ESPN is planning special coverage for this weekend’s F1 U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. This will be the first time ESPN will air F1’s annual stop in the U.S. since its new media-rights deal started this year. Plans include Nicole Briscoe reporting on-site for “SportsCenter” and ABC meteorologist Rob Marciano reporting on site for “GMA,” including a possible feature on Lewis Hamilton. ESPN is expecting to show video this weekend from the F1 fanfest events that will be held Saturday and Sunday in Miami. ESPN’s F1 deal is unique in that ESPN channels will use Sky Sports’ commercial-free feed for race coverage.
ESPN VP/Programming & Acquisitions John Papa said, “We want to continue to serve the avid Formula 1 fan because they’re going to find it and be with us. Our goal to grow it is to try to find that next layer of fans -- the ones who might not be avid Formula 1 fans, or who are just casual sports fans: ‘How do we get them to tune into F1?’ You’re going to see this upcoming week that we’re going to have extensive coverage plan leading up to the race (to try to help accomplish those goals).” Pre-race coverage starts on Sunday at 1:30pm ET on ABC before the race starts at 2:10pm.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton appeared on ABC’s “GMA” this morning, with co-host Michael Strahan calling him a “racing superstar.” Strahan: “Your life has changed so much, but also the life of Roscoe and Coco, your bulldogs. ... They have over 100,000 Instagram followers.” Hamilton said Roscoe is a "Hollywood star now" that he has “had his first Domino's Pizza commercial” (“GMA,” ABC, 10/16).
