A month ago, Netflix was on everyone’s lips, particularly due to broadcast problems that disrupted the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. This mishap tarnished the image of the streaming service, especially since the company was to broadcast two NFL games only 40 days later.
With both of these matches now behind us, it’s safe to say that Netflix’s reputation in the live streaming arena has, for the most part, been restored.
Although a few complaints were relayed on social networks concerning the quality of the image and a delicate start with a muted microphone, the situation remains far from the storm of discontent that was caused by the broadcast of the Paul-Tyson fight, during which many users had to deal with regular interruptions. Technical problems had almost overshadowed the fight, where Paul defeated the 58-year-old heavyweight champion of the world by unanimous decision.
Apparently, Netflix learned from this experience, strengthening its servers while maintaining production quality. The halftime show even featured a Beyoncé concert, which could have rivaled a real Super Bowl halftime show.
Both games were largely one-sided, with the Kansas City Chiefs winning 29-10 over the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans by a score of 31-2.
Live streaming has been a growing area for Netflix in recent years. Its first foray into the format, a “Love is Blind” reunion show, was a monumental failure compared to last month’s boxing match, as the broadcast had to be canceled after a 75-minute wait, the show being finally recorded and released later.
Advances in live streaming are critical, with this type of coverage being one of the top priorities for Netflix’s future. Indeed, the service recorded a peak of 65 million simultaneous streams during the Paul-Tyson fight, making this clash the most watched of the year. The co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano also reportedly attracted nearly 50 million households, possibly representing the most-watched women’s sporting event ever broadcast in the United States.
Early feedback on Netflix’s NFL games is also encouraging, with the service reporting that nearly a third of its global subscribers, representing more than 200 countries, watched at least part of Wednesday’s first game between the Chiefs and the Steelers.
Netflix has plenty of live events coming up, including rights to the next two FIFA Women’s World Cups.
On the NFL side, succeeding with Netflix would be significant for two major priorities of the championship: offering a large international audience and preparing for a future increasingly focused on streaming. The NFL isn’t lacking in ratings right now, but it won’t give up an opportunity to further increase its revenue streams.
All in all, as Netflix continues to evolve in the live streaming space, it raises interesting questions about the future of sports media. With streaming content consumption increasing, what are the next steps for other major streamers?
- -
