Liberty Media says it is receiving "a lot of interest" from potential partners to secure the rights to broadcast Formula 1's races in the U.S. from 2023 as ESPN's contract comes to an end.
ESPN has been F1's exclusive broadcast partner in America since 2018, but the sport is now seeking a more lucrative deal to capitalize on Grand Prix racing's increasing popularity and footprint in the US.
"This year we’re on ESPN and next year we’re looking for a broadcast partner. We have a lot of interest," Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei told CNBC earlier this week.
"ESPN has been a great partner. They’ve got a very good deal because we’ve had a rise in popularity, and they’ve capitalised on that as well."
Maffei said ESPN could remain F1's US broadcast partner next year, if the Disney affiliate would be willing to sign a new rights deal at "a better price".
"Our hope is we’ll find a great partner going forward, which could be ESPN or it could be somebody else, and is likely to be at a much better price for us," added Maffei.
"It’s hopefully still good for our broadcast partners too."
While F1 continues its talks with US broadcasters, it announced on Wednesday an extension of its partnership with Canal+, with the latter securing the exclusive broadcast rights for F1 in France until 2029!
The subscription provider has been F1's partner in the country since 2013 and has seen steady audience increases season after season.
"We’re delighted to announce the extension of our partnership with Canal+, who will continue to bring F1 action to fans in France as we enter an exciting new era for the sport, and beyond," said Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1
"The increase that we see year-on-year is a testament to the programming that they provide to their audience, as they continue to look for new and innovative ways to engage with fans."
Maxime Saada, President of Canal+ Group, said: "We are proud and happy to continue to broadcast the Formula 1 Championship exclusively until 2029.
"We sincerely thank F1, and in particular Stefano Domenicali, for their renewed trust, allowing us to bring to our subscribers a thrilling competition which keeps increasingly seducing the fans and attracting a wider audience."
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