Channel 4 will continue to broadcast Formula 1 highlights until the end of 2026 after agreeing to an extension with Sky Sports.
As part of Sky’s arrangements with F1, the pay TV broadcaster must make certain aspects of the Grand Prix season available on a free-to-air basis.
Sky has chosen to extend its partnership with Channel 4, now covering the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons.
The free-to-air broadcaster will air live coverage of the British Grand Prix weekend, as well as highlights of every qualifying session, sprint, and Grand Prix over the next three seasons.
Channel 4’s Chief Executive Alex Mahon said “We’re thrilled to have struck another Formula 1 deal with Sky and are delighted to once again bring UK audiences Formula One for free.”
“The partnership between Channel 4 and Sky benefits the British public and allows everyone to get into the sport and brings in new fans and ensures Formula 1 gets much wider reach and prominence with British audiences.”
“Just like British audiences I love that unique Formula One combination of engineering technology, personal humanity, glittering glamour and unbelievable race tension.”
Stephen van Rooyen, CEO Sky UK & Ireland said “Together with Channel 4 we’ve shared some of the most iconic moments in sporting history and our relationship is as strong as ever.”
“The length and nature of this deal shows Sky’s deep commitment to help increase the reach of Formula 1 and continue to support one of the most exhilarating, and fastest growing sports in the world.”
Whisper produces Channel 4’s F1 offering, their existing agreement running until the end of this season. Steve Jones and Lee McKenzie present their output, alongside analysts such as David Coulthard, Mark Webber, and Alice Powell,. Alex Jacques leads the commentary in collaboration with F1 TV.
FTA broadcaster extends arrangement despite tightening purses
Channel 4’s Formula 1 audience has been declining in recent years, with the majority of the Grand Prix fanbase now consuming the sport that they love through Sky.
As the jointly issued press release notes, Sky’s audience has surged in recent years, with 2022 being the most-watched season ever on Sky, experiencing a 49% increase compared to when Sky first began exclusively broadcasting live F1 in 2019.
Sky has also seen an increase in younger audiences, with 28% of viewership now coming from those under 35, compared with 20% in the previous year. However, while Sky has benefited from Drive to Survive, Channel 4 has not.
According to consolidated audience data published by industry website Thinkbox, highlights of the Austrian Grand Prix averaged 1.21 million viewers, a decrease of half a million viewers compared with 2019. Overall, Channel 4’s highlights programme has gradually declined in viewership since 2019.
In recent months, Channel 4 has faced financial constraints due to persistent inflation and the cost of living crisis, with shows such as Naked Attraction, Four Weddings, and The Last Leg impacted.
Despite this, the latest extension between Channel 4 and Sky indicates that sports programming has been unaffected. However, neither party has revealed the financial terms of the latest deal.
It remains crucial to maintain a free-to-air path for F1 moving forward, even if free-to-air audiences are declining. This ensures that an open option is available in the future for championship showdowns or other scenarios to air live.
If you enjoyed this article, consider contributing to the running costs of Motorsport Broadcasting by donating via PayPal. If you wish to reproduce the contents of this article in any form, please contact Motorsport Broadcasting in the first instance.
Motorsport Broadcasting 
Great news for people without Sky ,good news for Channel 4. I’ve followed the sport since the days of Jim Clark, so I don’t need to be patronised by the self important presenters, who seem to think nobody watching knows anything about F1. I agree telling new viewers about the sport is a good thing but not for an hour before the race. Less waffle more action please Channel 4.
Glad to know that I can still watch Formula 1 for a few more years without having to pay for it 🏁
Needs to be more free to air live races 1 is not enough by far
but this F1 coverage is absolutely shocking. The presenters change race-to-race, the quality of coverage changes race-to-race, and the worst is the way Channel 4 allow people to watch it. If you start streaming the highlights after they start, you can’t watch from the start until THE NEXT DAY!!!?????
absolutely shite.