Sky has announced a new multi-year extension of its broadcast deal with Formula 1, making it the official broadcaster of the sport in all Sky markets.
Sky UK & Ireland will remain the exclusive home of Formula 1 until 2029, having first entered partnership with the sport in 2012 when it acquired the rights from the BBC.
The British broadcaster will provide exclusive live coverage of all races, qualifying and practice sessions on Sky Sports F1, which is available across its Sky platforms, NOW and WOW.
Live home nation races, including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and highlights of all other races will be shared on free-to-air television via Channel 4.
Sky will also introduce new viewing options, offering a multi-screen and second-screen option for viewers, allowing them to track a specific driver’s position on the circuit or select a driver’s on-board camera.
Outside of the UK, Sky Germany and Italy will retain rights until 2027 with greater exclusivity.
“Since the beginning of our relationship in 2012 we have both strived to bring the excitement, emotion, and drama of Formula 1“
STEFANO DOMENICALI, FORMULA 1
Stephen van Rooyen, Executive Vice President & CEO, Sky UK & Europe, said, “Every race. Every moment. Every twist and turn. All exclusively live on Sky for years to come! Formula 1 continues to break records on Sky, with millions more watching than ever before across our markets, driven by new younger and female fans which is fantastic for the sport.
“More than 80 countries will continue to enjoy our world class analysis and content of one of the most exhilarating sports in the world.”
Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said, “We are incredibly proud of our long-term partnership with Sky, and we are delighted to announce that we will continue working together until 2029, a very important commitment from Sky. Since the beginning of our relationship in 2012 we have both strived to bring the excitement, emotion, and drama of Formula 1 to our traditional fans while engaging new and more diverse audiences.
“Formula 1 has seen huge growth in recent years, and I can’t think of a better partner to continue to reach our fans with dedicated, expert and in-depth coverage. Sky not only brings fans live coverage but a range of behind-the-scenes access and content that brings F1 to life. We are hugely excited about the future of the partnership and the journey of Formula 1.”
Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation, Formula 1, said, “Since Sky joined Formula 1 in 2012 the scale and the quality of their F1 content has continually increased. This new agreement with Sky reflects our long-term partnership and shared ambition to grow Formula 1 to new audiences and markets.
“In recent years we have returned to historic venues such as Zandvoort, and brought in new and exciting races such as Miami and of course Las Vegas next year. I am delighted that Sky will continue to be with us through this exciting era of our sport.”
The UK’s Sky Sports F1 received a BAFTA for its coverage of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale, in which Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the title.
Image: Shutterstock