Formula 1® is delighted to announce a new long-term partnership with China Central Television (CCTV).  China’s state broadcaster CCTV will broadcast all qualifying sessions and races live from the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, starting in Melbourne this week.

CCTV will broadcast approximately 100 hours of live coverage across the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season including 60-minute studio programming ahead of each race, offering Chinese fans a large volume of high quality content throughout the season.

Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights, Formula 1:

“We are very happy to bring back Formula 1 on CCTV. CCTV is the dominant broadcaster in China, with more than 1.1 billion people watching its channels each year, offering our sport an extraordinary opportunity for Formula 1 to engage with mass audiences.”

Yath Gangakumaran, Director of Strategy, Formula 1:

“China is a key market for Formula 1 where we have an ambitious plan to significantly grow the fan base and deepen engagement with our sport. Increasing the reach of F1 through this agreement with CCTV is a crucial component of the plan. Alongside this, to engage more on-the-ground, we will launch F1’s first ever multi-day fan festival, taking place in Shanghai ahead of the15^th edition of the Chinese Grand Prix. And in the coming months, there shall be more announcements related to the China growth strategy.”

Fang Gang, Director of Sports Channel, China Central Television：

“Since 1994, the partnership between CCTV and Formula 1 has brought the pinnacle of motorsport to China and a generation of fans grew up with this combination. Formula 1 remains one of the best spectacles on the planet and technical regulations in recent years highlight the sport’s emphasis on sustainability which is close to our company vision. With significant resource and schedule commitment, CCTV will present comprehensive coverage of Formula 1 through CCTV-5, CCTV-5+ (HD) and new media platform (CCTV-5 mobile app) and enable the sport to better engage with the next generation of fans”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Norman Howell, Director of Communications, Formula 1

E: [email protected]

M: +44 (0)7920 181 929

Formula 1 Press Office

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Edelman Press Office

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About Formula 1®

Formula 1® racing began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, as well as the world’s most popular annual sporting series. The 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship™ runs from March to November and spans 21 races in 21 countries across four continents. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1, and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

Formula1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group tracking stock.

The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company: All rights reserved.

About CCTV

China Central Television, abbreviated as CCTV, established from 1st May, 1958, is the national television of the People’s Republic of China. China Central Television Sports Channel (CCTV-5) is the designed channel focusing on sports events broadcast and sports news coverage. With expertise and authorities in reporting sports, CCTV-5 has gained world-class influential prestige. With rich content, CCTV-5 has met the demands from various sports audience. With professional perspectives, CCTV-5 has attracted an enormous stable audience group.

CCTV Sports Plus Channel began broadcasting in High Definition 24 hours a day from 18th August, 2013, station logo as CCTV-5+. By December, 2017, with coverage of a population of more than 611 million people, CCTV-5+ has developed as a professional channel featuring comprehensive coverage, dedicated content, precise position, unique perspectives and relatively high market value.

CCTV-5 mobile app, as the official mobile application for China Central Television Sport Channel, is responsible for synchronously broadcasting content from CCTV-5 and CCTV-5+, holding a wide group of young audience.