Iris to handle global media rights distribution for E1

Sports media consultancy firm Iris Sports Media will be in charge of global media rights up until the end of 2025 for E1, the all-electric boat racing series.

A deal unveiled today gives Iris exclusive distribution rights in all territories for the final E1 race of its inaugural 2024 season, and the full 2025 campaign of the racing series.

Next year, up to 10 E1 races are scheduled, including events in the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas for the first time.

Rodi Basso, E1’s co-founder and chief executive, said: “We are confident this partnership with Iris can bring us greater and wider audiences and take us to new heights next season and beyond.”

Ioris Francini, founding partner at Iris Sport Media, added: “Iris will work closely with E1 on the strategy to grow the audience globally through broadcast exposure across all forms of the media.

“This is an exciting project that is leaving an important legacy of sustainability around the world, and we are delighted to be playing a part in its growth.”

So far in 2024 (E1’s inaugural season), events have taken place in Jeddah, Venice, Puerto Banus, Monaco, and Lake Como – a final race will also be announced soon.

For the final three races of 2024, sports streaming service DAZN is providing freemium coverage across a wide range of markets in North America, Europe, and Asia.

A deal to that effect was unveiled in mid-June.

Iris Sports Media, which launched in October 2023, was founded by Ioris Francini, the former president of IMG Media, the media arm of the international sports and entertainment agency, alongside fellow former IMG co-workers Luca Baldanza and Floris Weisz.

Last November, the company was appointed as a sales agent for media rights covering Africa-zone qualifying matches in advance of men’s soccer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. Sportcal