F1 streaming rights: Apple’s wild card for tomorrow’s event?

In a statement today, Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang all but confirmed a deal with Apple for the U.S streaming rights for Formula 1. Now the question is: when will Apple announce it?

Relatively soon

Since F1: The Movie premiered, speculation quickly turned into reports that Apple had been negotiating with Formula 1 parent Liberty Media to acquire the rights to broadcast the 2026 season on Apple TV+ in the United States.

Following reports by the Financial Times, Business Insider, and Puck that accounted for the increasing probability that Apple would land the deal, a statement by Chang today at the Goldman Sachs Communcacopia & Technology Conference left very little room for interpretation, as reported by Deadline:

“I think it’s been pretty well-documented in terms of the negotiations, we are pretty far along, and we’re pretty happy and comfortable with sort of where we’re going to end up. (…) Hopefully we’ll have something to talk about relatively soon.”

Chang was careful not to mention Apple by name, but the point is that he didn’t have to. Apple has long been seen as the leading candidate to take over the rights after ESPN, and it’s hard to read his comments as referring to anyone else.

But how soon is relatively soon?

Considering Chang’s choice of words, it is conceivable that the deal could be announced tomorrow, during Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event, which is arguably the company’s biggest stage of the year.

Given the success of F1: The Movie, following Apple’s heavy marketing push for its highest-profile film to date, it would be fitting to see Apple take a, uhm… victory lap, celebrating the theatrical run, and unveiling the streaming rights for the next season.

And while they’re at it, it wouldn’t hurt if Apple finally gave us a streaming date, especially since the film has already been available for on-demand purchase and rental for the past few weeks.

Apple TV+ is available for $12.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo.

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