Netflix is changing the sports viewing game with its first live sports streaming event, featuring U.S. heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, 58, and social personality turned fighter Jake Paul, 27.
Netflix recently released a video clip of Tyson saying he never engages with the Internet.
“I don’t read the Internet, I don’t look at the Internet—I don’t even know how to get on the Internet,” he said.
In an ironic twist, Paul became famous as a young YouTuber, building a social media following that has now followed his transition into the boxing ring, giving him the spirit to take on the legendary Tyson.
The modern-day gladiator event debuts after Netflix announced it would acquire the rights to stream two NFL games exclusively during Christmas. Netflix management told CNBS that the new live programming creates “cultural moments relevant not only to viewers but also to advertisers,” establishing a new revenue stream that Netflix hopes to scale.
Netflix’s new move in sports streaming is anticipated to create a strong advertising marketplace and boost profits, the report said. With many niche audiences, the latest sports streaming avenue adds to the vast content library and will help retain viewers who might have subscribed just for live sporting events.
Netflix is ramping up the anticipation of a live event with a docuseries “Countdown: Paul vs Tyson,” profiling Tyson and Paul’s journey to fight night with two episodes on Nov. 7. Then episode 3 on Nov. 12, leading up to the fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which airs live on Netflix on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. EST.
