Jake Paul vs. NFL: Who’s the King of Netflix?

In a bold move, Netflix officially entered the live streaming arena with the highly anticipated boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

Record-Breaking Numbers and New Potential

With a staggering 108 million global views, the match not only broke numerous records but also highlighted Netflix’s immense potential in the live event space. Following this success, the platform expanded its live streaming portfolio by broadcasting major sports events, including the NFL Christmas Day game and WWE Monday Night Raw, solidifying its foothold in live sports streaming.

Q4 of 2024 was a milestone for Netflix, with the platform adding 19 million new subscribers and achieving a revenue of $10.25 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s projections. Iconic events like the Tyson-Paul fight, NFL games, and Squid Game Season 2 were among the most-streamed content, fueling the platform’s record-breaking success.

Jake Paul Responds

Despite the massive success, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters downplayed the impact of the boxing match, attributing the platform’s growth to its diverse and rich content library. This sparked a sharp response from Jake Paul, who didn’t shy away from defending the significance of the event.

Paul pointed to research that highlighted the NFL games driving higher subscription numbers, but he maintained that the Tyson-Paul match played a pivotal role in Netflix’s record-breaking quarter. Taking to Instagram, he declared, “Not even close,” emphasizing the match’s contribution to the platform’s success.

Netflix’s Perspective

Peters later acknowledged that live events like the Tyson-Paul match and NFL games attracted significant new subscribers. However, he argued that users stayed because of Netflix’s varied and compelling content library.

Netflix’s Live Streaming Future

Netflix’s entry into live streaming has opened up vast opportunities, but maintaining strong relationships with high-profile athletes and partners like Jake Paul remains crucial.

As the streaming giant continues to explore and invest in major live sports events, its ability to balance large-scale live events with engaging content will shape the future of Netflix in this increasingly competitive industry.