IT之家 10 月 8 日消息，据体育媒体 Puck 前天报道，继成为《F1：狂飙飞车》电影投资商后，苹果正希望获得美国奥斯汀 F1 大奖赛的独家 / 主要转播权， 相关接洽事宜已接近尾声，预计将在下周公布结果。 消息人士表示，这项转播权每年需要耗资 1.4 亿美元（现汇率约合 9.99 亿元人民币），若协议顺利达成则苹果将获得美国地区的 F1 比赛转播权，而这项转 播权此前掌握在 ESPN 电视网络手上，每年大约耗资 9000 万美元（IT之家注：现汇率约合 6.42 亿元人民币）。 同时有知情人士透露，苹果在此次谈判中希望获得美国市场的独家转播权，目前美国的 F1 比赛由 F1 TV 栏目播放，而苹果的立场是，F1 TV 应暂停转播比 赛，使 Apple TV + 成为独家转播平台，但 F1 TV 显然不希望失去这块蛋糕。 此外，目前还无法得知苹果是否会将 F1 比赛直播直接提供给 TV + 订阅会员，还是像 MLS 那样推出额外付费的"赛季通行证"订阅，不过知情人士指出，相 关谈判结果预计将在本月 17-19 日举行的奥斯汀大奖赛公布。 ...

Core Insights - Apple is set to acquire F1's broadcasting rights in the U.S. for up to $150 million annually, a significant increase from ESPN's current $85 million deal, marking a rise of over 70% [1] - The existing F1 broadcasting rights held by ESPN will expire at the end of this year, with Apple emerging as the leading contender after negotiations with other media companies [1][3] - The success of Apple's film "F1: Drive to Survive," which grossed $600 million globally, has contributed to its decision to invest heavily in F1 rights [1][2] Group 1: F1's Market Evolution - F1's broadcasting rights in the U.S. have seen a dramatic increase in value, from $5 million per year in 2017 to the current bidding of $150 million, reflecting its growing popularity [5][7] - The initial low-cost strategy of giving away rights to ESPN was a tactical move to gain exposure, which has since paid off with increased viewership and sponsorship from U.S. companies [5][7] - The introduction of the Netflix documentary "Drive to Survive" in 2019 significantly boosted F1's profile in the U.S., leading to a 66% increase in American sponsors from 2020 to 2022 [5][7] Group 2: Apple's Strategic Positioning - Apple's aggressive bid for F1 rights aligns with its broader strategy to integrate sports content into its ecosystem, leveraging its film production capabilities to enhance F1's visibility [8][10] - Unlike traditional media companies like ESPN, Apple views sports rights as a means to create a comprehensive content ecosystem rather than just a broadcasting opportunity [10][11] - The shift in ESPN's strategy reflects a broader trend of reallocating resources towards more established sports, as it faces challenges in the traditional cable model [11][13] Group 3: Potential Challenges and Opportunities - Concerns exist regarding Apple's ability to maintain F1's growth trajectory, especially if it adopts a closed distribution model similar to its MLS strategy, which limited exposure [14][20] - The future of F1 TV, a direct-to-consumer product under Liberty Media, remains uncertain, as it competes with Apple's ecosystem [20][22] - However, Apple's technological capabilities could enhance the viewing experience for F1, potentially leading to a cultural upgrade for the sport [22][23]