Roku secures first live sports deal with Formula E

Streaming device provider and FAST operator Roku has secured its first-ever live sports rights acquisition with Formula E in the US. 

The streamer has signed a US broadcast distribution deal with Formula E which sees CBS expands its existing partnership with the sport organisation.

Per the deal, CBS will air more live races than ever before, with Roku becoming the streaming home of Formula E.

From January 2024, CBS Television Network will air five live races and simulcast on Paramount+, with both channels already featured and integrated on Roku’s platform. Roku users that subscribe to Paramount+ have access to the races airing on the service through the Paramount+ app on Roku’s Sports Experience. CBS Sports Network will also show one highlights programme per round.

The Roku Channel will stream 11 races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and will also be easily accessible through the Sports Experience on Roku’s Home Screen.

Roku’s Sports Experience makes discovering and accessing live, upcoming, and on-demand sports content easier than ever, driving engagement and awareness for Roku’s content partners and creating a personalized viewing experience for audiences. In addition to offering streamers the live races, Roku will also bring its audience a robust offering of Formula E library content, including Formula E’s docu-follow series “Unplugged”, as well as race previews, highlights, replays of all races and more.

Formula E, CBS Sports and Roku announced the multi-year broadcast following the first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race at the Portland International Raceway in Oregon last week.

“This is a powerful new partnership with CBS and Roku that will dramatically increase Formula E’s audience reach and maximise discoverability of our programming in the USA,” says Aarti Dabas, Chief Media Officer, Formula E. “We value the strength of our ongoing relationship with CBS and are delighted to join forces with Roku and supercharge Formula E content on their market-leading platform.”

David Eilenberg, Head of Content, Roku Media, said: “It’s an honor to partner with Formula E on Roku’s first-ever live sports partnership, making it easier for millions of TV streamers to discover the thrill of Formula E races through the unique integrated viewing experiences only available on Roku. We look forward to working together with Formula E, as well as our longstanding partners at CBS and Paramount+, to drive viewership to this programming and to connect new audiences with the exhilarating world of Formula E.”

“Formula E is innovative and exciting racing, and we’re thrilled to expand our partnership and broadcast more live races across CBS and Paramount+,” added Billy Stone, Programming, CBS Sports.