Formula One: Building a broadcast team for ESPN

As Formula One shifts their coverage in 2018 from NBC Sports to ESPN and ABC, will we see a new team of broadcasters bring the sport to the U.S. fans?

The Formula One world championship is about to embark into a brave new world of American television broadcasting. Gone will be NBC Sports at the end of 2017, a partnership that provided many benefits to the sport in addition to an expanded U.S. audience. In 2018, coverage of F1 will shift to ESPN and ABC, with potentially many changes in how the sport is delivered to the United States.

Many questions have been brought up surrounding the potential coverage provided by ESPN. Like their predecessors at NBC Sports and Speed, they are expected to rely on the world video feed provided by Formula One Management (FOM). However, there is the possibility that they will also use world feed announcers rather than hiring staff in-house. It would be a move not seen in F1 coverage in a major market like the U.S., but is certainly possible considering ESPN’s current cash crunch.

But what if ESPN did hire a new team to cover Formula One on the worldwide leader in sports? Would they try to snatch up David Hobbs and Steve Matchett, as their roles are likely to disappear at NBC? Who would replace Leigh Diffey, who will remain with NBC Sports to cover IndyCar? And what about the men and women behind the scenes? Here is just one scenario for how ESPN could build a Formula One television team.