Liberty Media Firm on Separate Negotiations for F1 and MotoGP TV Deals
In a recent announcement, Liberty Media, the American media giant, revealed its acquisition of an 86% ownership stake in Dorna Sports and the MotoGP World Championship, marking a monumental €4.2 billion deal. With this acquisition, Liberty now holds the reins of the world’s two most prominent motorsport series: Formula 1 and MotoGP.
During an investors call following the announcement, Liberty CEO Greg Maffei addressed speculations about potential joint TV deals for MotoGP and Formula 1, asserting that such negotiations are off the table primarily due to regulatory constraints.
Maffei emphasized that while Liberty possesses valuable insights into the evolving media landscape, any discussions regarding combined TV deals for MotoGP and Formula 1 would not proceed due to the intricacies of existing partnerships and regulatory considerations.
He stated, “The one thing we will not be doing is negotiating MotoGP and Formula 1 together, both because of the regulatory issues and because of the structure of our deal with our F1 partners and teams. So, that’s a non-starter.”
Despite this stance, Maffei expressed confidence in Liberty’s ability to effectively market MotoGP to potential media partners, leveraging their understanding of evolving media consumption patterns.
Addressing concerns about regulatory approval for the MotoGP acquisition, Maffei affirmed his belief that the process would proceed smoothly through anti-trust regulators.
While Liberty refrained from disclosing specific plans to expand MotoGP’s fanbase, Maffei highlighted the company’s successes in broadening Formula 1’s appeal since acquiring it in 2016. He pointed to initiatives such as collaborations with Netflix, increased engagement on social media platforms, and innovative fan experiences, all aimed at enhancing accessibility and excitement surrounding the sport.
Maffei concluded by expressing a commitment to showcasing the excitement of MotoGP to a wider audience, mirroring the strategies implemented successfully within the Formula 1 ecosystem. He acknowledged the passionate fanbase of MotoGP and emphasized Liberty’s goal to expose the sport to a broader global audience, akin to the strides made in Formula 1.
In essence, while joint TV negotiations for MotoGP and Formula 1 remain off-limits, Liberty Media remains steadfast in its commitment to maximizing the potential of both premier motorsport series in the evolving media landscape.
