There's now a lawsuit filed against Netflix after the much-publicized Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match streamed questionably on November 15, 2024. YouTube star Jake Paul versus the boxing icon Mike Tyson's main event attracted over 60 million households worldwide but was not a smooth sail for many viewers.
They encountered problems like buffering, glitches, and inaccessibility. On November 18, Ronald "Blue" Denton filed a lawsuit on behalf of the frustrated viewers. He claimed to have a breach of contract and damages. Fans-cum-famous folks, such as Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy, aired their grievances.
Netflix recognized the problems in a statement, saying,
“We know we have room for improvement but still consider this event a huge success.”
The case also brings to light the problems Netflix encounters in showing live sports events. It raises questions of whether they can meet technical requirements.
The Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight was marred by Netflix's streaming issues
The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was hyped as one of the biggest sports events of the year. It was staged at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, between an odd matchup: a 27-year-old YouTube star who became a boxer against a 58-year-old former heavyweight champion.
Despite skepticism over the oddly pitted boxing match, it did grab global audiences, peaking at 65 million concurrent viewers. Yet, the evening’s excitement was overshadowed by widespread streaming failures.
From the start of the event at 8 PM ET, viewers reported persistent issues. Subscribers complained that Netflix couldn't have the biggest fight of the year when their stream can't even go longer than 5 minutes without buffering.
Netflix's Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson match lawsuit is over breach of contract and damages
Denton's lawsuit says that Netflix did not keep its promise of a smooth viewing experience, which is an unspoken part of its subscription agreement. The lawsuit mentions damages for all the viewers affected, but it does not specify the exact amount of money being asked for.
Legal experts think this case could lead to new rules for streaming platforms that want to show live sports. The streaming problems during the event were not just annoying; they also showed possible flaws in Netflix’s system.
Netflix has usually focused on on-demand content, so moving into live events with large audiences is a big step for them. The Denton lawsuit states that customers now expect streaming services to be as seamless as traditional TV networks.
What's next for Netflix in live sports?
This lawsuit creates doubt about Netflix's plans to be a leader in live sports streaming. The platform has made big deals, like the upcoming NFL Christmas games, but the Tyson-Paul match makes people wonder if it is ready.
Critics worry that similar problems could affect future events, especially those with large audiences. Netflix depends on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its cloud services, which gives some hope for a solution. Netflix clearly needs to invest a lot in its streaming systems to avoid another such failure.
As one Reddit user quipped,
“The NFL is going to f**k them up if they don't fix it by Christmas, it's the Chiefs and Steelers, Taylor Swift, and everything”
Despite all these, Netflix remains optimistic. After the fight, its statement noted the event's global reach and remained mum on specifics regarding compensation or remedies for those hurt.
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The Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight is still available for a re-watch, but the streamer must assure fans that it will work well before its next major event.
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