IMAX Corporation announced a partnership with Apple TV to stream five 2026 Formula One World Championship races live in select U.S. IMAX venues. The races—Miami, Monaco, Silverstone, Monza, and Austin—will be available in at least 50 theaters nationwide, offering fans a premium, immersive viewing experience that combines IMAX’s large‑format technology with Apple TV’s streaming platform.
The partnership comes as IMAX reports mixed financial results in the most recent quarter. In Q4 2024, the company posted a net income of $5 million, a 5.7% margin, and adjusted EBITDA of $37 million at a 40% margin. Full‑year 2024 adjusted EBITDA reached $139 million, a 39.4% margin. IMAX is scheduled to report Q4 2025 earnings on February 25 2026, with analysts expecting EPS of $0.43 and revenue of $119.41–$120.3 million. The company’s Q3 2025 results—EPS $0.47 versus an estimate of $0.35 and revenue $106.65 million versus $102.88 million—demonstrate strong execution, while the Q4 2024 miss (EPS $0.27 versus $0.42, revenue $92.7 million versus $118.33 million) highlights the volatility of its core business.
Strategically, the deal positions IMAX to tap into the growing U.S. Formula One fan base and diversify beyond theatrical film. By leveraging Apple TV’s exclusive U.S. broadcast rights for 2026‑2030, IMAX can attract new audiences to its theaters, increase foot traffic, and create a new revenue stream that complements its existing film and live‑event offerings. The partnership also signals IMAX’s broader ambition to become a destination for premium live sports and music concerts, potentially opening doors to future collaborations with other leagues and events.
"F1 is a rapidly growing force in sports and culture in the US, and by bringing F1 on Apple TV live to IMAX theaters nationwide, we're delivering the energy and excitement to even more screens in a truly immersive way," said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Music, Sports, and Beats. "We're excited to collaborate with IMAX to expand access to F1 on Apple TV and give fans across the U.S. a powerful new way to experience the speed and spectacle that the sport delivers." Jonathan Fischer, IMAX’s chief content officer, added, "Apple TV and Joe Kosinski's brilliant F1® : The Movie proved beyond a doubt that the speed, precision, and artistry of Formula 1 translate beautifully to the IMAX Experience, and we are very excited to further our collaboration with Apple and offer fans more of what resonated so deeply with that film by presenting live F1 races to them in IMAX." He also noted, "As we continue to expand our global content portfolio with awe‑inspiring experiences, we look forward to working with Apple to amplify its live coverage of Formula 1 and give fans in the U.S. an all‑new way to experience this fast‑growing sport."
The partnership will be executed in at least 50 IMAX venues, with each theater equipped to deliver the high‑resolution, high‑dynamic‑range audio and visual experience that IMAX is known for. While the announcement does not disclose the financial terms of the agreement, the collaboration is expected to generate incremental revenue from ticket sales, concessions, and ancillary services during the live broadcasts.
The deal is a tailwind for IMAX’s long‑term strategy to broaden its audience base and revenue mix. By aligning with Apple TV’s growing sports portfolio, IMAX can leverage the increasing popularity of Formula One in the U.S. and the proven success of its “F1: The Movie” IMAX release. The partnership also positions the company to pursue similar collaborations with other sports leagues, potentially creating a new category of premium live‑event cinema that could offset the cyclical nature of theatrical film releases.
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