Now Streaming: Apple announces five-year broadcast partnership with F1

“Now Streaming” is The Fly’s weekly recap of the stories surrounding the biggest content streamers.

PLAYING THIS WEEKEND: Among the most notable new streaming content this weekend is season 3 of American political thriller series “The Diplomat,” which is available on Netflix (NFLX). Also available on Netflix this weekend is animated espionage action series “Splinter Cell: Deathwatch,” which is based on the Ubisoft (UBSFY) video game franchise. Meanwhile, Hulu subscribers can catch true crime drama miniseries “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” starring Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette, while Apple TV (AAPL) users can watch the new season of comedy series “Loot,” starring Maya Rudolph.

APPLE/F1: Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year partnership that will bring all F1 races exclusively to Apple TV in the United States beginning next year. “The partnership builds on Apple’s deepening relationship with Formula 1 following the global success of Apple Original Films’ adrenaline-fueled blockbuster F1 The Movie, the highest-grossing sports movie of all time. United by a commitment to innovation and fan experience, the partnership sets the stage for Formula 1’s continued growth in the U.S. Apple TV will deliver comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, with all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix available to Apple TV subscribers. Select races and all practice sessions will also be available for free in the Apple TV app throughout the course of the season. In addition to broadcasting Formula 1 on Apple TV, Apple will amplify the sport across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+. Apple Sports – the free app for iPhone – will feature live updates for every qualifying, Sprint, and race for each Grand Prix across the season, with real-time leaderboards, season driver and constructor standings, Live Activities to follow on the Lock Screen, and a designated widget for the iPhone Home Screen,” the company stated.

After Apple announced the deal, replacing Disney’s (DIS) ESPN, a person with knowledge of the matter told Financial Times’ Samuel Agini the deal cost $700M, or about $140M a year, which is a significant increase from the $85M per year paid by ESPN.

APPLE TV/PEACOCK: Apple and NBCUniversal (CMCSA) announced the launch of the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle, available beginning October 20. “The first-of-its-kind bundle offers the services’ complementary array of award-winning originals, marquee live events and sports, beloved franchises, and blockbuster movies, including Ted Lasso, Severance, The Paper, The Traitors, How to Train Your Dragon, the NBA, F1 The Movie, and much more, all through one convenient monthly subscription. Customers in the U.S. can save over 30 percent by subscribing to the Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle for $14.99 per month, or Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus for $19.99 per month, through either app or website. Apple One subscribers on the Family and Premier plans can subscribe to Peacock Premium Plus and receive a 35 percent discount – the first benefit of its kind for Apple’s all-in-one subscription bundle,” Apple stated.

SPOTIFY/NETFLIX: Earlier this week, Spotify (SPOT) stated in a post to its blog: “Early next year, your favorite video podcasts are getting a bigger stage. Spotify and Netflix are teaming up to bring sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer to Netflix to complement the streamer’s existing programming and unlock new audiences and wider distribution for the shows. Audiences will be able to watch select Spotify Studios and The Ringer video podcasts on Netflix starting in early 2026 in the US, with more markets to follow. This collaboration offers fans more ways to connect with the stories and voices they love. It’s a celebration of creators and a powerful step forward in how their work reaches the world.”

AMC/NETFLIX: Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Entertainment (AMC), stated in a post to X: “This is real news. Announced yesterday. AMC AND NETFLIX ‘Netflix, the world’s largest streaming service, and AMC Entertainment, the world’s largest theatre chain, have jointly decided to work together. This new cooperation will start this Halloween weekend. AMC will show Netflix’s most-popular movie in its history, KPop Demon Hunters. It will play on approximately 400 AMC screens across its theatres in the U.S. and Europe. While the two companies have not had a commercial relationship in recent years, both Netflix and AMC are intrigued by the mutually beneficial opportunities that could arise from this and future collaboration. Discussions are underway as to what that may entail, but no further details are being shared at this time.'”

NETFLIX/WEDBUSH: In a note to investors earlier this week, Wedbush said that while Netflix no longer reports subscriber additions and revenue per member metrics, the firm’s survey results, data, and advisors suggest that subscriber growth continues, subscribers have absorbed the price increases with little resistance, and Netflix’s advertising engine is beginning to hum. Wedbush expects ad revenue to become Netflix’s primary revenue driver beginning in 2026. Netflix can accelerate ad revenue contribution for the next several years by adding and improving live events, enhancing ad targeting, expanding ad partnerships, and broadening its content strategy, the firm argues. Its premium and ad subscribers are engaged, and churn is limited. As Netflix grows, its contribution margin can easily exceed our estimates, driving outsized free cash flow, it adds. As such, Wedbush reiterated an Outperform rating on the stock with a price target of $1,500 on the shares.

ELLISON/WARNER BROS.: Media mogul David Ellison is preparing to finally submit an official merger bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), On The Money has learned, New York Post’s Charles Gasparino (PSKY) might bid for WBD – could disclose a takeover bid as soon as this week for the owner of the Warner Bros. studio, HBO and CNN, sources close to the situation said.

STOCK PLAYS: Other publicly traded companies in the space include Amazon (AMZN), FuboTV (FUBO), Fox (FOXA), Roku (ROKU), and AMC Networks (AMCX).