Apple Says F1 Streaming Already Exceeds Everyone's Expectations

Apple's exclusive woody for US broadcast authorities of Formula 1 was a large displacement to streaming from ESPN's cablegram sum of nan past, but aft nan first title (the Australian Grand Prix), it seems to beryllium going well. "The 2026 Formula 1 play connected Apple TV is disconnected to a beardown start, pinch fans responding positively and viewership up twelvemonth complete twelvemonth for nan first weekend, exceeding some F1 and Apple expectations," Apple VP Eddy Cue told The Hollywood Reporter.

Apple didn't springiness immoderate ratings aliases different details, but we tin glean immoderate clues from erstwhile data. Last year, ESPN said nan Australian GP averaged 1.1 cardinal viewers, measurement up from nan erstwhile grounds of 659,000 successful 2019. If Cue's comments were accurate, that intends Apple TV's assemblage was supra that, which would beryllium awesome considering that it's a streaming-only service.

When Apple's Formula streaming woody was first announced, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was bullish connected nan deal. "It will let america to participate successful nan houses of different group successful a different way, successful awesome value that is very important for us," he told Racer. Indeed, Apple is pouring resources into it successful a measurement that ESPN ne'er did. That includes precocious tech that offers aggregate ways for fans to watch, including Multiview, Podium Viewer, driver cams and 4K Dolby Vision coverage, Cue noted.

Apple has jumped into Formula 1 racing successful different other ways arsenic well, taking advantage of a surge successful nan sport's fame aided by Netflix's bid Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The streaming service's F1 movie starring Brad Pitt did immense container agency numbers and is apt to spot a sequel. Apple besides struck a woody pinch Netflix connected nan aforementioned Drive to Survive bid to stock streaming of nan existent play 8 (which specifications nan F1 2025 championship). That statement will besides let Netflix to watercourse nan F1 Canadian Grand Prix live, on pinch Apple TV.