Apple's bid for US F1 broadcast rights

I’ve had it up to here with subscriptions. I wonder how many people will sign up just for the F1 season, then cancel, then resubscribe for the next season. I bet Apple will run other f1 programming in the off season to keep interest up. That’ll be the soap opera reality tv stuff.

 

EVERYTHING is now subscription. TV, food, clothing... Can't stand it, really.

 

somebody…..BMW?…..wants to sell subscriptions to options like heated seats.

 

And now it has happened. F1 TV is no longer offering subscriptions (via their nifty app) in the US.

Here's the email I received

Hi There,

As a F1® TV Pro or Premium customer, we’re letting you know that we will be phasing out direct subscriptions to F1® TV Pro and Premium.

Key Changes to note:

To keep watching F1® through to the end of the 2025 season, F1®TV Pro and Premium annual and monthly subscriptions and renewals are available until the following dates:

• Monthly Subscriptions: From December 8th this year, fans in the US will no longer be able to purchase a new F1® TV Pro or Premium monthly subscription and existing subscriptions will no longer renew.
• Annual Subscriptions: From October 17th this year, fans in the US will no longer be able to purchase a new F1® TV Pro or Premium annual subscription.
• From November 17th this year, existing F1® TV Pro or Premium annual subscriptions will no longer renew.

Your subscription

Considering these changes, this is what it means for your F1® TV Pro annual subscription.

Currently your annual subscription expires on 18 February 2026. After this date you will no longer be able to renew your F1® TV Pro annual subscription.

Want to keep watching F1® through to the end of the season?

F1® TV Pro and Premium Monthly subscriptions are available for purchase and renewals until the 7th December 2025.

2026 Onwards

From January 2026, our new Formula 1 broadcast partner in the US will be Apple TV. Next season F1® TV Premium will continue to be available in the U.S., included with an Apple TV subscription only. You will still be able to purchase F1® TV Access, which remains available in the US.

Thank you.

The F1® TV Team

 

Does anyone know what "F1 TV ACCESS" is and what it will comprise starting next season?

 

I don't think anyone has insight there. Most likely it will be less than what the current app provides. For those who don't know, the F1 app offers both F1TV's and Sky's commentators, selectable in-car cameras (as in you can choose your driver), along with timing screens.

I can't imagine Apple offering all this as part of their in Apple TV coverage. Best guess, they'll have either the F1TV commentary re-branded as "Apple" or they may go their own way and find new commentators.

It's a shame; I'll miss being able to select in-car cameras.

Hopefully Apple will make F1TV's archive available... but I'm not holding my breath

 

Clear as mud!

Am I able to view through the app until September 2026???

Your subscription

Considering these changes, this is what it means for your F1® TV Pro annual subscription.

Currently your annual subscription expires on 01 September 2026. After this date you will no longer be able to renew your F1® TV Pro annual subscription.


Where will I watch? Do I get a pro-rated refund if I can't watch on the app??


I am an ALL Apple household, and I HATE it!
Maybe they will change my mind...

 

I bet they are already planning more F1 movies!!!

Apple may have finally jumped the shark. Time will tell.

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They aren’t finished. I suspect the extras alluded to above will be available…..if you upgrade to AppleTV+. There’s always a “+”

 

If I decide to get the AppleTV app, will I be able to watch everything that is on F1TV, including Pre and Post Race Shows, and/or will it be included in the AppleTV app for F1?

 

I don’t know but see #59.

 

As long as I can still get F1 in 4K I'm good. I subscribe to F1TVPro to get the races in 4K so I hope Apple TV brings us 4K with our Apple TV subscription.

 

I've been down this road before with the NHL. I hope this doesn't end up in the same horrible place. The NHL streaming service and app were pretty good. Easy to navigate games and additional content. Then they sold rights to ESPN and it's a nightmare now. So many issues with it. Just last night to switch to my team's broadcast, I needed to scroll through every game available on ESPN starting in 2022 to get to the most recent one. Apple better not screw this up as F1 is already going to lose some fans switching to subscription-only model.

 

Maybe if Disney hadn’t lost billions on terrible movies ESPN could have out bid Apple…..

 

Inevitable, surprised Netflix didn't go for it, considering it was 'Drive to Survive' that got my daughter watching F1.
Not sure why I've kept my Apple TV subscription this long. When 'Morning Show' and 'Slow Horses' finished I'm going to cancel, but wait until the season starts and then re-up. I've never found much to watch, same with Disney. They're counting on laziness and inertia to keep you signed up. Sort of like a gym.

 

Exactly. Subscriptions are all about locking in predictable cash flow, nothing more. I’ve never subscribed to Sirius but some people say they make it very difficult to unsubscribe.