Formula 1 Partners With FanCode To Broadcast F1 In India

This has now been furthered, as Formula 1 has teamed up with FanCode to broadcast the 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons in India. In a multi-year deal, it gives the latter company exclusive rights to stream all F1 race weekends, including practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and Grand Prix events124.

Background and Significance

This deal, announced just days before the opener of the 2024 season in Bahrain, can be considered one of the better solutions in time for Indian Formula 1 followers. Over the last few years, there has been an increasing demand for Formula 1 in India, and now the sport is supported by almost 60 million fans across the country. That is interesting inasmuch as half have begun to track F1 in the last four years as such, or the surge has actually gone uphill just in recent times.

This deal becomes all the more important because during the 2023 season, F1 did not have a dedicated media partner in India. Viewers had to resort to F1 TV, the subscription-based official platform of Formula 1. The new deal with FanCode not only provides relatively easier access for them but also promises to increase the popularity of F1 in the Indian market.

FanCode – F1 finds its new home in India.

FanCode, India’s sports streaming platform, has secured the exclusive rights for Formula 1 broadcasting in India for the seasons of 2024 and 2025, respectively34. The deal is inclusive of the following comprehensive coverage of:

All practice sessions

Qualifying sessions

F1 Sprint events

Grand Prix races

This means F1 will provide content across several devices: smart TVs, mobile phones, and tablets—to accommodate the different patterns of viewing by the modern fanbase. 46.

Subscription Options and Pricing

FanCode provides multiple subscription models, suiting various viewer preferences.

Season Pass: Available for ₹599, originally ₹899, thus offering access to all 24 races of the season.

Individual Race Pass: The consumer can buy the pass for specific events at ₹49 per race.

These are far more reasonable prices compared to the earlier F1 TV Pro subscription, which was available for ₹2,499 per year or ₹299 per month.

Impact on Indian F1 Viewership

The deal between Formula 1 and FanCode is bound to make an impact on the viewership of F1 in India:

Better Accessibility: With more affordable pricing and flexible viewing options, one can expect an increase in viewership.

Younger Demographics: With an increasing interest from younger and female supporters, this deal could further accelerate F1’s popularity in these demographics.

Fanbase Expansion: The existing audience of close to 100 million avid sports fans at FanCode is a potential new pool of F1 enthusiasts.

Better Viewing Experience: Hopefully, this will bring better content delivery and a viewing experience from FanCode’s expertise in sports streaming for the Indian F1 fans.

Formula 1 Strategy in India

This deal is part of a broader strategy by Formula 1 to expand its presence in the Indian market.

Tapping into Emerging Markets: F1 sees India as a great opportunity to grow, with its large population and ever-growing interest in motorsport.

Shifting to Digital Platforms: With the help of a streaming service, F1 attempts to move in tandem with changing viewer habits and preferences for the digital consumption of content.

Customized Content: The deal allows for localized content production targeted to the main-based audience in India..

Long-term vision: Considering the two-year deal, it might be the bedrock for involvement in the Indian market for an even longer term.

History of F1 Racing in India

To understand how huge this new broadcasting deal is, it’s important to consider the background of Formula 1 in India:

Indian Grand Prix 2011-2013: F1 has a history in India, which hosted three Grand Prix events from 2011 to 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.

Previous Broadcasting Arrangements: Star Sports had the broadcasting rights for F1 in India from 2016 to 2027, prior to 2023.

Coverage Gap: There were no classic broadcasting options in the 2023 season, with only F1 TV covering races for its subscribers.

This new partnership with FanCode is a different attempt to reach the Indian market after a while of not being easily accessible.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the deal with FanCode brings a lot of opportunities, there are also challenges:

Time Zone Differences: Most F1 races fall at really odd times for viewers in India. FanCode may have to work out replays and highlights since scheduling is a big problem.

Competition from Other Sports: Historically, India is a cricket-dominated market. F1 will have to fight for its share of viewership in the presence of other popular sports.

Building a sustainable fanbase: While interest is on an upward trajectory, the need to actually build and grow a sustainable F1 fanbase in India requires consistent engagement and perhaps local talent or events.

Technical Infrastructure: Quality streaming is a challenge on variable internet infrastructure across India.

Future Growth Potential

The coming together of Formula 1 and FanCode now opens up several avenues for further growth:

Development of Indian Talent: Greater exposure will perhaps raise interest in motorsport among youngsters in India, which someday may see the participation of Indian Formula One drivers or teams in the sport.

Return of the Indian Grand Prix: If viewership and interest grow manifold, that will surely open a door for F1 racing events to return to India.

Sponsorship Opportunities: A growing fanbase for F1 in India could result in more Indian brands joining the sport as team or event sponsors, thus deepening the penetration of F1 into the Indian sporting calendar.

Increasing Coverage: Future deals might include full-value coverage, including dedicated Indian commentary or even analysis shows.

Comparison to the Global F1 Broadcasting Landscape

In a sense, the FanCode deal in India is part of a broader trend in F1’s global media strategy:

Shift to Streaming: In most countries, F1 has moved from traditional broadcasting to streaming.

Market-Specific Deals: F1 is increasingly tailoring its broadcasting arrangements to suit individual markets, as seen with recent deals in Germany, Austria, Spain, and Belgium7.

Long-term rights: Unlike India, where it’s only for two years, some markets have secured longer agreements. For example, ESPN in the United States has rights through 2025.

Accessibility vs. Exclusivity: F1 is working both on making content widely available and keeping premium offerings for the most dedicated sets of fans.

Stakeholder’s Reaction

The announcement is viewed with much exuberance from representatives of Formula 1 and FanCode alike:

Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1, said, “We have found a strong broadcast partner in them with expert knowledge on how we can best serve our 60 million existing fans and reach new audiences in India. Together, we will take our combined expertise to produce premium content that showcases the sporting spectacle that is F1.”14

Yannick Colaco, co-founder of FanCode, said, “Formula 1 is amongst the biggest sporting properties in the world, and we’re delighted to partner with them to bring all the exciting action to millions of fans in India. Other than providing F1 fans with a world-class experience, we look forward to taking the sport to a wider audience across the country.”

Conclusion

This deal between Formula 1 and FanCode is a big milestone in the sport’s attempt to engage with the Indian market. The reach and completeness of coverage this deal promises for F1 races could really push the sport toward huge fan growth in India and solidify its place within the mainstream of sports entertainment in the country.

The broadcasting arrangement in the 2024 season would be closely followed to see what it does for viewership and fan engagement in India. Success of this partnership may shape not only the future of F1 in India but also influence the sport’s broader strategy in emerging markets worldwide.

With an ideal combination of cutting-edge technology, high-stakes tournaments, and a global appeal, Formula 1 is just that kind of vehicle to capture the imagination of sports lovers in India. The deal via FanCode therefore provides a much-needed fillip for this promise of better realizations that can usher in the newest era of motor sport frenzy amongst the citizens of one of the largest and most diversified countries globally.

With the checkered flag waving on this new chapter of F1 broadcasting in India, the race to win the hearts of Indian fans has only just begun. The coming seasons will reveal whether this partnership can successfully navigate the twists and turns of the Indian sports market and cross the finish line as a long-term success for both Formula 1 and its growing Indian fanbase.