Sky Sports has secured the long-term future of Formula One on its platforms after agreeing a new broadcast extension reportedly worth around UK£1 billion covering the UK, Ireland, and Italy.

The agreement adds another five years to the existing partnership, ensuring Formula One remains on Sky in the UK and Ireland until 2034, while the Italian agreement runs through 2032.

The new deal represents a significant increase in value compared to the previous contract signed in 2022, which was worth UK£645 million. The latest agreement therefore marks an estimated 55 percent uplift, underlining the continued commercial strength of Formula One’s media rights.

Formula One Remains a Premium Broadcast Asset

Under the renewed agreement, Sky subscribers will continue to have access to comprehensive Formula One coverage, including every practice session, qualifying session, sprint race, and Grand Prix across Sky Sports and streaming platform Now.

The partnership also includes coverage of Formula Two, Formula Three, F1 Academy, and Porsche Supercup, reflecting Formula One’s broader strategy of building a year-round motorsport ecosystem around its flagship championship.

The renewal comes amid increasing competition for premium sports rights, with reports suggesting Sky fought off growing interest from streaming platforms eager to secure Formula One content.

Free-to-Air Coverage Continues

Despite Sky retaining exclusive live rights, selected Formula One content will continue to remain available free-to-air in key markets.

In the UK, highlights of every Grand Prix and live coverage of the British Grand Prix will continue to be shown on free television, although a replacement for Channel 4 has yet to be confirmed after its current agreement expires at the end of the season.

In Italy, TV8 will continue broadcasting the Italian Grand Prix live free-to-air.

Growing Audiences Drive Rights Value

The extension follows a period of strong audience growth for Formula One across Europe.

Sky recorded its most-watched Formula One season ever in the UK and Ireland during 2025, while Italian viewership has reportedly increased by 25 percent at the start of the 2026 campaign, driven in part by the emergence of rising Italian star Kimi Antonelli.

Formula One President and CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Sky’s role in the sport’s expansion:
“Sky has always been a dedicated, trusted, and passionate partner since we began our relationship many years ago. Their world-leading approach to live broadcasting, content creation, and behind-the-scenes analysis has made the difference in continuing to grow our sport in the UK, Ireland, and Italy.”

Sky Group CEO Dana Strong added that the broadcaster sees Formula One as a key long-term property within its sports portfolio.
“We’re proud of the role we’ve played in supporting the sport’s growth through world-class storytelling, innovation and long-term investment. This new agreement secures Sky as the home of Formula One for years to come.”

Streaming Pressure Reshapes the Sports Media Landscape

The scale of the extension highlights the increasing value of live sports rights as broadcasters compete with streaming platforms for premium content capable of driving subscriptions and audience retention.

Formula One’s younger demographics, global expansion, and strong digital engagement have transformed the championship into one of the most attractive properties in international sports media.

Interestingly, the new agreement does not include Germany, which formed part of Sky’s previous renewal in 2022. Sky’s German business was acquired by RTL last year, altering the structure of rights negotiations in that market.

A Long-Term Bet on Formula One’s Momentum

The new deal reinforces the confidence both Sky and Formula One have in the championship’s continued growth trajectory.

With new manufacturers entering the sport, expanding global audiences, and increasing commercial investment across sponsorship and media rights, Formula One continues to strengthen its position as one of the most valuable properties in world sport.

As the sport moves deeper into the next decade, broadcasters remain willing to commit record sums to secure long-term access to Formula One’s rapidly growing global fanbase.

Sources: Sportspro