F1 TV news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
F1's U.S. viewership plunged after moving from ESPN to Apple TV, with Miami down 68%. The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix streams exclusively on Apple TV, reshaping how fans watch.
Background
Formula 1 moved its U.S. broadcasting rights from ESPN to Apple TV starting the 2026 season, with Apple signing an exclusive five-year deal. This shift has led to a significant drop in household reach for most races, as reported by Samba TV. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is the first race after the summer break, with Kimi Antonelli leading the championship by 50 points over Lewis Hamilton.
How it unfolded
- 2026 season startF1's U.S. broadcasting moved from ESPN to Apple TV, with Apple TV becoming the exclusive home for all F1 sessions.
- Aug 20, 2026Formula 1 announced that F1 TV Premium would be included free with Apple TV subscriptions, offering 4K Ultra HD/HDR streaming.
- Aug 22, 2026USA TODAY reported that F1 viewership had plunged, with Miami Grand Prix household reach down 68% and Monaco down 66% compared to last year.
- Aug 23, 2026The Dutch Grand Prix weekend begins at Zandvoort, with Sprint Qualifying on Friday and the main race on Sunday, all streaming on Apple TV.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Samba TV data shows household reach declines for eight of nine races, but minutes watched per household are up significantly, indicating a more engaged but smaller audience.
- Support
- Apple TV's inclusion of F1 TV Premium for free and its broader content library may attract new viewers, as 30% of 2026 F1 viewers hadn't used Apple TV before.
- Caution
- The significant drop in household reach suggests that moving from traditional cable to a streaming platform may have alienated casual fans, potentially impacting the sport's growth in the U.S.
Still unverified
The claim that Zandvoort will host its final F1 race for the foreseeable future is based on a single source and not officially confirmed.