Time to find a new way to watch F1 live

There's really only one way to legally watch Formula One in the Philippines, and that's via Fox Sports on Cignal or other cable or satellite subscriptions. Yes, you can buy a subscription to Formula 1's F1 TV Pro, but you'll need a foreign credit card and maybe a VPN to do so because Fox Sports (formerly ESPN Star Sports) has the rights for our part of the world. 

We do have some bad news though: for those watching F1 through Fox Sports on cable or satellite TV, that may come to an end.

Disney, which now owns Fox Sports, has announced that they will be closing several of its channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong starting October 2021. A total of 18 channels will be closing down, including Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports 3, Star Sports 1, and Star Sports 2.

The reason for Disney shutting down several channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong is mainly due to the company’s shift into streaming services. Yes, they want us to subscribe to Disney+ streaming but unfortunately, it is still not available in the Philippines along with most countries in the region. 

Aside from F1, Fox Sports also broadcasts other motorsport events live from around the world, including Formula 2, Formula 3, MotoGP, NASCAR, Indycar, and even the FIA World Endurance Championship to name a few. Outside of motorsports, the channel is the go-to for golf, tennis, and football.

At the moment, it is uncertain what Disney plans for the future of the region following the closing of the channels. Hopefully, our cable providers can replace Fox Sports with other channels that broadcast motorsport events, including F1, after its closure this October.

Needless to say, we're not big fans of Mickey right now. 

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