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Disney+ has nabbed global streaming rights in more than 140 territories to ABB FIA Formula E World Championship racing that showcases the state of the art in electric vehicles.
The landmark rights deal for Formula E
— which operates separately from the larger Formula 1 — will bring consistency to the racing league’s TV platforms in 144 markets around the world. In the U.S.. Formula E events will air on ESPN+ (now known as ESPN Select). The streaming pact with Disney+ allows the league to maintain its local broadcast TV pacts in key markets, an optimal situation for the growing league.
“This is a landmark moment for Formula E and reflects the incredible momentum behind our Championship. Disney’s unrivaled global reach and storytelling will introduce Formula E to millions of new fans while bringing them closer than ever to the drama, innovation and excitement of electric racing,” said Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E. Formula E had its inaugural season in 2014.
The move to Disney comes as Formula E prepares to unveil another next-generation electric vehicle, GEN4, which the league describes as “the fastest and most technologically advanced electric racing car ever built.” The vehicle boasts 600 kilowatts of power, equivalent to more than 815 horsepower, and it goes from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 1.8 seconds, about 30% faster than an F1 car, per Formula E.
Formula E is planning a 21-race calendar across 13 locations for the 2026-27 season, starting with Rounds 1 and 2 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Dec. 18-19 and concluding in July in Tokyo. Dodds emphasized the potential for Formula E in partnering with Disney, with its array of consumer relationships around the world.
“As we enter the GEN4 era, [Disney+] provides an exceptional platform to accelerate our global growth and continue building one of the world’s most exciting sports properties,” Dodds said. “We’re also excited by the opportunity to explore additional ways for Formula E and Disney to work together beyond live race coverage, creating even more innovative and engaging experiences for fans in the years ahead.”
Michaella Snoeck, Formula E’s chief media officer, reiterated the importance of being able to maintain local linear TV partnerships alongside Disney’s streaming rights. “This agreement reflects the global
demand for Formula E. Disney’s unprecedented scale complements our valued linear TV broadcast network, allowing us to serve core markets locally while accelerating our digital footprint globally and bringing our fans closer to the action than ever before,” Snoeck said.
Disney’s appetite for Formula E rights underscores the demand for live sporting events, programs are seen as the kind of must-watch TV with racing superfans that keep streaming subscribers in the fold month after month. Formula E’s ethos around sustainability and its status as a for-profit B corporation operated to maximize its social responsibility as a business is also a fit with the Disney brand. Literally, as the Disney+ logo will be riding on a sleek GEN4 vehicle (pictured above) alongside other blue-chip corporate names during the coming season.
“Formula E combines world-class competition, groundbreaking technology and sustainability in a way that’s unlike any other sport,” said Joe Earley, co-president of Direct to Consumer for Disney Entertainment. “We’re excited to help power the championship’s next chapter on Disney+ and to give fans around the globe front row access to every adrenaline-fueled race as it happens.”
