Formula 1 Extends Partnership With Canal+ For Exclusive Broadcast Rights Until 2029
April 7, 2022
Formula 1 and Canal+ have announced an extension of their partnership until 2029 for the exclusive broadcast rights of the sport in France.
Since Canal+ became an official broadcast partner of F1 in 2013 it has seen a huge audience tune in for every Grand Prix weekend, with significant increases season after season. The first two Grands Prix of the 2022 season already rank among the top five ratings of all time for Formula 1 events on CANAL+, with 1.42 million viewers tuning into the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX and 1.31 million viewers watching the season-opening FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2022. This builds upon strong numbers in 2021, where CANAL+ saw an average 1.14million viewers for each Grand Prix – an 18% increase on a record-breaking 2020 season, and a 50% increase compared to 2019.
Canal+ continues to bring fans extensive and immersive programming featuring a host of experts, including former F1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Romain Grosjean, as well as experimenting with programming on new platforms, such as Twitch, helping to engage the next generation of fans in France.
As part of the extended partnership, for the first time ever, CANAL+ subscribers will be able to get access to F1TV Pro through myCANAL, in addition to the broadcaster’s array of programming and digital content.
Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1, said:
“We’re delighted to announce the extension of our partnership with Canal+, who will continue to bring F1 action to fans in France as we enter an exciting new era for the sport, and beyond. The increase that we see year-on-year is a testament to the programming that they provide to their audience, as they continue to look for new and innovative ways to engage with fans.”
Maxime Saada, President of Canal+ Group, said:
“We are proud and happy to continue to broadcast the Formula 1 Championship exclusively until 2029. We sincerely thank F1, and in particular Stefano Domenicali, for their renewed trust, allowing us to bring to our subscribers a thrilling competition which keeps increasingly seducing the fans and attracting a wider audience.
For nearly 10 years, we have been bringing an immersive experience, along with world-renowned expertise, endlessly improved by our editorial team, led by Thomas Senecal. F1 has undoubtedly become a must-watch sport for our audience, as evidenced by the 50% increase in viewership over the past two years.”
