As the global auto sport explodes in popularity and U.S. media rights for Formula 1 are for the taking in 2023, Netflix, ESPN, and NBCUniversal have reportedly been eyeing the international auto racing circuit.
Insider reported on Monday that the three companies are bidding for a new streaming license for F1, which begins in 2023. NBCUniversal told TechCrunch that it has nothing further to add to the Business Insider story. Netflix did not respond.
Disney-owned ESPN is the only company so far that has confirmed. In a statement to Insider, John Suchenski, Director, Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN, said, “We are aggressively pursuing a renewal — we feel that we have a distribution package and event presentation that can’t be matched in the industry… It has been a mutually beneficial relationship.