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Netflix takes a big swing into live sports with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight

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Netflix takes a big swing into live sports with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight

As a longtime subscriber to Netflix, I have witnessed the evolution of their content from binge-worthy shows like “Stranger Things” and “Bridgerton” to dabbling in live events. I must admit, I was initially skeptical when they announced their first live-streamed boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. However, after reflecting on my life experiences, I’ve come to appreciate the audacity of this move.

About 2½ years ago in Costa Rica, YouTube star-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul had a vision.

I, Paul, recount an extraordinary vision experienced during an ayahuasca ceremony. In this vivid dreamscape, I found myself squaring off against the formidable Mike Tyson in a high-stakes boxing match. The world tuned in to witness this spectacle on their television sets and devices, with millions of kids captivated by the unfolding drama.

On Friday, Netflix will host its inaugural live-streamed, officially recognized boxing match, marking a significant step into the world of sports. This event, taking place in Los Gatos, California, is undoubtedly Netflix’s most substantial sports endeavor so far and likely their most prominent live streaming attempt to date.

Stepping into uncharted territory, I find myself marveling at Netflix’s ambitious stride towards enlarging its live programming realm. This move is a strategic one, aimed at fortifying its burgeoning advertising enterprise. Known for captivating series like “Bridgerton” and “Stranger Things”, the streaming giant has just announced that its affordable ad-supported tier now boasts an impressive 70 million monthly active users – a significant leap from the 40 million reported in May. It’s all about the numbers, and live events are the golden ticket for captivating millions simultaneously, which is exactly what advertisers crave.

As a follower, I’m eagerly anticipating the number of Netflix subscribers who will tune in for the highly anticipated Paul vs. Tyson match. Unlike most major boxing events, which are usually broadcasted more exclusively via pay-per-view or sports streaming platforms, this one is available on a popular streaming service like Netflix.

According to Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports, one of our main attractions is the widespread distribution and global reach we offer. It’s a fantastic chance for people worldwide to watch simultaneously, sharing the same experience, and even the same fight, collectively at the same time.

Last year, I joined Netflix in their venture of streaming live events, and it all started with Chris Rock’s “Selective Outrage,” his first live comedy special following the incident at the 2022 Academy Awards where he was slapped by actor Will Smith. To this day, this special has garnered over 23 million views on Netflix alone.

Since then, the host of the stream has been responsible for numerous live broadcasts, featuring events such as tennis and golf exhibitions, a humorous roast involving Tom Brady, a hot dog-eating contest, and the SAG Awards. On Christmas Day, two NFL games will be available to stream on Netflix.

The highly-anticipated fight between Paul and Tyson, set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is a joint venture between Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions – a company that Paul himself co-founded. The preliminary fights will commence at 2:30 p.m., followed by four more bouts on the main card starting at 5 p.m., culminating in the main event of Paul vs. Tyson.

The scheduled date for the event was changed from July 20 to November 15, as Tyson experienced a sudden flare-up of an ulcer.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Nakisa Bidarian, one of the brains behind Most Valuable Promotions, has high hopes that a staggering number of movie lovers, around 50 million, will be glued to Netflix for this upcoming fight. Moreover, Bidarian is optimistic that the live event ticket sales could rake in an impressive figure surpassing $16 million!

Bidarian stated that a tremendous number of people will witness our brand at this unique, one-time occasion. This exposure is expected to significantly enhance the worth of our brand in the future.

Following our collaboration on a documentary about my life with them, the concept of me going live on Netflix for a fight originated. The movie, “Untold: Jake Paul – The Troublemaker,” became one of the top 10 films on Netflix in no less than 20 countries, according to their own data, for a period of one to two weeks in 2023.

Among the possible contenders considered for Paul, Netflix found Tyson particularly appealing due to his renown – he has the ability to attract long-term boxing enthusiasts and viewers who are not typically interested in the sport.

Riegg stated that by appealing to both the sense of nostalgia and the wide range of generations within their primary fanbase, we aimed to engage the largest number of people possible,” or simply put, “We targeted a broad audience by tapping into nostalgia and multi-generational appeal among our core fans.

Netflix and their top promotional partner did not disclose the specific monetary details, but according to Bidarian, both Tyson and Paul are earning sums in the millions.

To publicize the upcoming event, Netflix unveiled a documentary series named “Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson,” delving into the histories of the combatants and presenting their training procedures for the fight.

Should this boxing event turn out successful, we’ll definitely pursue similar chances like it,” Riegg noted.

Originally well-known for his mischievous stunts on YouTube, hailing from Ohio, Paul later turned professional as a boxer in the year 2020. He has since defeated opponents like ex-basketball player Nate Robinson, and the upcoming Tyson fight could potentially boost his public image further.

In “Countdown,” Paul expresses that he has an innate strength to stand up as a warrior, a challenger, and someone who is willing to take on tasks that others won’t.

Meanwhile, Tyson is hailed as one of boxing’s all-time legends, earning the title of youngest heavyweight champion at just 20 years old. He went on a remarkable streak of 37 consecutive victories, with 33 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Additionally, he has graced the silver screen in movies like “The Hangover” and “Ip Man 3.

Streaming services find sports appealing due to their large audiences and advertising potential, prompting tech companies to invest heavily in them. For instance, Amazon Prime Video hosts “Thursday Night Football” for the NFL, while Apple has acquired the rights for MLB’s “Friday Night Baseball” matches. Notably, Amazon recently secured a deal that allows it to stream a selection of NBA games as well.

Jeffrey Wlodarczak, CEO of Pivotal Research Group, stated that a steady flow of fresh content significantly assists in minimizing customer turnover. They aim to provide content tailored for various age groups or segments.

Investing in sports broadcasting rights can be quite costly, and there are doubts among some experts regarding the appeal of repeated viewings for certain matches. Netflix decision-makers emphasize that any sports content they acquire must be a sound investment financially for their corporation.

It’s not unheard of that broadcasting boxing matches can attract subscribers. Showing these fights aided in the expansion of HBO, as they leveraged the appeal of the sport to introduce their TV series and films to viewers.

According to Brett Sappington, a principal analyst at Sappington Media, it’s not hard to imagine that boxing could be suitable for Netflix just as it was for HBO. He finds many similarities between the two.

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2024-11-14 14:38

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