Formula E puts faith in Disney+ to convert new audiences with streaming deal - BlackBook Motorsport
· Cian Brittle · 2026-08-13T00:57:51+00:00 · nguồn gốc
- Formula E will be available in 144 territories on the streaming platform
- Rights include practice, qualifying and race coverage, as well as dedicated shoulder programming and highlights shows
- In the US, the series will also stream on ESPN+
Formula E is prioritising reach over exclusivity through its new global streaming deal with Disney+, according to the series’ chief media officer Michaella Snoeck.
The multi-year agreement, which officially gets underway from the start of the 2026/27 season, will cover 144 territories around the world and sit alongside the all-electric series’ existing portfolio of free-to-air (FTA) and linear broadcast partners.
“This is not just the global home, we have multiple partners in multiple markets,” Snoeck told BlackBook Motorsport. “It is a much broader and wider ecosystem and want to obviously reach as many fans as possible. So there’s always going to be a blend of either free-to-air or pay [TV] in each respective market.”
The deal includes the rights to every practice session, qualifying session, and race, as well as dedicated shoulder programming, race highlights, and behind-the-scenes content.
Snoeck also confirmed there are multiple announcements still to come in regards to Disney’s plans with the property and did not rule out the prospect of wider collaboration outside of the live coverage of each Formula E race weekend.
There was no confirmation of whether there was a rights fee involved in this deal, suggesting that the series is prioritising reach in lieu of direct revenue.
In the US, Formula E will stream on both Disney+ and ESPN+, which Snoeck called a combination of “the masters of storytelling” and “the masters of sport”. Indeed, ESPN is the most relevant platform for sports in the US and Formula E joins its portfolio at a time when it has just lost the Formula One rights to Apple.
Disney+, however, does not have a reputation for sports broadcasting – although, this could present an opportunity for Formula E thanks to the current lack of competition from other live sports on the platform.
Disney no longer publicly reveals its subscriber numbers, but the last disclosed figure in September 2025 was 131.6 million paid subscribers around the world. However, this total does not include the Indian market following the JioHotstar merger, which closed in February 2025.
Formula E will be available as Disney+ content is integrated into this new platform in India. However, one major market this deal does not cover is China as Disney+ is not available in the region.
Still, no sport currently has a comparable global streaming deal which places Formula E in a unique position for accessing new audiences around the world.
“As you say, there isn’t a deal of this nature yet [in wider sport], but I think that might come,” Snoeck explained.
“Obviously it creates a unique opportunity because all of our deals were coterminous to the back end of the year. This has been a long time coming for the business to craft something like this, and this sits alongside our other deals.
“We want to be able to expand the partnership not only with Disney but with our existing broadcast [partners], and specifically where we race. So we’d love to be in a position whereby we activate with ITV in and around the London race, but we’re also activating with Disney at the same time.
“We’re going to broaden out that ecosystem quite widely, it creates an incredible opportunity for our business and we’re super excited for the future.”
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