Rumour: Formula E could be shown on new free TV channel DF1 in Germany in 2024

After the shock withdrawal of ProSieben a few weeks ago, Formula E could have found a new home on German television. According to a report by Motorsport-Magazin, the new broadcaster DF1 may broadcast all races and qualifying sessions of the electric series on free-to-air TV. Talks with major German broadcasters had failed due to the short notice.

Following the cancellation by ProSieben, Formula E initially approached the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF as well as the private giant RTL. However, due to the fact that Formula E will hold 17 races in its tenth season and the 2024 championship will kick off on 13 January already, those broadcasters declined. Although Eurosport holds the rights to show Formula E, it apparently only broadcasts the races on the Eurosport 2 programme behind a paywall, with only highlights currently planned on Eurosport 1.

So Formula E had to look elsewhere and may now have found what it was looking for with DF1. The Munich-based broadcaster launched in 1996 as Germany's first digital TV channel. Just three years later, DF1 merged with Premiere and the name disappeared from the scene for more than 20 years. DF1 will resume operations on 1 January 2024, inheriting the broadcasting slot from Servus TV Deutschland (market share recently only 0.4 per cent).

DF1 does not (yet) want to comment specifically on Formula E

At the request of e-Formula.news, a DF1 spokesperson replied last week that "we do not comment specifically on rumours of this kind". A clear no sounds different. In fact, Formula E doesn't have too many other options left, so we consider the rumours to be realistic and expect an announcement in the next two weeks.

Not much is yet known about DF1's programme. But what the channel has already revealed on its website: DF1 will broadcast the German Ice Hockey League and also take over content from streaming provider DAZN. As a niche sport, Formula E would certainly be a useful addition to the programme in order to initially raise awareness among German sports fans.

It remains to be seen where Formula E will be shown on German free-to-air TV in 2024. However, it is clear that the electric world championship will have to settle for significantly lower viewing figures than on ProSieben, as no comparable successor could be found in the short term.