Netflix, traditionally hesitant about live sports, is reconsidering after the success of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event, planning to stream NFL games on Christmas and secure a $5 billion WWE deal, while also considering UFC rights amidst streaming issues during the Paul vs. Tyson fight.
Netflix has historically avoided the live sports arena. However, the recent Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event might be changing that mindset. The streaming giant reported a staggering 108 million viewers for the fight.
Next up, Netflix plans to stream two NFL games on Christmas Day. They’ve also secured a $5 billion deal for WWE’s Monday Night Raw starting in 2025. It’s a significant shift for the company.
Could UFC be next? Dana White, UFC CEO, hinted at the possibility. He expressed surprise that Netflix hadn’t entered live sports sooner, especially after the success of Paul vs. Tyson.
“I always believed it,” White told the Sports Business Journal. He thinks Netflix was late to the game but acknowledges their global reach could be a game-changer.
Despite the success, there were hiccups during the Paul vs. Tyson broadcast. Many viewers faced streaming issues due to 65 million concurrent streams. Some couldn’t load the event; others experienced freezing and poor quality.
White himself didn’t encounter these problems. He viewed the event as a learning opportunity for Netflix ahead of their NFL debut in December.
“It was smart,” White noted about hosting the fight. Though he wasn’t impressed with the event itself, he saw its value as a test run for future broadcasts.
While staying in a New York hotel, White found his viewing experience mostly smooth, just a bit grainy at times. Others weren’t as lucky, but he remained unaffected.
As for potential partnerships with UFC, discussions won’t start until next year. White remains open to new collaborations once negotiations begin.
He praised UFC’s current relationship with ESPN and Disney since their 2018 deal. Yet, he’s aware of other networks eager to partner with UFC in the future.
“We’re the biggest pay-per-view provider globally,” White stated confidently. He anticipates favorable outcomes in upcoming negotiations.
Looking ahead to 2025, White sees various possibilities for UFC’s content distribution. Whether sticking with Disney and ESPN or diversifying like WWE and NFL, only time will tell how things unfold.