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F1 could be set to team up with the popular internet streaming service Netflix. Germany's Welt newspaper reports that Liberty Media is in talks with the American internet company, with a deal having the potential to revolutionise how F1 is broadcast.
"Liberty Media has been trying to expand the presence of formula one in multimedia channels," said F1's commercial boss Sean Bratches. "We are talking to Netflix about a collaboration from 2018 onwards," he added.
Bild newspaper also quoted Bratches as saying: "The internet is of great importance to us. We are in the development phase." The reports said a deal for live broadcast rights is not initially likely, with Netflix expected to instead show other feature content, highlights and replays.
"We've seen a lot of activity this year," said McLaren boss Zak Brown, who is a F1 marketing expert. "They (Liberty) are trying new things, really engaging with the fans. If we get that right and have hundreds of millions of fans around the world, that creates an eco-system for more sponsors and healthier teams," he added.
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Replies (5)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
This would be really cool...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yes please. Regular TV media need the competition, and Netflix is widespread enough that it'd be serious competition for them.
KK-race
Posts: 1
Great idea. I’ll use it.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
I don't see them doing this at all in terms of showing the races. I could see them doing a recap show, and some documentary like specials. But not the races. I'm also sure that would violate most all of the contacts they currently have in place. Not to mention they would be putting all their eggs in one basket.
I could, however, see them doing their own streaming network in time similar to the WWE Network, UFC Fight Pass etc.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It wont if they have the Netflix deal alongside the regular TV deals. The thing about Netflix is that it is a sort of in-between between regular channels and the pay channels Ecclestone oh so loved to deal with. They'll pay better than regular channels, but have a wider spread and is far more accessible than pay channels. A Netflix account also tend to be much cheaper.