Formula 1 is proving increasingly valuable for Japan’s media industry, with the championship credited as one of the main factors behind a major rise in digital revenue at Fuji Media Holdings. Growing interest in F1 broadcasts has helped attract more paying subscribers to the company’s FOD streaming platform at a time when the sport is also enjoying renewed popularity among Japanese fans.
Fuji Media Holdings recorded a significant increase in digital-sector revenue during the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year, covering the period from April to June 2026. Revenue climbed by 58.1% compared with the same period a year earlier, reaching ¥81.71 billion, approximately €450 million. In absolute terms, the increase amounted to ¥30.3 billion, or around €170 million, with the performance of the FOD video streaming platform playing a central role in the growth.
The figures underline the increasing importance of digital services within the wider group. The expansion is helping offset some of the more traditional dynamics of television broadcasting while also demonstrating Fuji Media Holdings’ ability to adapt to changing viewing habits, particularly among younger audiences accustomed to consuming entertainment and sport on demand.
Formula 1 broadcasts boost FOD subscriptions in Japan
Formula 1 coverage was identified as an important contributor to the increase, helping drive both subscriber numbers and paid subscription revenue on FOD. Grand Prix broadcasts, analysis programmes and related F1 content have become a major attraction for the service, encouraging viewers to subscribe or renew their memberships so they can follow the championship throughout the season.
Sales of content to external platforms also performed strongly, allowing Fuji Media Holdings to extract additional value from its catalogue and generate further revenue beyond its own streaming ecosystem.
The growth comes against the backdrop of another strong year for the championship in Japan. The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka remains one of the most established events on the Formula 1 calendar, while the 2026 edition once again demonstrated the size of the sport’s domestic following.
Fuji Television begins to reap the rewards of its long F1 relationship
Fuji Television has broadcast Formula 1 in Japan since 1987, and its long-running relationship with the championship is now producing increasingly tangible benefits in the streaming era. What began as a decades-long commitment to covering the sport is becoming a competitive advantage as more viewers move towards digital platforms.
The impact extends beyond higher subscriber numbers. Formula 1 is also contributing to stronger customer retention and helping reshape the image of the FOD service by associating the platform with a globally followed sport built around high-speed competition and regular live events.
That relationship has become particularly valuable as Formula 1’s popularity in the country strengthens once again. The championship’s presence at Suzuka and the availability of extensive coverage give Japanese supporters several ways to engage with the sport, both at the circuit and through digital services.
Formula 1 popularity remains strong at the Japanese Grand Prix
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka was close to selling out, providing another indication of Formula 1’s sustained popularity in Japan. The event generated long queues for purchases, heavy traffic around merchandise and exhibition stands and considerable media attention, reinforcing the impression that the championship is experiencing a new period of momentum in the country.
The race itself also provided another major showcase for the sport, with the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix results forming part of a season that has continued to generate strong interest among Japanese audiences.
Significantly, that enthusiasm has remained strong despite the absence of Yuki Tsunoda from the Formula 1 grid and despite disappointing results for the Honda-powered Aston Martin. Neither the lack of a Japanese driver nor Aston Martin’s below-expectation performance with Honda power appears to have substantially reduced interest in the championship.
Instead, the renewed appeal of Formula 1 in Japan appears to be connected more broadly to the spectacle itself, the competition between the leading teams and the quality and accessibility of the broadcasts rather than relying solely on Japanese representation on the grid.
The trend demonstrates how Formula 1 has built a wide-ranging audience capable of supporting the sport even without a prominent domestic driver fighting near the front. It is also generating clear benefits for media companies that have invested in Grand Prix coverage for decades, with Fuji Media Holdings now seeing that long-term commitment translate into subscriber growth and increased digital revenue as viewing habits continue to shift towards streaming.
With Formula 1 continuing through its 2026 championship schedule, the Japanese market is providing a striking example of how the sport’s commercial impact can extend well beyond attendance figures at the circuit.
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