Apple Eyes $140 Million Bid for U.S. F1 Broadcast Rights — Sports Streaming War Heats Up

October 8, 2025 — According to a recent report by Puck, Apple is preparing to make a major move into live sports broadcasting. Following its investment in the Formula 1-themed movie “F1: Apex”, the tech giant now aims to secure exclusive or primary broadcast rights for the U.S. Formula 1 Grand Prix, with a deal valued at $140 million per year (roughly $99.9 million USD). Sources suggest that negotiations are nearly complete, and an announcement could come as early as next week.

If finalized, Apple would take over from ESPN, which currently pays around $90 million annually for the rights. Apple’s significantly higher offer demonstrates its growing ambition to expand its Apple TV+ platform beyond scripted content and into premium live sports.

Insiders say Apple is pushing for exclusive rights in the U.S. market — meaning that F1 TV would have to halt its own broadcasts in the region, allowing Apple TV+ to become the sole streaming platform for American viewers. Unsurprisingly, F1 TV is reluctant to give up this lucrative space.

It remains unclear whether Apple plans to include F1 coverage within its TV+ subscription or offer a separate “Season Pass” similar to its MLS model. Either way, details of the deal are expected to be revealed during the Austin Grand Prix, October 17–19.

This move signals a new era in the sports streaming battlefield. With Netflix thriving through sports documentaries, Apple appears ready to race full throttle into live sports dominance.