LONDON : Formula One announced five-year extensions to its broadcast partnerships with Sky in Britain, Ireland and Italy on Wednesday, securing long-term television coverage in key European markets.
The new agreement will keep Sky as the broadcaster for Formula One in the UK and Ireland through the 2034 season, while Sky Italia’s deal has been extended until 2032.
Financial details were not disclosed, although sources indicated the UK and Ireland extension was worth around 200 million pounds ($272 million) annually, making it a deal worth about 1 billion pounds overall.
The previous UK and Ireland agreement with Sky, owned by Comcast Corporation, had been due to expire in 2029, while the Italian contract ran through 2027.
Live coverage of the British Grand Prix will continue to be available free-to-air in Britain, with the Italian Grand Prix also remaining free-to-air in Italy.
Formula One said viewership in the UK and Ireland had risen by 90% since Sky acquired the rights in 2019, with female audiences more than doubling and viewers under 35 increasing by 120%.
Sky said the 2025 season had become its most-watched campaign yet, generating 162 million viewer hours.
The sport has benefited from a strong British presence on the grid, including reigning world champion Lando Norris of McLaren, Mercedes driver George Russell and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari.
Rookies Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman are also part of the current grid, while Alex Albon races for Williams.
In Italy, Formula One said Sky’s audience figures had risen 25% this year, helped by the emergence of Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli, who has won three of the opening four races to become the youngest championship leader in Formula One history.
“This new agreement secures Sky as the home of Formula One for years to come, as the sport enters an exciting era with more British talent on the grid and rising stars like Kimi Antonelli,” Sky Group chief executive Dana Strong said.
