Netflix is assuring fans that its recent streaming woes are a thing of the past, just in time for the much-anticipated Christmas Day NFL fixtures. Among the marquee matchups is the Kansas City Chiefs’ clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, which will be streamed live on the platform.
The streaming giant faced significant backlash last month during its coverage of the high-profile boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. The bout, which ended with Paul securing a unanimous decision, was marred by widespread technical issues. Viewers experienced frequent buffering, crashes, and frozen streams, leading to frustration during one of the year’s most-hyped sporting events.
Addressing the Glitches
In the aftermath of the Tyson-Paul debacle, Netflix moved quickly to identify and resolve the technical issues. According to Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria, the platform has taken significant steps to ensure smooth streaming for upcoming live events.
“It was a big number, but you don’t know, and you can’t learn these things until you do them, so you take a big swing,” Bajaria explained. “Our teams and engineers are amazing. They moved super quickly, stabilised the platform, and got it back up and running for most viewers relatively fast.”
Netflix has since implemented a series of upgrades to its infrastructure to handle the high demand expected during the NFL’s Christmas Day games and other major live events, including Beyoncé’s holiday concert.
“We’ve done a lot of work to learn from the experience,” Bajaria added. “We’re fully ready and excited for the NFL, Beyoncé, and beyond.”
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NFL and WWE Place Their Trust in Netflix
Despite the earlier issues, the NFL has maintained its confidence in Netflix, showing no signs of hesitation as the streaming service prepares for its biggest live sports test to date. The Christmas Day slate is expected to attract millions of viewers, especially for the Chiefs-Steelers matchup featuring Super Bowl champions Kansas City.
Netflix’s push into live sports doesn’t stop with football. The platform is also gearing up to become the new home of WWE content starting January 6, following a groundbreaking 10-year deal valued at over $5 billion (£4 billion).
This deal will make Netflix the exclusive streaming partner for WWE’s weekly programming, including Monday Night RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. Additionally, major Premium Live Events (PLEs) like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam will now be available on the platform, along with a treasure trove of historic WWE moments and classic matches.
Looking Forward
Netflix’s foray into live sports represents a significant shift in its content strategy, as the platform aims to compete with industry giants like Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, and Peacock in the live-event streaming space. While the Tyson-Paul event served as a cautionary tale, Netflix appears determined to ensure that its upcoming NFL games and WWE content launch without a hitch.
Christmas Day will serve as a major test for Netflix’s readiness, with millions of football fans tuning in to watch the Chiefs take on the Steelers. If the platform delivers a seamless experience, it could mark a turning point in its expansion into live sports and solidify its place as a go-to destination for major events.
As Bajaria confidently stated, “We’ve learned from the challenges, and we’re ready to deliver.” Fans will find out soon enough whether Netflix can rise to the occasion and establish itself as a reliable platform for the sports world.
