The fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul was a one-of-a-kind spectacle. Viewership reflects that.
Netflix revealed on Tuesday that Friday’s live boxing event between Tyson and Paul drew in 108 million viewers globally, making it the ‘most-streamed sporting event ever.’ Netflix’s live broadcast from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas peaked at 65 million concurrent households in the U.S and an estimated 56% of all TV viewership in the country was tuned into the Tyson-Paul fight between 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, the streaming service added.
The co-main event, a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, drew in 74 million live viewers globally to become ‘the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history,’ Netflix added.
Tens of millions of followers tuned in to see Paul defeat Tyson by unanimous decision on Friday. The live broadcast marked the No. 1 title on Netflix, not only in the U.S, but 78 total countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico and South Africa.
The live broadcast was not a complete success, despite the record-setting viewership. Some Netflix users expressed their frustration across social media over technical difficulties, including buffering, screen quality concerns and audio issues.
These are issues Netflix will look to improve as they continue with their live sporting lineup. The platform is set to stream an NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans, which will feature a half-time performance from Beyoncé.
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