'Great News' for F1's Return to Germany? Domenicali Speaks Out
Jun.29 - A major development in Formula 1 television broadcasting could be good news for the fallow German market.
Compared to the Michael Schumacher-powered heyday featuring multiple local drivers and two grands prix in the country, the popularity of the sport has totally collapsed in Germany.
At least part of the problem, especially in more recent years, has been the broadcasting situation - with Formula 1 disappearing from free-to-air TV screens.
RTL, the long-time free-to-air F1 broadcaster in Germany, has at least brought some live grand prix action back to the everyday loungeroom in a deal with pay channel Sky Deutschland - involving 7 race weekends in 2025.
And Bild newspaper now reports that RTL is 100 percent acquiring Sky Deutschland.
"Naturally, we still need the green light from the federal cartel office," F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali confirmed, "but this is great news for our sport.
"The synergy can help give the German market a boost - and that's what we all want."
Hans Mahr, a well-known RTL figure, is also enthusiastic.
"RTL's promotional power is obvious and will ensure another boom in Formula 1."
Reports suggest the Sky Deutschland acquisition is costing RTL 150 million euros - and almost 400 million extra if the RTL share price rises to 70 euros.
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Neither Hockenheim nor Nurburgring has a concrete return chance, even on a bi-annual basis (which ultimately benefitted neither in the long haul), with more lucrative long-term location options on the table as well as existing & very recent European locations in a better position for the purpose.
A TV broadcast situation is a totally separate matter from the hosting fees, etc., so more or less entirely irrelevant.
i think about 85M people in Germany and RTL is one of the top channels (and a very large company) so, if anyone can make F1 popular in Germany itll be RTL, as always it was the sky subscription for F1 that killed it in Germany,RTL can do it for a better price so the deal makes sence
Laura Winters. Youthful exuberance, knowledgeable, articulate, very entertaining, a pleasure to listen to and she gets replaced by a middle-aged media robot with no personality and who is really no fun at all. "Unlike Laura, I won't be making predictions." Wow! Zero fun. Zero personality. Plus, pants-suits? I don't want Hillary Clinton feeding me F1 reports. We lost Buxton to Indy (Where he's doing a great job). I don't know where Ruth might be, but she would've been a far better choice if Laura needed to go and do not think she did. I want to be entertained. That's why I pay for F1 TV, but no more. I'm switching to Indy and whatever other motorsport is not covered by as capricious a company as F1 TV.
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Hillary Clinton and pant-suits…well done, thank you.
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