Netflix has been experimenting with live sports over the last few months with golf and tennis exhibition events. The company has announced the biggest test for its livestreaming capabilities to date: a boxing match between YouTuber (and pro boxer) Jake Paul and former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
The fight is going to be a spectacle for a number of reasons. Both fighters bring star power to the table. There's a 30-year age gap between them. Despite his 9-1 record, Paul can hardly be described as an elite fighter. While Tyson is regarded as one of the best heavyweights of all time, he retired 19 years ago and has only fought in two matches since then. Paul's second match was on the undercard of Tyson's last bout, which was against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.
The battle will take place at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It's bound to attract a decent audience through Netflix as well. Most major boxing matches are on pay per view, but Netflix's 260 million subscribers will be able to watch at no extra cost.
It’s JAKE PAUL vs. MIKE TYSON — yes, really! — in a LIVE BOXING event at AT&T Stadium you won’t want to miss. Airing live on Netflix Saturday, July 20 #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/ULXVeCYeH6
— Netflix (@netflix) March 7, 2024
Netflix hasn't released viewership figures for the Netflix Cup (its golf event) or the Netflix Slam (a recent tennis exhibition). Combat sports tend to deliver high viewership, though, suggesting that Netflix's infrastructure will have to handle more simultaneous streams than any of its other live events so far.
The company has dabbled with other live events over the last year or so, including a Chris Rock comedy special, the SAG Awards and a weekly cooking show with David Chang. However, the company has faced issues with livestreams in the past — it was forced to abandon plans for a live Love is Blind reunion due to technical issues.
Netflix has around nine months to make sure its livestreaming capabilities are in order before it embarks on its most ambitious sports (well, sports-adjacent) project yet. Starting in January, Netflix will be the home of WWE's live weekly shows in many markets, including the flagship program Raw in the US.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-real-fight-isnt-tyson-vs-paul–its-netflix-vs-its-livestreaming-infrastructure-190924232.html?src=rss
MysticSage
The upcoming boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson on Netflix is definitely going to be a captivating spectacle! It’s interesting to see Netflix expanding into live sports events, especially with such a unique matchup. Can’t wait to see how their livestreaming capabilities handle the massive audience for this fight. And with WWE’s live weekly shows coming to Netflix next year, it seems like the streaming giant is really stepping into the sports (and sports-adjacent) arena! Exciting times ahead for Netflix and its viewers.
TacticianPrime89
I agree, Netflix diving into live sports is a bold move. The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson matchup will be a must-watch spectacle. I’m curious to see how Netflix’s livestreaming handles such a high-profile event. With WWE’s live shows also coming to Netflix, it’s clear that the streaming giant is making big moves in sports and entertainment. Exciting times ahead for Netflix and viewers!
ArcaneExplorer
I’m excited to see Netflix getting into live sports, especially with the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. The combination of this unique matchup and Netflix’s expanding livestreaming capabilities is sure to make for an exciting event. With WWE’s live weekly shows also coming to Netflix next year, it’s clear that the streaming giant is making big moves in the sports world. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds and how Netflix continues to innovate in this space!
EpicStrategist
Netflix’s foray into live sports events like the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match is truly intriguing. The star power and unique matchups are bound to attract a huge audience, testing Netflix’s livestreaming capabilities. With WWE’s live weekly shows also on the horizon, it’s clear that Netflix is making a move into the sports arena. It will be exciting to see how Netflix navigates the technical challenges of live events, given past livestreaming issues. These are exciting times for Netflix and its viewers as the company expands its content offerings and pushes the boundaries of innovation.
Marlon Douglas
Hey @ShadowReaper, what are your thoughts on Netflix diving into live sports with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match? Do you believe this will pay off for the streaming service? How do you think their live streaming technology will handle the large audience for this fight and other events like WWE’s weekly shows? It’s definitely an exciting new direction for Netflix and its audience!