The ABB FIA Formula E racing series is expanding its footprint on American television in 2024.
The all-electric open-wheel racing series, fresh from racing before a sold-out crowd for its first race in Portland on June 24, announced a new partnership with CBS Sports on Tuesday. The deal will mean more live races on United States television.
Here’s the skinny:
• Beginning in January 2024, five races will air live on CBS and simulcast on Paramount+, with both channels already featured and integrated prominently on Roku’s platform.
• Roku users who subscribe to Paramount+ can watch the races airing on the service through the Paramount+ app on Roku’s Sports Experience.
• CBS Sports Network will also show one highlights show per race.
• Starting next season, 11 races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be available on The Roku Channel, a free ad-supported streaming service.
The new partnership marks Roku’s first live sports rights acquisition.
“It’s an honor to partner with Formula E on Roku’s first-ever live sports partnership, making it easier for millions of TV streamers to discover the thrill of Formula E races through the unique integrated viewing experiences only available on Roku,” said David Eilenberg, head of content, Roku Media. “We look forward to working together with Formula E, as well as our longstanding partners at CBS and Paramount+, to drive viewership to this programming and to connect new audiences with the exhilarating world of Formula E.”
In addition to offering streams of the live races, Roku will also bring its audience additional Formula E library content, including Formula E’s docu-series Unplugged, race previews, highlights and replays of all races.
“This is a powerful new partnership with CBS and Roku that will dramatically increase Formula E’s audience reach and maximize discoverability of our programming in the USA,” said Aarti Dabas, chief media officer, Formula E. “We value the strength of our ongoing relationship with CBS and are delighted to join forces with Roku and supercharge Formula E content on their market-leading platform.”
Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011. He won several Michigan Associated Press and national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for auto racing coverage and was named the 2000 Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club’s Michigan Motorsports Writer of the Year. A Michigan native, Mike spent three years after college working in southwest Florida before realizing that the land of Disney and endless summer was no match for the challenge of freezing rain, potholes and long, cold winters in the Motor City.
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