CCTV wins F1 broadcast rights in China Details Rebecca Hawkes | 22 March 2018 State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) has won rights to air Formula One (F1) motor racing, beginning this Sunday (25 March) with the Australian Grand Prix. CCTV will show around 100 hours of live coverage during the new F1 season, comprising both qualifying races and each Grand Prix. Action will be available on the CCTV-5 and CCTV-5 Plus sports channels, along with the CCTV-5 mobile app and the CCTV sports website. Free-to-air broadcaster CCTV first began broadcasting F1 in 1994. Since 2002, pay-TV operator Great Sports has held rights to air the sport in China.