Netflix made a major move in live sports streaming this past weekend, drawing a reported 60 million households worldwide to watch its first-ever live boxing event featuring Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
This was a significant milestone for the platform, which is eyeing an expansion into live broadcasts, especially sports.
The event was offered for free to Netflix subscribers, which garnered massive viewership, yet the streaming giant faced backlash as technical issues plagued the experience.
Many users reported the stream repeatedly crashing or buffering at crucial moments, leaving fans frustrated.
Netflix has not officially commented on the cause of the disruptions, but social media was filled with complaints from users who were unable to access the broadcast smoothly, with some describing the fight as “unwatchable.”
Despite the streaming challenges, the event demonstrated the enormous draw of celebrity boxing, attracting not just sports fans but also general audiences curious about the unique match-up between a legendary boxer and a social media star.
Jake Paul later claimed that 120 million viewers watched the event globally, although Netflix officially confirmed only 60 million households.
Tech experts suggest that Netflix’s infrastructure may not yet be equipped to meet the high traffic spikes associated with these events, which could damage its reputation as it moves further into the sports streaming arena.
Moving forward, Netflix faces significant pressure to iron out these technical glitches if it hopes to establish itself as a serious player in live sports streaming—a field currently dominated by platforms like ESPN+ and DAZN.
As competition in the streaming industry intensifies, Netflix’s success in this space could be pivotal in attracting new subscribers and retaining its existing base.
