Formula 1 and Sky Italia renew broadcast partnership

Formula 1 has announced the renewal of its partnership with Sky Italia. For the next three years, from 2018 until 2020, Sky Italia will hold the exclusive broadcasting right of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship on TV and digital platforms in the Italian territory.

The new agreement includes coverage of the three free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, qualifying sessions on Saturday afternoon and race on Sunday, all on Sky Sport F1 HD, the channel totally dedicated to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

Also, the main support competitions – the FIA Formula 2 Championship, GP3 Series and Porsche Supercup – will be added to the Sky Sport F1 proposal for the Italian motorsport fans.

Furthermore, at least four of this season’s 21 Grands Prix – including the Formula 1 Gran Premio Heineken d’Italia 2018 – will also be broadcast live and free-to-air on TV8 channel, where the remaining races will be available delayed. Also, Now TV will stream live the whole season.

“We are very happy to have renewed our partnership with Sky Italia for a further three years,” said Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights, Formula 1. “Italy is one of the most important countries in the history of Formula 1, where the passion for our sport is part of the DNA of many people, and it is very important to have reached this agreement which will ensure that all the races will be broadcast live.

“Also, it is crucial to have maintained a free-to-air package of rights, which will always include the Italian Grand Prix, part of the Formula 1 World Championship since its origins in 1950. Sky Italia has shown a great commitment to the sport and will offer the Italian fans a deeper and broader experience than ever before. More hours and more quality analysis across of Sky’s channels and platforms.”

Matteo Mammi, Senior Director, Sport Rights, Programming and Production, Sky Italia, added: “We are thrilled to have renewed our long-term relationship with Formula 1 for the following three years, and we are glad that, once again, Formula 1 has recognized Sky Italia as a key partner for engaging fans and maximizing exposure of F1 brand.

“The new agreement sets a new paradigm in Italy where Sky gets full exclusivity for the first time ever and will broadcast all 21 races of which 17 live on a pay TV basis only. We look very much forward to the partnership and continuing to serve Formula 1 fans in Italy by offering a broader and enriched multiplatform offer, including a multitude of contents via Sky digital and social media accounts.

“F1 is the second sport in Italy in terms of following, deeply rooted in the passion of the Italian sport fans and perfectly fits in our motor sport offer, which is the second pillar of Sky Sport portfolio. We are confident F1 will confirm itself as a mass high rating event throughout the seasons to come.”

Formula 1’s agreement with Sky Italy is added to the others sealed throughout 2017 - among them Australia, France, Germany and United States - and immediately follows those signed in the last few weeks with Movistar+ in Spain and FOX Sports in Latin America.