Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang did “not mention Apple by name” but said yesterday that the company is “‘pretty far along’ in talks with a U.S. media rights partner” for F1, according to Dade Hayes of DEADLINE. Chang said it has been “well-documented in terms of the negotiations, we are pretty far along, and we’re pretty happy and comfortable with sort of where we’re going to end up.” Given recent shifts in the media landscape, Chang added the “more substantive question is what we are looking for” from a partner. He said unlike with conventional sports dealmaking, the current environment begs the question, “Is your media partner even just a media partner, or are they also a sponsor?” He said if it is the latter, the partners “have other ways that they’re going to monetize and commercialize the relationship,” adding that they can help F1 “do likewise.” Hayes wrote just as film “F1″ is “sure to become the top streaming title on Apple TV+” when it lands there later this year, the tech company “sees it as a potential driver of viewer interest in the races on the service.” Chang: “Bringing in a partner who amplifies a lot of that for us on an overall holistic basis and driving that engagement with fans is what’s important” (DEADLINE, 9/8).
