The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, after successfully completing its inaugural race in Portland, Oregon, has unveiled significant partnerships with CBS Network and Roku Media. These alliances aim to bring live Formula E races to a broader audience through multiple platforms in the United States.
Formula E, an all-electric single-seater motorsport championship series, was established as a sustainable alternative to the popular Formula 1 combustion vehicle series. Since its inception in 2014, the championship has gained considerable traction, reaching the pinnacle of motorsport recognition by acquiring FIA world championship status in 2020.
Season 8 introduced an electrifying “knockout” qualifying format, and it also marked the final year of the Gen2 electric vehicles (EVs) used in Formula E. As Season 9 approaches, Formula E has unveiled its cutting-edge Gen3 car, featuring a sleek and aerodynamic design, powered by electric motors from Lucid.
Portland was chosen to host its first-ever Formula E race in December of last year, becoming the sole US event on the 2023 calendar. The recent E-Prix in Portland was met with tremendous success, prompting the championship organizers to announce their return to the city for the upcoming season.
See also: Nick Cassidy Triumphs in Portland ePrix, Takes Formula E Championship Battle Down to the Wire
Today, Formula E revealed that one of the confirmed races for the 2024 season will be broadcasted and live-streamed as part of newly formed partnerships with CBS and Roku.
Under the new broadcast distribution agreement, CBS, Formula E’s existing partner, will extend its coverage to include more live races than ever before. Additionally, Roku, a prominent streaming platform, will serve as the official streaming partner of the FIA Formula E, marking their first foray into live sports event rights.
When the tenth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship commences in January 2024, CBS Television Network will air five races live, simulcast on the Paramount+ app. CBS Sports Network will also dedicate one program per E-Prix round to showcasing race highlights.
See also: FIA Introduces Regulations for Electric Sport Vehicles, Fostering Low-Cost Competitions
Furthermore, The Roku Channel will stream 11 Formula E races live in 2024, offering ad-free content and granting access to the platform’s Sports Experience on the home screen. As both CBS and Paramount+ are already available for download on the Roku platform, Formula E fans will have the flexibility to watch their favorite drivers in the manner they prefer. Aarti Dabas, Formula E’s chief media officer, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership:
“This powerful collaboration with CBS and Roku will significantly expand Formula E’s audience reach and enhance the discoverability of our programming in the USA. We greatly value our ongoing relationship with CBS and are thrilled to join forces with Roku to boost Formula E content on their leading platform.”
Roku, with over 70 million active accounts globally and recognized as the number-one TV streaming platform in North America based on hours streamed, presents an ideal opportunity for Formula E to tap into a vast audience. Despite entering its tenth season next month, Formula E still remains a relatively young motorsport. David Eilenberg, head of content at Roku Media, also emphasized the significance of the partnership:
“We are honored to partner with Formula E in Roku’s inaugural live sports partnership, providing millions of TV streamers with easy access to the thrilling Formula E races through our unique integrated viewing experiences. We look forward to working together with Formula E, as well as our longstanding partners at CBS and Paramount+, to boost viewership for this programming and connect new audiences with the exhilarating world of Formula E.”
See also: Monza Circuit Hosts Historic European Debut of Indy Autonomous Challenge
Apart from the 11 live Formula E races in 2024, Roku users can enjoy an array of electric racing content, including Formula E’s docuseries “Unplugged,” race previews, highlights, and replays.
Season 9 is set to conclude with two races in Rome on July 15-16, followed by the series finale in London on July 29-30. While only Portland has been confirmed as a host city for season 10 so far, further scheduling details are expected to be announced later this fall.