AMC renews F1 rights in Central Europe

The AMC Networks International Central Europe division of US entertainment company AMC Networks has extended a rights deal for the Formula One motor-racing world championship.

The deal covers Czech Republic and Slovakia and will run for three years, from 2018 to 2020.

The agreement was struck with the Pragosport agency.

Under the deal, the Sport1 and Sport2 channels will offer exclusive coverage of the championship. Sport1 will show practice and qualifying sessions on Fridays and Saturdays, while Sport2 will broadcast the races on Sundays.

The two channels will also offer coverage of the Formula Two and GP3 support series.

According to AMC, viewing figures for F1 coverage have “grown steadily” for the media company in recent years, with the audience having increased by nearly a quarter year-on-year from the 2015 to 2016 campaign.