Liberty Media, with its shrewd move to acquire Formula One, has turned the U.S. into a fertile ground for the sport, though it’s a bit like trying to plant a rosebush in a desert—still pretty, but you have to water it constantly. The influx of American manufacturers, like Ford and Cadillac, might as well be trying to drive an old Model T in a drag race against a new Formula One car—it’s just not a fair comparison. The Netflix docuseries, Drive to Survive, might have a pulse, but it’s more of a heart attack waiting to happen with its over-the-top drama. Netflix considering a bid for F1’s broadcast rights? It’s like inviting a guest to a party and then wondering if they’ll stick around and pay for the bar. The $90 million annual rights fee? That’s chump change compared to what the sport is worth, but let’s not expect logic when it comes to sports broadcasting deals. ESPN’s rise and fall in popularity has been more dramatic than a soap opera, and now they’re just a ghost of their former self. Netflix might think they’re cool by throwing money at the sport, but it’s like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear—possible, but not very elegant.
Read from: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6129337/2025/02/12/f1-tv-rights-netflix-espn-amazon-streaming/