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Negotiating F1 and MotoGP TV deals together "a non-starter" – Liberty
On April 1, Liberty, an American media giant, confirmed acquiring an 86% ownership stake in Dorna Sports and the MotoGP World Championship for €4.2 billion, with the deal set to close by the end of 2024. This acquisition now places Liberty as owners of two of the most prominent motorsport series globally – Formula 1 and MotoGP. During an investors call, Liberty’s CEO Greg Maffei dismissed the possibility of joint TV deals for MotoGP and F1 due to both regulatory constraints and existing partnerships in F1. However, Maffei expressed confidence in Liberty’s ability to strategically market MotoGP to potential media partners by leveraging insights into the evolving media landscape. With an optimistic outlook, Maffei anticipates a smooth regulatory process for Liberty’s acquisition of MotoGP and indicated the company’s successful track record of expanding F1’s audience through various initiatives since taking over in 2016. While details on growing MotoGP’s fanbase remain undisclosed, Liberty aims to build on the sport’s passionate following and introduce it to a broader global audience much like their efforts with F1.
