TV rights: F1 will stay with Sky Germany until 2027

Anyone who was hoping for an early return to Formula 1 to the free TV show will likely be disappointed by the F1 management’s press release on Friday (September 30). Tier 1 chiefs negotiated a long-term deal with pay-TV Sky Group. Accordingly, Sky guarantees television rights in Germany and Italy until 2027, in Great Britain and Ireland until 2029.

It is not yet clear if Sky will award more races to the free RTL in the meantime, as it has done so far. According to F1’s official announcement, the pay-TV broadcaster has secured exclusive broadcasting rights for all races. The home race should only be played in parallel on Free TV. However, the return of the German Grand Prix on the calendar is not currently in sight, which of course could change by 2027.

According to those in charge of Formula 1, the audience has changed dramatically in recent years. Ratings continue to rise. In most markets, viewers are also getting younger on average. When the first season makes its rounds, there are now more women watching than ever before.

Sky Germany with stakes record

This also applies to the German Formula One fan community. Sky Deutschland is on track to have the most successful season in pay-TV history this year. Compared to 2021, the range has increased by 21 percent. A new single record was set at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with 1.38 million viewers. According to official figures, half of the audience is under the age of 35. Among the new viewers, 40 percent are women.

As before, in addition to the first category, Sky will also broadcast the supporting series Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Supercup live. Stefano Domenicali, President of Formula One, praised the long-term TV partner: “Formula 1 has grown exponentially in recent years. I cannot imagine a better partner that reaches the masses with impassioned, high-quality and in-depth reporting.”