NBC Sports Buys US Right to Air Formula One

NBC Sports signed an exclusive four-year deal to broadcast Formula 1 racing in the United States starting in 2013.

Felipe Massa of Ferrari drives during the Formula One Korean Grand Prix, October 14, 2012. NBC Sports will be the sole U.S. carrier of F1 races starting in 2013. Clive Mason/Getty Images

NBC Sports signed an exclusive four-year deal to broadcast Formula 1 racing in the United States starting in 2013.

NBC Sports, which already airs IndyCar racing, will broadcast four races on its NBC network and the remaining 16 on the cable-only NBC Sports network. All the races will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra.

“We are thrilled to add the top international open-wheel racing series to our already-strong motorsports portfolio,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Formula 1 is a perfect fit for the NBC Sports Group as it provides content across three platforms—broadcast, cable and digital—for nine months a year with more than 100 hours of premier programming annually.”

That 100 hours of coverage should include pre-and post-race analysis, qualifying, and perhaps some practice sessions.

F1 has been on Speed-TV since 1995, and its coverage has generally been excellent, with live practice and qualifying sessions on cable; the cable channel has set the bar high for F1’s new broadcast partner.

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