There is a lot going on with Formula 1 broadcasting rights in German-speaking countries: RTL has confirmed that the end of 2020 will end GP reporting, after thirty years, the races will be shown on the pay channel Sky, only four World Cup races will be on free television to be enjoyed. In Austria, the situation beyond 2020 is unclear.
The initial situation: At ORF, the current Formula 1-1 team is hoping for an extension of the contract with the F1 management. This contrasts with the targeted savings of 75.5 million euros in 2021, which would mean a budget cut of 6 to 14 percent for all areas of the company, as was announced last week by the Board of Trustees to the Salzburger Nachrichten.
This means that the millions for other Formula 1 rights are probably difficult to get through in a state radio that was extremely friendly to the turquoise-green government in corona times. And in which there are few Formula 1 fans outside of the sports department – even if there will be no replacement program for Sunday afternoons with 400,000 to 700,000 viewers and 40 percent market share if the F1 broadcasts are dropped.
There is an alternative for Formula 1 promoter Chase Carey in Austria. And that’s called ServusTV, the channel from Red Bull, which also maintains two Grand Prix teams (Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri), an F1 circuit (Red Bull Racing) and a Grand Prix (directly or through its minority owner) ( soon even in double payment). The American knows what he says about «Mr. Red Bull »Dietrich Mateschitz has: A reliable partner who also saves him the late start to the season with great effort. There could already be a certain bonus for a TV contract.
Last February Mateschitz recorded on the topic of Formula 1 on ServusTV at the Salzburger Nachrichten: «We are basically not a sports broadcaster. But we have to think carefully about such an option. Formula 1 rights are always interesting for a broadcaster, but we cannot say anything about it now. We have to wait and see how the ORF decides and what Sky does. It just depends on the market situation. We watch them and they always have to be interesting. »
ServusTV (as part of the Red Bull Media House) will broadcast the MotoGP-WM on the German broadcasting area on free television until the end of 2023, under a five-year contract. In Austria, ServusTV has had MotoGP live rights since the beginning of the 2016 season.
It should come as no surprise that ServusTV would announce the latest coup in Spielberg next weekend. Or are there even two great pieces of news – there is nothing to be said against extending the agreement to host the Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring, the first seven-year contract expires in 2020.
Series promoter Chase Carey will appreciate every organizer who dares to do Formula 1 financially, especially after the Corona year.
