iWorld
F1 TV to launch on Amazon Prime
MUMBAI: Formula 1 (F1) recently launched its over the top (OTT) platform F1 TV and is now planning to hop on Amazon Prime. With the deal, F1 TV is expected to grow by more than 100 million subscribers, according to Digiday.
The OTT service was launched in the month of May with two service models F1 TV Pro (Live) and F1 TV Access (non-live) at two different price points. F1 TV Pro is priced at of $70-$150 annually, and monthly rates ranging from $8-12.
Formula 1 head of global sponsorship and commercial partnerships Murray Barnett was quoted as saying, “It makes sense for us to be on there (Amazon Prime) because it’s an open platform and we’re already in discussions with them about distribution in the future. In the US we have an agreement with ESPN that allows us to exploit our own OTT service separately so we’ll definitely be on Amazon Prime (there).”
The service would be made available to Prime subscribers in countries where the local broadcaster has given up its exclusive rights under new or renegotiated deals. Formula 1 must negotiate the freedom to launch its OTT service in each media-rights deal it agrees, as broadcasters who agree to the F1 TV launch in their territory lose some exclusivity.
Barnett sees F1 TV as a stand-alone revenue source exclusive of their relationship with the TV partners. “We want to be one of the smarter channels on the Amazon Prime platform,” he added.
Gaming
Iqoo S8ul wins Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup
MOBA Legends squad bags Rs 12.5 lakh after 4-3 final thriller over Godlike from 1,024-team field.
MUMBAI: Iqoo S8ul just farmed the ultimate prize clutching a heart-stopping 4-3 grand final win over Godlike Esports to lift the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup crown in Kolkata on 18 February. The month-long MOBA Legends 5v5 showdown drew a massive 1,024 teams through open qualifiers in single-elimination Bo1 format, with just 16 powering into the main brackets. S8ul Esports’ powerhouse roster IGL Mohammad Saad (Apex), Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi), Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang (Kakarot) sliced through Group A like a well-timed ultimate, 2-0 Bo3 quarterfinal rout of Megatron Esports, 3-1 Bo5 semifinal domination of PEAK, and a flawless 4-0 Bo7 sweep of Elusivity to storm the decider.
There, composure trumped chaos in a Bo7 nail-biter, netting the squad Rs 12.5 lakh and cementing S8UL’s stranglehold on India’s MOBA scene.
S8ul co-founder Animesh Agarwal beamed, “This victory is a testament to the structure and long-term vision we are building at S8ul. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth… Wins like this validate our investment in building elite lineups.”
IGL Apex, fresh off MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024 at the Esports World Cup ($3 million pool), added, “Coming into this tournament with so many teams, we knew the margin for error would be extremely small… That grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played as a team and this title belongs to everyone who believed in us.”
For esports newbies, it’s like watching chess on steroids strategy, split-second calls, and crowd-roaring comebacks. S8ul’s run? Pure legend fuel, priming them for bigger global scraps.
