Coupang Play, the streaming service run by South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang, has renewed its exclusive rights in the country to motor racing’s premier Formula 1 (F1) in a multi-year deal.
The renewal builds on Coupang Play’s original deal signed in 2023, which saw it take over F1 rights in South Korea from pay-TV network SBS Sport to broadcast every race from the 2023 season.
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As part of the renewal, Coupang will give streamers the option to watch every session of a Grand Prix weekend live, along with an expansion of its on-site live production offering.
Specifically, Coupang Play’s onsite production team will be present at 10 Grands Prix starting from next year to deliver in-depth analysis, exclusive driver interviews, and special features.
The renewal comes on the back of South Korea becoming the second-largest international market for feature film F1: The Movie, behind China, while F1 claims it has more than five million fans in the country.
John Lee, head of sports at Coupang Play, said: “At a time when the F1 fan base in Korea is growing rapidly, our long-term partnership with F1 marks a significant milestone.
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By GlobalData“Through this collaboration, Coupang Play aims to help F1 connect with more fans in Korea and deliver its unique value to our customers. We look forward to working closely with F1 to capture and share the excellence and excitement that defines Formula 1.”
The renewal consolidates Coupang Play’s live sports portfolio, which recently added the rights to US basketball’s elite NBA competition, with at least seven games per week available to customers with the Sports Pass add-on.
Other top-tier rights it holds include the domestic soccer championships K League 1 and 2, as well as the top-flight soccer competitions of Germany and Spain, and American football’s NFL.
