Netflix had a groundbreaking night on Friday, as the streaming giant reported record-breaking viewership numbers for the highly-anticipated Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight. According to a press release issued on Saturday, a staggering 60 million households tuned in to watch the live event, with a peak of 65 million concurrent streams. The co-main event featuring Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor also drew significant viewership, reaching 50 million households.
Netflix is set to release more detailed viewership data later this week, including total viewership numbers. The company claimed that the co-main event could potentially be the most watched professional women's sporting event in US history. Additionally, the Tyson-Paul fight generated over $18 million in gate revenue, with 72,300 spectators in attendance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, surpassing previous records set by Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez.
Despite the impressive viewership numbers, some viewers experienced technical difficulties during the livestream, with reports of the Netflix feed crashing due to high demand. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints about the streaming quality, with one individual comparing it to a video game from 2006.
Concerns have been raised about Netflix's upcoming NFL broadcast debut on Christmas Day, where they are scheduled to air a doubleheader featuring the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans. The streaming issues during the Tyson-Paul fight have raised doubts about Netflix's ability to successfully broadcast the NFL games.
In response to the streaming problems, OutKick's Clay Travis expressed skepticism about Netflix's ability to handle the upcoming NFL games. Despite the technical challenges, Mike Tyson, who fought Jake Paul in the main event, shared his reflections on the match, expressing gratitude for the experience and stating that he had no regrets about stepping into the ring one last time.
As of now, Netflix has not provided any comments in response to requests for additional information regarding the streaming issues. Fans and industry experts will be eagerly awaiting updates on how Netflix plans to address these challenges moving forward.
