Sport1, the German multi-channel free-to-air (FTA) network, has retained rights to show motor racing’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) after renewing its deal for the 2024 season.
Under the agreement, signed with WEC organizer Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Sport1 will show at least two hours live from each race for the 2024 season, with coverage to feature an on-site reporter to bring extra insights for fans.
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The deal excludes rights to air the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race, which is held by US media giant Warner Bros. Discovery and shown via its Eurosport linear channels, as well as its Discovery+ and Eurosport streaming services, as part of a five-year agreement covering 50 European markets.
That race will also be shown free-to-air in Germany by RTL Nitro, the channel of German commercial broadcaster RTL. The channel will also show race highlights following each WEC event.
Main rights to WEC races are held by WBD in 100 international markets across Europe, North America, and Asia in a deal signed in 2021.
The 2024 WEC season starts this weekend (March 1 and 2) in Qatar and will feature eight rounds in five regions, traveling across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North and South America.
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By GlobalDataThe deal was brokered by international sports marketing agency Infront, the long-term exclusive media rights partner of ACO which owns the WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The new deal adds to Sport1’s portfolio of motorsports rights, which includes the ADAC GT Masters series, the Nascar stock car racing series, and Australia’s Supercars Championship.
Outside motorsport, the channel holds rights to domestic soccer’s men’s DFB Pokal cup competition, French soccer’s top-tier Ligue 1, as well as premium live action from the worlds of tennis, ice hockey, darts, and basketball.
The new deal comes a day after it was confirmed Turkish media group Acunmedya struck a deal to buy a stake of 50% in Sport1 for €30 million ($32.5 million).
The tie-up will involve comprehensive content collaboration, with programs made by Acunmedya now finding a German home via Sport1’s channels. The completion of this agreement is still subject to approval from media and anti-trust regulators.
