ESPN is on tempo to register document Method 1 viewership figures for the 2025 season, in what seems set to be its remaining yr as the game’s host broadcaster in america.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza drew a median of 1.2 million viewers on ESPN2 on Sunday, with a peak viewers of 1.4m as Max Verstappen dominated and McLaren instigated workforce orders to nullify a gradual pit cease for Lando Norris. That marks the tenth occasion document of the season, with all however one of many races this yr additionally registering year-on-year positive aspects.
Miami is the one occasion to not exceed final yr’s viewership figures, whereas the Italian Grand Prix now joins the races in Australia, China, Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Nice Britain, Belgium and The Netherlands in setting a brand new document U.S. viewers for every occasion.
The 2025 season is at the moment monitoring at a median of 1.4m viewers per race throughout ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, up on the 2022 document common of 1.21m. With eight races to go, the title combat between the 2 McLaren drivers will come to a head, whereas there are additionally two races in america – Austin and Las Vegas – and the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix nonetheless to run.
Coming into the ultimate third of the season, there’s nonetheless no affirmation of the subsequent holder of the published rights in america, however sources have indicated that Apple TV is well-placed to take over from ESPN, following a year-long negotiation interval. The 2 emerged as the primary bidders earlier this yr, following curiosity from different streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
“I believe it’s been fairly nicely documented when it comes to the negotiations,” Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang mentioned throughout an look on the Goldman Sachs Communcacopia & Expertise Convention this week. “We’re fairly far alongside and we’re fairly completely happy and comfy with the place we’re going to finish up. Hopefully we’ll have one thing to speak about comparatively quickly.
“The extra substantive query is what we’re on the lookout for and what we’ve been on the lookout for? I believe it’s time to speak concerning the media panorama and to not go do a historical past lesson, however as everybody is aware of, prior to now it was like, you do a cope with a media companion and it’s like, ‘OK, there’s many video games or there’s many occasions that you just bought and the occasions are two hours or an hour and a half and that’s the main target and that’s what you’re promoting.’
“Now it’s way more – and this isn’t simply Method 1, however I believe throughout the board – is your media companion even only a media companion? Are additionally they a sponsor? Have they got different ways in which they’re going to monetize and commercialize kind of the connection? On the flip aspect, how are they serving to you kind of do that very same factor?
“Within the U.S., we’ve been on a fairly good development path with Austin after which Miami and now Vegas, which we’re very happy with and really proud of how that’s going. I believe bringing in a companion who amplifies plenty of that for us on an general holistic foundation and driving that engagement with followers is what’s essential.”
ESPN has held the rights within the U.S. since 2018, having taken over from NBC Sports activities early in Liberty Media’s possession of F1.
