German public broadcaster ARD is negotiating about the free-to-air TV rights for the Formula 1 from the 2018 season, competing with commercial broadcaster RTL that has been showing the Grand Prix races since 1991.
This is reported by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. RTL’s contract ends after the current season. ARD didn’t want to comment on the issue, arguing that the rights tender was still running.
Liberty Media, the new owner of the racing series, is currently evaluating TV markets worldwide. To grant pay-TV broadcasters more exclusivity, not all races might be shown on free-to-air channels in future.
The responsible people are currently talking both to existing contract partners and interested parties, reports the newspaper with reference to sources close to Liberty Media, adding that a decision regarding the Formula 1 coverage in Germany from 2018 will be made after the racing series’ summer break at the end of August or in early September 2017.
