MUMBAI: Formula 1 (F1) recently launched its over the top (OTT) platform F1 TV and is now planning to hop on Amazon Prime. With the deal, F1 TV is expected to grow by more than 100 million subscribers, according to Digiday.
The OTT service was launched in the month of May with two service models F1 TV Pro (Live) and F1 TV Access (non-live) at two different price points. F1 TV Pro is priced at of $70-$150 annually, and monthly rates ranging from $8-12.
Formula 1 head of global sponsorship and commercial partnerships Murray Barnett was quoted as saying, “It makes sense for us to be on there (Amazon Prime) because it’s an open platform and we’re already in discussions with them about distribution in the future. In the US we have an agreement with ESPN that allows us to exploit our own OTT service separately so we’ll definitely be on Amazon Prime (there).”
The service would be made available to Prime subscribers in countries where the local broadcaster has given up its exclusive rights under new or renegotiated deals. Formula 1 must negotiate the freedom to launch its OTT service in each media-rights deal it agrees, as broadcasters who agree to the F1 TV launch in their territory lose some exclusivity.
Barnett sees F1 TV as a stand-alone revenue source exclusive of their relationship with the TV partners. “We want to be one of the smarter channels on the Amazon Prime platform,” he added.