German Free-To-Air TV Channel Sport1 Acquires F1 Rights From RTL

German free-to-air TV channel Sport1 "has acquired an extensive F1 sub-license from private TV channel RTL," according to Alexander Krei of DWDL. The new agreement "encompasses exclusive live broadcasting rights to F1's two free practices on Friday afternoons." In addition to the live broadcast rights, Sport1 "will show summaries of the third free practice and the qualifying session on Saturdays, as well as the race itself on Sundays." Overall, the channel "will broadcast up to seven hours of coverage over the course of a grand prix weekend." The deal is valid for the next three F1 seasons until the end of '16. RTL "will continue to live broadcast the race." Whether Sky "will again acquire F1 rights is yet unknown" (DWDL, 1/24).