A "vibrant" rebrand, a major bundling pact with NBCUniversal and a blockbuster $750 million deal to nab Formula 1 from ESPN signals a new effort for the tech giant to put its imprint on Hollywood.

John Ourand of Puck reported in February that ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed F1 officials the network would not be renewing its rights deal, which had been worth $90 million annually on a three-year deal signed in October 2022.

Apple just dropped the plus sign from Apple TV. It never made any sense anyway. Inside the company's decision to make this needed change.

Buried in its announcement about "F1: The Movie" making its streaming debut on December 12, Apple has also announced that Apple TV + is being rebranded as simply ‌Apple TV‌.

The news comes from 9to5Google, sharing that YouTube is losing the sport, as it heads to Apple TV. The broadcast of events will be exclusive to Apple TV going forward, as Apple has managed to lock up an exclusive contract for the broadcast rights. This will start in the 2026 season, and will continue for the next five years.

After showcasing its successful approach to covering sports with the MLS Season Pass, Apple TV has picked up another major sporting coup. The brand has just announced a new five-year partnership with Formula One, which will bring the racing franchise to its platform.

Now it's finally confirmed when people will be able to watch the movie for free, since it's been available for digital purchase and rentals for quite a while now. F1 will hit Apple TV on 12 December worldwide, potentially making it a great option for viewing over the holidays.

F1 fans in the United States want to know what the sport's new TV deal means for their access. Our experts discuss this news