Netflix under pressure to get Beyonce-NFL event right after technical struggles of Paul-Tyson fight
Beyoncé is set to steal the show this Christmas as she makes a special appearance in homes across the globe on Netflix. The streaming giant recently announced that Queen Bey will be performing during halftime of an NFL Christmas Day matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans in her hometown of Houston.
This exciting news comes hot on the heels of Netflix’s recent livestream of a boxing event featuring a headline bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. The event, however, was marred by technical difficulties, with nearly 85,000 viewers experiencing outages or streaming issues leading up to the main fight. Many frustrated users took to social media to express their disappointment.
Michael Naraine, an associate professor of sport management at Brock University, attributed these technical struggles to a “lack of foresight” on Netflix’s part. He explained that while Netflix is well-versed in predicting user behavior for shows like “Stranger Things,” their engagement with live events is relatively new, leading to unforeseen challenges when dealing with a massive audience like the 60 million viewers who tuned in for the Paul-Tyson fight.
Despite the initial setbacks, Netflix reported impressive viewership numbers for the boxing event, with 60 million households tuning in and a peak of 65 million concurrent streams. This success underscores the importance of live sports as a growth opportunity for streaming platforms like Netflix.
Looking ahead, Netflix is gearing up to stream more live sporting events, including the Ravens-Texans game and a match between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day. With global superstars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift potentially gracing the screens, there’s added pressure on Netflix to deliver flawless streaming experiences. Naraine emphasized that any technical glitches during high-profile moments in sports could be detrimental to Netflix’s growth trajectory in the future.
As streaming platforms continue to expand their offerings to include live sports, the ability to successfully broadcast these events will be crucial in attracting and retaining subscribers. Amazon Prime Video, for instance, has been making strides in the sports streaming landscape, with exclusive deals like “Prime Monday Night Hockey” and partnerships with major sports leagues like the NFL and NHL.
In conclusion, live sports represent a significant growth opportunity for streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. By learning from past technical challenges and investing in robust streaming infrastructure, these platforms can capitalize on the immense popularity of live sports and further solidify their positions in the competitive streaming market.
