Netflix's foray into live sports broadcasting hit a snag with its handling of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight on Friday night. Viewers took to social media platforms such as Twitter and Bluesky to express their frustrations with streaming and buffering issues before and during the event. According to Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers reported problems with outages or streaming leading up to the fight.
The fight, which saw Jake Paul emerge victorious by unanimous decision, was scheduled for eight two-minute rounds, a departure from the usual format of three minutes and 10 or 12 rounds for professional fights. Despite the technical difficulties, Netflix's biggest live sports event to date was watched globally by its 280 million subscribers at no additional cost.
The streaming delays were not the only issues faced by Netflix leading up to the fight, as viewers were treated to an unexpected glimpse of Mike Tyson's rear end in a jockstrap during a pre-fight interview in his locker room.
Netflix will be broadcasting two NFL games on Christmas Day and will be streaming WWE "Raw" starting on January 6th. The streaming giant will need to address the technical glitches and other mishaps to ensure a smoother experience for viewers in future live sports events.
Despite the setbacks, Netflix's venture into live sports broadcasting represents a significant step towards diversifying its content offerings and competing with traditional sports broadcasters. The mishaps encountered during the Tyson vs. Paul fight serve as a learning opportunity for Netflix as it navigates this new territory.