How the German-language TV channels fared at the Formula 1 race in Zandvoort in the Netherlands and how the previous year compares
The figures for the Zandvoort Formula 1 race have been much better in the past: German-language TV channels Sky, RTL and ServusTV achieved average results at best at this year’s Dutch Grand Prix
Private broadcaster RTL, for example, achieved its smallest audience so far this year with 1.7 million viewers, undercutting its result from Hungary, when 1.77 million tuned in. Nevertheless, the market share of 14.9 percent was slightly above the season average (around 14.4 percent).
A comparison with the previous year shows a further drop: The last live RTL broadcast of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2022 was watched by 2.04 million viewers. At the time, this gave RTL a market share of 17.1 percent. In comparison: in 2024, the broadcaster has so far not exceeded 1.9 million (Bahrain) and 15.3 percent (Hungary).
Losses at Sky too
Pay-TV channel Sky also posted a weak result: With 515,000 viewers (635,000 plus streaming), it was not only below the current season average of around 545,000, but also well below the season best of 706,000 (Monaco). The market share of 4.5 percent was also below average.
The comparison with the previous year speaks just as clearly for Sky: In 2021, 730,000 watched the Dutch Grand Prix on the German pay-TV channel, with a market share of 7.3 percent at the time. Since then, interest has declined steadily
ServusTV comes out of the summer break better than Sky
In contrast to ServusTV: While 483,000 viewers watched the Dutch Grand Prix on the Austrian broadcaster in 2021, the figure was 553,000 in 2024, which is significantly higher. However, in 2023, 629,000 watched Max Verstappen’s triumphant drive live on ServusTV.
Zandvoort was also well below the season best of 733,000 (Austria) for ServusTV, but above the current season average of around 487,000 viewers. And with a market share of 41.1 percent, the channel even slightly exceeded the previous average (around 40.2 percent).
The direct comparison for the first Formula 1 qualifying after the summer break is also interesting here: ServusTV has an audience of 228,000 in the smaller television market in Austria, while Sky in Germany has only 136,000 pure TV viewers (plus 49,000 through streaming). On RTL, 0.73 million tuned in for qualifying.
Will this trend continue at the Italian Grand Prix next weekend? Sky and RTL will once again be reporting on the TV coverage in Germany. In Austria, live coverage will switch back to ORF. ServusTV will then be back in action at the Grand Prix after next in Azerbaijan.
