Sport1 pounces for F1 and FA Cup rights

German sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights for the Formula One motor-racing championship and the FA Cup, the top football club knockout competition in England.

Sport1 acquired rights for Formula One in a sub-licensing deal over three years, from 2013 to 2015, with German commercial broadcaster RTL.

The rights cover exclusive live broadcasts in Germany on free-to-air television of the first and second practice sessions on Fridays as well as qualifying on Saturdays and the full race on Sundays.

Sport1 struck its deal for FA Cup rights with the MP & Silva agency in a one-and-a-half-year agreement that will run until the end of the 2013-14 season, according to the Rapid TV News website.

Under the deal, free-to-air channel Sport1, pay-television channel Sport1 Plus and the Sport1.de website will show live coverage of games as well as highlights, starting with the Stoke City v Manchester City game in the fourth round tomorrow (Saturday).