Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford: Streaming Concerns
As the highly anticipated Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford boxing match approaches, scheduled for September 13 in Las Vegas, fans are expressing trepidation over Netflix’s ability to deliver a smooth live streaming experience. Previous streaming endeavors, including the Dana White-produced fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, faced significant technical challenges, leading to considerable viewer dissatisfaction.
Previous Streaming Challenges
Despite having a combined 62 million followers across social media, the event’s demand overwhelmed Netflix’s infrastructure, resulting in freezing and buffering issues that hampered many viewers’ experiences.
When the Paul vs. Tyson fight aired, it attracted an impressive 65 million households, yet the platform struggled to handle the traffic. This has led many to voice their concerns ahead of the upcoming bout. One fan lamented,
“Netflix needs to ensure the stream doesn’t crash like the Tyson vs. Paul fight.”
Another user remarked,
“After what we saw with Tyson vs. Paul, Netflix shouldn’t be trusted to stream fights anymore; the quality was terrible.”
A third user echoed these sentiments, predicting possible streaming failures for Canelo vs. Crawford:
“If the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight had issues, I can only imagine how this one will go.”
Others shared similar worries, pointing out that any repeat of past technical difficulties could lead to “disaster.”
Netflix’s Response to Technical Hurdles
Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s Chief Technology Officer, addressed the technical hurdles faced during the Paul vs. Tyson bout in a statement, acknowledging the difficulties that arose from such an unprecedented surge in viewership. She stated,
“This unprecedented scale posed numerous technical challenges, but the launch team managed to prioritize stream stability for most viewers,”
while also acknowledging that some users had unsatisfactory experiences and promising future improvements.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Matches
In preparation for the Canelo vs. Crawford fight, Netflix has an interim opportunity to refine its streaming capabilities with the upcoming match between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on July 11. With lessons learned from previous experiences, Netflix undoubtedly recognizes the importance of flawless execution for high-profile events. The boxing community, meanwhile, is relieved that Canelo vs. Crawford will be accessible at no additional charge beyond regular subscription fees—yet that could be rendered irrelevant if viewers encounter significant streaming problems throughout the fight.
