By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-16 17:43:18 | Updated at 2024-11-24 12:39:40
1 week ago
Netflix has come under fire from boxing fans who struggled to stream the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight as viewers vow to cancel their subscriptions.
The streaming giant was making its debut in live combat sports but it was left red-faced as viewers faced poor image quality, prolonged buffering and spotty audio.
Technical issues seemed to grow worse as the evening progressed as hundreds online complained of error messages, while '#unwatchable' began trending on X.
And according to Downdetector, which tracks online outages, more than 80,000 customers were experiencing issues by 10:35pm New York time on Friday.
Following the stream, Netflix users have taken to social media to say they are cancelling their subscriptions due to the poor quality.
One X user said: 'Just canceled my Netflix subscription and won't be returning.'
Another wrote: 'We all got played on this one Bravo @netflix for making sure I never subscribe to your streaming services for the rest of my life.'
Someone else added: 'Cancelling my Netflix after what you guys did'
Fans were not impressed with Netflix's performance during Friday's fight in Texas
While another user wrote: 'The amount of canceled subscriptions is going to be CRAZY'.
Another said: 'One of the worst streaming ever. Fix this next time, please.'
One viewer added: 'You're not ready for live sport streaming!!!'
The frustrations extended beyond the livestream as there were also problems for those on the broadcast as well.
Netflix's host for the night Kate Scott (formerly Abdo) was forced to apologise on air for major technical issues.
The former Sky Sports star was overheard asking the producers 'where are we' as those on the desk struggled to hear each other.
She had to get former undisputed cruiserweight Evander Holyfield's former rival Lennox Lewis to ask for his thoughts on her behalf.
'Evander, I apologise. I'm so sorry about the sound,' she said.
'Lennox, thank you for helping us out with the interview. We appreciate you.'
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight during live on Netflix in their debut in live combat sports
Many viewers were confronted with an error message during Friday's fight on Netflix
There were even issues for those that were a part of the broadcast - with boxing legend Lennox Lewis (L) having to yell questions from Kate Scott into Evander Holyfield's (R) ear
Those tuning in to watch the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul bout were met with streaming issues from Netflix that prevented thousands from watching the fight's undercard before the main event
And it wasn't just Scott having issues. Tyson's former rivals Lewis and Evander were also struggling to hear each other.
At one point Lewis asked Holyfield if he expected Tyson to bite Paul's ear, as Iron Mike famously did to 'The Real Deal' in their 1997 rematch.
The problem was Holyfield couldn't understand Lewis, and by the time he did, the conversation was moving in another direction.
And when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stopped by, things only got worse as the billionaire's mic went in and out as he tried to praise Netflix as a future NFL partner.
The errors did not go unnoticed, with plenty of fans complaining on social media about the issues.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix posted, 'Holyfield can't hear Kate Scott so Lennox Lewis is yelling questions at him like you would your grandfather.'
'#PaulTyson this production is so bad. horrible. @netflix,' wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.
'Netflix is struggling with a few technical issues. Sheesh,' said a different user while another branded it, 'PITIFUL'.
Millions had already been brought in before Tyson and Paul faced off in the ring in Dallas
Another posted, '@netflix it's absolutely NO WAY this should be freezing and messing up like this with as much money as y'all swindle out of us per month. At least TWO months need to be free cause hell no ain't no way!'
'If Netflix doesn't fix this buffering issue, this will go down as one of the biggest fails in all of tv/streaming history,' read another post.
Barstool Sports' Dana Beers posted, 'Good Lord this Netflix stream is an absolute disaster.'
Paul and Tyson went head-to-head in eight largely uneventful rounds at the AT&T Stadium, which ended with the YouTuber-turned-boxer prevailing via unanimous decision.
Tyson, 58, was unable to match 27-year-old Paul's energy and his condition worsened throughout the eight-round clash. The YouTuber sensationally revealed after the bout that he decided not knockout the former heavyweight champion out.
In the last 10 seconds of the fight, he even stepped back and bowed towards Tyson in a show of respect to sporting royalty - while effectively taking his foot off the gas.
This bout was beset with problems throughout the year - with the fight initially set for July 20 before it was moved to Friday night after Tyson experienced medical issues.
But it appears that regardless of the result, the event will be billed as a success in terms of money brought in.
Paul and Tyson embrace at the end of their highly anticipated bout
As revealed by Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) prior to Friday's heavyweight bout in Arlington, Texas, Tyson-Paul has generated more than $17.8 million at the gate to become boxing's biggest box-office success in the United States outside of Las Vegas.
What's more, Tyson-Paul has nearly doubled the previous record in Texas, when Mexico's Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez defeated Britain's Billy Joe Saunders at the same venue, AT&T Stadium, in 2021.
And outside of a 2016 UFC bout between Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez in New York, Friday's fight card has registered the highest gate of any US combat sporting event outside of Las Vegas.
MVP, which is co-owned by Paul, expects more than 70,000 attendees at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. In total, the venue has a capacity of 80,000.
