How big is today’s announcement that Formula E will be broadcast via Disney+ and ESPN+?
That famous headline quote via the wonderful ‘Buzz Lightyear’ character in Disney’s 1995 sublime Toy Story movie reflected Buzz’s initial grand delusion of being a real galactic hero before accepting his identity as a mere toy.
It would be too cruel to assume a similar notion for Formula E upon its huge news of a partnership with Disney+ today but the dissenters and cynics will still pick holes.
Clearly it is a massively significant and positive step for the all-electric world championship in real-time. In the longer-term, let’s see. But for now, Formula E fans, those that really care about its health and prosperity, should be excited and the future fans should start to get excited.
That is because as a whole, today’s news should help Formula E in the Gen4 era accelerate as quickly on the track to via a hook-up with one of the world’s biggest brands being so positive off track.
So far, Disney+ covers motorsport selectively through regional live sports add-ons and original documentaries like the superb Keanu Reeves fronted ‘Brawn: The One Pound Formula One Team’ but live racing availability depends pretty much on the country and local streaming partnerships one can access.
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It stated earlier this year that Disney+ has experienced notable growth since its launch in November 2019. It has reached around 131.6 million global subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2025. The streaming service’s rapid ascent is particularly noteworthy given that it took Netflix, the current market leader, almost a decade to achieve similar customer numbers and in a less competitive landscape.
Formula E has therefore pulled off a significant broadcasting coup today. It is partly what its stakeholders, notably teams and manufacturers have been crying out for since its inception 12 years ago.
“It’s nice to be in a neighbourhood with Disney, when you’re talking about a neighbourhood that includes, Nissan and Jaguar and Porsche and ABB and Google and Sennheiser announced today,” Formula E CEO, Jeff Dodds, told Formula E Notebook.
“It’s nice to have a big brand like that in the neighbourhood and the second thing I would say is it gives us great confidence that we know the rigour with which they will present our product.
“We know it’s going to be very slick and beautifully presented with real attention to detail. The third thing I would say is if you’re a partner or a prospective partner of Formula E, this news is only going to make it more appealing when you see massive global brands like Disney coming on board to tell our story.
Feeling more positive about the trajectory of Formula E as Gen4 arrives is an absolute key for Formula E. It is no secret it has struggled to get out of the red and in to the black over the course of its 12 year history. Growing pains are part of a modern sporting start-up and Formula E have had them.
But the Disney news is an essential springboard in to Gen4. It’s hardware, sporting prowess and enhanced spectacle have never been in doubt. Its ability to be seen properly has.
One of the main criticisms that Formula E has had to parry and deflect has been when and where consumers can reliably and consistently watch EPrixs. Dodds thinks that today’s announcement will go a long way to quashing that gripe.
“You can watch it wherever you are on Disney+ in some markets and that would also extend to ESPN plus but on Disney+ you’re going to be able to see the practice live, the qualifying live and the race live and if you want to watch it after the event all of the product will be there archived and you can watch it whenever you want,” reckons Dodds.
“I just think it really simplifies our offering because that way we can direct people into that environment and they can see a really slick presentation of our product and we know everything’s going to be in one place.”
One place, one vision, one aim, etc. Formula E isn’t Formula One, yet. But it can start to dream. Just like Buzz did.
