NBC SPORTS GROUP & FORMULA ONE MANAGEMENT AGREE ON FOUR-YEAR EXCLUSIVE U.S. MEDIA RIGHTS PARTNERSHIP
Agreement Includes All 20 Formula 1™ Grand Prix Races, Qualifying, Practice Sessions, Studio Programming & Re-Airs
More than 100 Programming Hours to be Televised Annually across NBC & NBC Sports Network Beginning in 2013
All F1™ Races to be Live Streamed on NBC Sports Live ExtraNEW YORK – Oct. 15, 2012 – NBC Sports Group and Formula One Management, the top international open-wheel racing series promoter, announced a four-year partnership today that begins with the 2013 season and provides NBC Sports Group with exclusive U.S. media rights to all Formula 1™ Grand Prix races, qualifying and practice sessions on all platforms and devices.
NBC Sports Group will televise all 20 F1™ races — four on NBC and 16 on NBC Sports Network — as well as qualifying, practice sessions, studio shows and re-airs that amount to more than 100 hours of programming annually. The Grand Prix of Canada in June as well as the final three races of the 2013 season in November will air on NBC, while the remaining 16 races will air on NBC Sports Network.
All 20 F1™races will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, the NBC Sports Group’s live-stream platform that is available online at NBCSports.com as well as on mobile and tablet apps.
“We are thrilled to add the top international open-wheel racing series to our already-strong motorsports portfolio,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Formula 1 is a perfect fit for the NBC Sports Group as it provides content across three platforms – broadcast, cable and digital – for nine months a year with more than 100 hours of premier programming annually.”
“NBC and its various media assets have a huge profile throughout the United States and I am obviously delighted to have concluded this agreement. I feel that they will promote Formula One to a level not seen before in the United States,” said Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Group™ CEO. “I very much look forward to working with NBC. Together, we will endeavour to broaden the scope of Formula One coverage available to U.S. viewers incorporating additional digital content in particular that has not been available before.”
The 2013 F1™ Grand Prix schedule includes 20 races in 19 countries from March through November, including the Austin, Texas, race on Sunday, November 17 on NBC. The 2013 season begins on Sunday, March 17 in Australia on NBC Sports Network and concludes on Sunday, Nov. 24 in Brazil on NBC. NBC’s first race will be the Grand Prix of Canada, which will be broadcast on Sunday, June 9. The famed Grand Prix of Monaco is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, on NBC Sports Network.
Additional programming and scheduling information, as well as on-air commentators, will be announced at a later date.
2013 FORMULA 1™ SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE; TIMES TBA)
Date Grand Prix Network* Sunday, March 17 Australia NBC Sports Network Sunday, March 24 Malaysia NBC Sports Network Sunday, April 14 China NBC Sports Network Sunday, April 21 Bahrain NBC Sports Network Sunday, May 12 Spain (Barcelona) NBC Sports Network Sunday, May 26 Monaco NBC Sports Network Sunday, June 9 Canada NBC Sunday, June 16 TBD NBC Sports Network Sunday, June 30 United Kingdom NBC Sports Network Sunday, July 14 Germany NBC Sports Network Sunday, July 28 Hungary NBC Sports Network Sunday, Aug. 25 Belgium NBC Sports Network Sunday, Sept. 8 Italy NBC Sports Network Sunday, Sept. 22 Singapore NBC Sports Network Sunday, Oct. 6 Korea NBC Sports Network Sunday, Oct. 13 Japan NBC Sports Network Sunday, Oct. 27 India NBC Sports Network Sunday, Nov. 3 Abu Dhabi NBC Sunday, Nov. 17 USA (Austin) NBC Sunday, Nov. 24 Brazil NBC *All races will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, the NBC Sports Group’s live-stream platform that is available online at NBCSports.com as well as on mobile and tablet apps.