Netflix prepares for live NFL games, despite Paul-Tyson problems

Netflix has plenty of surprises planned for its subscribers on Christmas Day, as long as everything goes as planned.

For this occasion, the streaming platform is preparing to broadcast two NFL games live, as part of a three-year agreement concluded with the league, barely a month after coming under criticism for broadcast problems during the long-awaited clash between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.

Millions of viewers are expected on Christmas Day, and Netflix says it has learned lessons from its previous broadcast difficulties. The platform anticipates that the NFL double-header will take place without a hitch during the holidays.

Live broadcasts sometimes complicated for Netflix

The streaming giant has had successful live broadcast experiences, such as the roast of famous NFL quarterback Tom Brady. However, not all of its broadcasts were successful.

Here are some examples of broadcasts that left viewers waiting:

• Love Is Blind : Reunion (2023) : The season 4 reunion episode, which was supposed to be broadcast live, was disrupted for some, while others had to wait more than an hour. The show was then filmed and later broadcast.
• The Netflix Cup (2023) : This event, Netflix's first attempt in the live sports field, had its successes but was marred by several technical problems.
• Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (2024) : Although this fight broke viewership records, the broadcast was marred by problems that frustrated many viewers.

Netflix says it has learned from its previous mistakes

Ahead of the NFL double-header, Netflix said it wants its live events to run smoothly, but recognizes that issues can arise during peak viewing periods. During the fight between Tyson and Paul, the platform acted quickly to stabilize viewing for the majority of viewers, deeming the event a “huge success” despite the difficulties.

For Christmas Day, Netflix has put in place measures to avoid any malfunctions. The matches between the Kansas City Chiefs, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens against the Houston Texans were thus subject to optimizations to better manage the load of the live broadcast.

Christmas Day on Netflix: Two NFL games, a Beyoncé show and a Mariah Carey performance. How will this happen?

Although the Christmas Day NFL games are associated with big names such as Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, with the possibility of an appearance from Taylor Swift, the platform says it is ready.

Netflix recorded 65 million simultaneous views for the Paul and Tyson fight, highlighting the importance of knowing how to address the “pressure points” of its infrastructure before these major sporting events.

What time will the Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans games take place?

Mariah Carey will officially kick off Christmas Day with a new pre-recorded performance of her classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Both games will be broadcast live, with the Chiefs vs. Steelers at 1 p.m. in Pittsburgh and the Ravens vs. Texans at 4:30 p.m. in Houston.

Good to know

• NFL games are included in all Netflix subscriptions at no additional cost.
• Mariah Carey and Beyoncé will be central figures in this special Christmas programming.
• Netflix has strengthened its partnerships with Internet service providers to improve streaming capacity.

This initiative by Netflix raises questions about the evolution of live broadcasts on streaming platforms. If competition intensifies, it could further transform the sporting event consumption experience, prompting other services to adapt. What are the next steps for streaming platforms when it comes to live streaming?