MotoGP and ESPN announced a multi-year media rights agreement for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, making ESPN the exclusive U.S. broadcaster and expanding coverage across Latin America. The deal, which begins after MotoGP’s current U.S. contract expires in 2026, is expected to broaden the sport’s American audience through ESPN’s more accessible linear networks.
Beginning in 2027, MotoGP Grand Prix events will air on ESPN’s linear networks and platforms in the U.S., either live or on same-day delay, according to the announcement. The move places the championship on networks that officials said are more accessible to American viewers than FS1, MotoGP’s current U.S. broadcast partner. The transition coincides with the introduction of new technical regulations and the switch to Pirelli tires for the 2027 season.
Freddy Rolón, Head of Global Sports & Talent Office at ESPN, noted the relationship between the two organizations dates back nearly 25 years.
In Latin America, ESPN will continue its coverage of MotoGP, which it has provided since 2002 across 18 countries, according to the announcement. The new agreement includes streaming on Disney+ Plan Premium in key markets. The deal also permits sublicensing of rights for select events in Argentina and Brazil to local free-to-air broadcasters.
Carlos Ezpeleta, Deputy CEO of MotoGP, called the agreement “an important milestone in MotoGP’s growth strategy across the Americas” in a statement. Ezpeleta said ESPN’s position as a leading sports broadcaster makes it “the ideal platform” for expanding the series’ reach.
Rolón said the deal is “a great example of how relationships that begin in one region of our international business can grow across ESPN’s global portfolio.”
The agreement follows the conclusion of MotoGP’s current U.S. arrangement at the end of the 2026 season. MotoGP cited record-breaking attendance, expanding global audiences, and increasing interest across the Americas as factors in the new partnership, according to the announcement.
The new contract represents a shift in how MotoGP will be distributed in the U.S. market. ESPN’s linear networks are more widely available than FS1, which industry analysts said could help the series make inroads with American audiences that it has pursued for years. The 2027 season will also mark a significant competitive change, as teams will adapt to the new technical rules and Pirelli tires.
The agreement covers the 2027 and 2028 seasons, making ESPN the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for the championship. In Latin America, ESPN’s coverage will span its networks and the Disney+ streaming platform, maintaining a relationship that has been in place for more than two decades.
MotoGP’s push into the U.S. market comes as the series reports growth in attendance and viewership. The championship has sought to expand its presence in the Americas, and officials said the ESPN deal is expected to increase the sport’s visibility and fan engagement throughout the region.
The sublicensing arrangement for Argentina and Brazil allows local free-to-air broadcasters to carry select events, a structure that preserves broad access to races in those markets while ESPN retains the primary rights. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The new broadcast deal takes effect after the 2026 season, which will be the final year of MotoGP’s current U.S. contract. ESPN’s coverage will begin with the 2027 season opener, which will also be the first season under the new technical regulations and Pirelli’s entry as the sole tire supplier.
