which hosts three of the 24 races a year - and the rights would be relatively cheap.
Sky Sports has the UK live rights until 2029, and has a deal with Channel 4 for it to show the British Grand Prix live and highlights.
Netflix’s interest in F1 would not appear to threaten the Sky/F1 partnership at the moment as it would be US-focused.
Netflix - who have over 280MILLION paying subscribers - has so far restricted its live sports content to one-off or short-term events.
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The platform dipped their toes into live sport for the first time last year for Mike Tyson's boxing comeback against YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul.
Paul's unanimous win turned out to be the most-streamed sporting event ever as it peaked at 65 million streams.
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Netflix has also hired Kate Jackson, ESPN’s vice-president of production, who oversees the network’s F1 coverage, reports the Sports Business Journal.
The movie makers announced a stunning $5BILLION (£3.8bn) deal with the WWE to air events in the US and worldwide in December.
Netflix showed two NFL games during the Christmas Day special in 2024, where singer Beyonce performed during the half-time show.
It has also agreed deals with Fifa for the US rights for the 2027 and 2031 women’s World Cup.
Other platforms such as Apple have also been linked with bidding for the F1 rights.
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