What happened
Analysis and impact
此次转播合作的时间节点与 Formula E 的技术换代高度重合。GEN4 是 Formula E 的第四代赛车，按赛事方面此前公布的技术路线，新赛车在动力输出、能量回收效率以及空气动力学设计上均较 GEN3 有显著提升。Ars Technica 的报道将协议启动时间明确指向「GEN4 赛车与 2026-27 赛季的到来」，意味着美国观众将在新赛车首秀的同时，通过 Disney+ 和 ESPN+ 观看赛事直播与相关节目。不过，报道未提供协议的具体年限、金额以及是否包含独家转播权等细节。
从行业背景看，Formula E 在美国的转播此前分散于多个平台，此次集中到 Disney+ 与 ESPN+，与近年来体育赛事向流媒体迁移的趋势一致。Disney+ 在 ESPN 内容整合后逐步增加体育直播入口，ESPN+ 则长期承担较小众赛事的流媒体分发职能。对于 Formula E 而言，进入迪士尼旗下平台有助于借助其订阅用户基础扩大北美受众；对于平台方来说，电动方程式补充了其在赛车运动领域的版权组合，与已有的其他赛事内容形成互补。原文未提供双方对合作预期的官方表态。
References
Original source text
Formula E is set to make a big change in terms of visibility when season 12 gets underway this December. It has signed a new multiyear deal to broadcast the sport on Disney+ and ESPN+ in 144 countries, with live coverage of each entire ePrix, from practice through qualifying to the race. The new media deal means that here in the US, Formula E will be shown on the streaming networks from next season; since 2023, the sport has been shown live on Roku.
"This is a landmark moment for Formula E and reflects the incredible momentum behind our Championship," said Formula E's CEO Jeff Dodds. "Disney’s unrivaled global reach and storytelling will introduce Formula E to millions of new fans while bringing them closer than ever to the drama, innovation, and excitement of electric racing. As we enter the GEN4 era, this provides an exceptional platform to accelerate our global growth and continue building one of the world’s most exciting sports properties."
As we've previously covered here at Ars, next season was already shaping up to be a massive one for the electric racing series. It debuts the new GEN4 car in December as well. The new car has double the power of the current racer, with a nominal 603 hp (450 kW) from a twin-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain that goes up to 804 hp (600 kW) in Attack Mode. Which means that for much of a lap, a Formula E GEN4 car will generate as much power as a 2027-spec Formula 1 car; the F1 car is also stuck with just 602 hp from its V6 engine when the battery has no charge.