Numbers Are In: Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson Fight Attracts Over 108 Million Global Viewers

The recent boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, streamed live on Netflix, attracted over 108 million global viewers, marking a significant milestone in sports broadcasting. The event peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, underscoring the platform’s capacity to handle large-scale live sports events.

In addition to the main event, the co-main bout featuring Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano garnered 74 million live viewers globally and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million in the US.

• The Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight is the most-streamed sporting event ever, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams, with 38 million concurrent streams in the US.
• According to TVision, 56% of all US TV viewing between 12am and 1am EST was for the Paul vs Tyson fight.
• The Paul-Tyson fight garnered an estimated average minute audience of 108 million live viewers globally from opening to closing bell.
• The Taylor-Serrano fight averaged an estimated 74 million live viewers globally and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million in the US.
• The mega-event was the #1 title on Netflix for the week, with 46.6 million views (total hours viewed/runtime) through Sunday night.
• The event was #1 in 78 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, the UK and the US, and in the Top 10 in 91 countries tracked for the week of November 11-17. 
• The fight generated over 1.4B owned impressions across Netflix’s global social channels.
• The Paul vs. Tyson live event was produced by Most Valuable Promotions and EverWonder.

Despite the impressive viewership, the broadcast faced technical challenges, including buffering and connection issues, leading to viewer dissatisfaction. Netflix’s Chief Technology Officer, Elizabeth Stone, acknowledged these issues and emphasized the company’s commitment to improving live streaming capabilities.

The success of these events has positively impacted Netflix’s market performance, with shares reaching a record high following the announcement of the viewership figures. This surge reflects investor confidence in Netflix’s strategic move into live sports broadcasting.

These developments indicate a significant shift in sports media consumption, with streaming platforms like Netflix emerging as viable alternatives to traditional broadcasters. The substantial viewership numbers for both the Paul-Tyson and Taylor-Serrano fights demonstrate the potential for streaming services to attract large audiences for live sports events.

Join the free Ministry of Sport newsletter or become a MoS Member for all the latest news in sports business.