Boxing fans hoped Netflix's live coverage of Jake Paul's clash with Mike Tyson — and the matches that preceded it — would go off without a hitch.
What viewers got instead was an amalgam of buffering issues, choppy analysis and the dreaded "black screen of death."
As the night went on, more and more subscribers took to social media to express frustration over Netflix's performance, starting well before Paul and Tyson made their way to the ring.
With the streaming giant set to host not one but two NFL games on Christmas Day later this year, Friday's showing could be a bad omen for sports fans.
Here's what you need to know.
MORE PAUL VS. TYSON COVERAGE:
- Netflix shows Mike Tyson's butt in accidental full moon ahead of fight
- How much money did Jake Paul and Mike Tyson make?
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson 'script' goes viral before fight
- Was Amanda Serrano robbed vs. Katie Taylor?
How many people watched Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson?
Despite all the streaming service's issues, plenty of viewers tuned into the broadcast.
According to Netflix, 60 million households watched the fight between Paul and Tyson, and 50 million households watched Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in the co-main event. Netflix claims that the Taylor vs. Serrano fight was the "most watched professional women's sporting event in U.S. history."
Netflix buffering issues, explained
Countless Netflix users complained about the quality of Friday night's stream. Some were presented with lengthy loading screens, while others were dealt a more tragic fate: being hit with the "black screen of death."
Anybody else's @netflix service crashing constantly during #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/jfw4KmMKVs
— Yared Vazquez, M.D. (Octagon Doctor) (@dryared) November 16, 2024
Netflix servers pic.twitter.com/WHiFTyAZDs
— Mike - MBA with Blue Collar Tendencies (@RoughEdgedNerd) November 16, 2024
— Pissed & Realistic Lakers Fan 🐬 (@AntdoggII) November 16, 2024
Nice job @netflix the circle of infinite buffering. I'm sure it'll just get better with more viewers, right? 😂 pic.twitter.com/EiB6CvDmJO
— Daniel Gibson (@DanielG__83) November 16, 2024
@netflix Freezing and skipping with no audio. #awesome pic.twitter.com/4KMJurwhrp
— The real Rogue (@rogue_real) November 16, 2024
Increased viewership did little to stop the issue. In fact, it very well could have exacerbated it.
Fans continued to encounter the sputtering stream as the night continued, missing parts of the action as Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos dueled for welterweight gold. Suffice to say, viewers were not very entertained
Netflix servers tonight pic.twitter.com/3QNl5BQ3ld
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) November 16, 2024
the Netflix servers rn: pic.twitter.com/yygzpor8Gh
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) November 16, 2024
Netflix servers right now 😂 pic.twitter.com/YmPuBdcFSz
— Jordan Payton (@LEGIQN) November 16, 2024
Netflix tryin to get their shit together right now #NetflixFight#netflx pic.twitter.com/zdht7eO0yq
— DIPU CHAUDHARY (@lovesayarindian) November 16, 2024
It’s all fun and games tonight @netflix, but if you ruin my family’s Christmas because we can’t watch the Steelers… there will be real hell to pay pic.twitter.com/wKAlwY3uJQ
— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) November 16, 2024
Netflix executives watching these streaming issues: pic.twitter.com/iKSy1bgR8j
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) November 16, 2024
Netflix showed no sign of being able to quell the rot, as the issues continued into the main fight. For pugilist promoters worldwide, that was a tough pill to swallow.
Antonio Brown livestream
Netflix's broadcast issues led some viewers to turn to an unusual solution: Antonio Brown's livestream on X, formerly Twitter.
The former NFL wide receiver started a live video from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the location of the fight. He kept his camera trained on the massive scoreboard at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium.
Midway through the Paul vs. Tyson fight, 6.4 million viewers were locked on his livestream.