Netflix responds to streaming backlash after 60 million tune in for Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight

Netflix promised to improve after 60 million viewers tuned in for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight.

Netflix has acknowledged the complaints and is promising to improve its streaming experience. The company revealed on Saturday that 60 million people tuned in to watch the highly anticipated Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight on Friday night at AT&T Stadium.  

However, many fans reported issues with the broadcast, including freezing and crashing streams.  

“This unprecedented scale created many technical challenges, which the launch team tackled brilliantly by prioritizing stability of the stream for the majority of viewers,” Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone wrote to employees, according to *Bloomberg*. “I’m sure many of you have seen the chatter in the press and on social media about the quality issues.  

“We don’t want to dismiss the poor experience of some members, and know we have room for improvement, but still consider this event a huge success.”  

The streaming challenges are significant for Netflix as it prepares to air an NFL doubleheader on Christmas featuring the Chiefs vs. Steelers and the Ravens vs. Texans.  

“60 million households around the world tuned in live to watch Paul vs. Tyson! The boxing mega-event dominated social media, shattered records, and even had our buffering systems on the ropes,” Netflix wrote on X on Saturday.  

Friday’s fight marked Netflix’s first attempt at streaming a live boxing match and one of its initial ventures into live events.  

Netflix has expressed a desire to expand in this area and is set to become the new home of WWE “Raw” in 2025.  

In the fight, 27-year-old Jake Paul defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson by unanimous decision.  

“Boxing is ebbs and flows, ups and downs, big events, small events, medium-size events,” Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s promoter, said after the match. “Our philosophy is it’s not about what is the decision that happens in the ring. It’s about the attitude that you have and the product you create and how you entertain the fans. And there’s no more entertaining of an athlete than Jake Paul.”