Formula 1 hammer: some of the races on free TV - but the broadcaster has a big problem

RTL is not turning its back on Formula 1 completely.

The private broadcaster is there for four races - but faces a problem.

• From mid-1991 until the end of 2020, RTL broadcast all Formula 1 races live on free-to-air television.

• The pay-TV channel Sky secured the exclusive rights for the coming season. 

• But now the Cologne-based private broadcaster has secured the free TV broadcasting rights for four races.

Update from February 20, 12:02 p.m.:

RTL's

U-

turn is certainly gratifying for some German Formula 1 fans.

But the Cologne broadcaster has a problem - the team of moderators and reporters has already disbanded.

Kai Ebel, Florian König, Christian Danner and Heiko Wasser were part of the Formula 1 inventory, but have already signed other contracts.

Can that real racing feeling arise without the quartet?

According to media reports, RTL plans to win the trio back for the four races.

The position of the expert could, however, be filled: According to rumors, Nico Rosberg will analyze the races.

Formula 1: U-turn at RTL - Vettel and Co. for four races on free TV

First report from February 17th:

Cologne - U-turn on RTL *.

As

tz

found out, the Cologne private broadcaster will also broadcast Formula 1 * races in 2021.

RTL bought four World Cup runs from rights holder Sky Deutschland *, which the private broadcaster will broadcast on free television.

The U-turn is astonishing because RTL only left the premier class in June 2020 after 30 years.

"The competition for TV rights has changed, the market has partly overheated and thus left the economically justifiable framework that we have set for ourselves," said RTL managing director Jörg Graf, explaining the decision to exit.

Formula 1: RTL shows four races on free TV

It is not yet clear which four of the planned 21 races will be broadcast.

A confirmation should be given next week at the earliest.

According to picture information, the second race of the season will be shown on April 18 in Imola *.

Christian Danner and Heiko Wasser will be broadcast as usual, Florian König will moderate and Kai Ebel will keep the paddock busy as a kind of jack-of-all-trades.

Nico Rosberg will act as an expert.

Timo Glock and Nico Hülkenberg are no longer available.

But why is Sky even selling part of its exclusive rights to the competition?

According to the TV contract with the Formula 1 management, four Grand Prix must be shown on free-to-air television.

Sky could have broadcast these races on its in-house free TV channel Sky Sport News.

The offer from RTL is said to have been simply the most lucrative and convinced the bosses.

This decision is always surprising, as the big competitor was pushed out of the market.

* tz.de belongs to the Ippen-Digital editorial network.