Formula 1 is losing massive amounts of TV viewers

The dominance of Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has apparently cost many spectators. This is cause for concern.

29 November 2023

From: dpa/sn

The pay TV channel Sky has lost around twenty percent range in Germany compared to the previous season. In the season of the most important motorsport series that ended on Sunday, an average of 782.000 people watched the races. In the previous year there were an average of 980.000 people. Similar declines can be seen in other European countries, including Italy.

“Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing ensured a year of superlatives in Formula 2023 in 1 and dominated the field like no one before,” said sports boss Charly Classen German press agency. “However, the great performance of the old and new world champions also meant that there was no tension in the title fight.”

Digitally successful

The transmitter RTL had broadcast four races via sub-license in each of the past two years, but decided against a new contract at the beginning of the year after declining TV ratings. The search for one RTL-Successor was unsuccessful, why Sky four races as free-to-air live broadcasts via YouTube, TikTok and Sky Sports showed.

“Our strategy on digital channels was extremely successful,” said the Sky-Sports director: “Over 125 million video views via Sky Sport’s digital channels mean a new record and a tripling compared to the previous season.”