Business · Companies · 11 hrs ago
RTL and Sky plan to combine German F1 coverage production in 2027
RTL and Sky plan to combine their Formula 1 production in Germany in 2027.
RTL chief executive Stephan Schmitter said the broadcasters currently use separate crews to cover the same races.
The change is intended to reduce costs by producing one shared broadcast signal.
Sky holds the rights to show every grand prix in Germany, while RTL broadcasts selected races on free-to-air television.
Their coverage currently has separate presenters and commentators, but how the existing teams will be organised remains undecided.
The planned production changes may also affect football coverage, including the Bundesliga.
Sky's German F1 rights run through 2027, with rights from 2028 still unallocated.
RTL and Sky plan to combine their Formula 1 production operations in Germany in 2027.
The change is intended to reduce costs and avoid producing duplicate coverage of the same races.
RTL chief executive Stephan Schmitter confirmed that the broadcasters’ separate production arrangements will change next season.
Sky holds German rights to every grand prix, while RTL shows selected races on free-to-air television.
Schmitter has not said how the broadcasters’ existing presentation and commentary teams will be organised.
- Who
- RTL and Sky, with RTL chief executive Stephan Schmitter confirming the planned change.
- What
- The broadcasters plan to combine their Formula 1 production operations in Germany.
- When
- 2027, described by Schmitter as next season.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- To reduce costs and avoid producing two signals for the same event.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
GPFans reported that RTL and Sky plan to combine their Formula 1 production operations in Germany in 2027.
The planned shared production model is set to replace the broadcasters’ separate production arrangements.
Sky’s current German Formula 1 broadcasting agreement is due to run out.
German Formula 1 broadcasting rights for this period have yet to be allocated.
- Broadcasters
- RTL and Sky
- Planned change
- Combine Formula 1 production operations in Germany
- Start
- 2027
- Sky rights
- Every grand prix in Germany
- RTL coverage
- Selected races on free-to-air television
- Sky agreement
- Runs until the end of 2027
What people are saying
Until now, when you watch a Formula 1 race on RTL and Sky at the same time, two different crews produce it. The RTL crew, whom we've all known for 20 or 30 years, and the Sky crew. That will, of course, be different next season.
You can free up enormous resources from sports production by combining all these broadcasts - whether it's the Bundesliga or Formula 1 - because you're only producing one signal. The costs are high when you produce two signals.