Netflix dove headfirst into the arena of live sporting events with the broadcast of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul on Friday and the streaming service said it delivered a knockout punch, despite some technical difficulties.
One day after Paul defeated Tyson by unanimous decision, Netflix announced that more than 60 million households tuned into the fight streaming live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The co-main event, a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, drew in 50 million households, making one of the “most watched professional women’s sporting event in U.S. history,” Netflix added.
The streaming platform acknowledged that the live event didn’t go off without a hitch. Multiple users expressed frustration over various issues plaguing the broadcast, including buffering, screen quality concerns and audio issues: “The boxing mega-event dominated social media, shattered records, and even had our buffering systems on the ropes.”
The boxing event marked the first live sporting event on Netflix’s lineup. The platform is set to stream an NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day — Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
