Netflix vs. Pay TV: Is Netflix Ready for the Challenge?

I remember thinking I should have known better. At 69, you’d think I’d have learned my lesson by now. But here I was, staying up way past my bedtime on two separate November occasions. Both times, I was as sober as a judge, mind you. The first late night was on election night, a real doozy. And then, just when I thought I’d recovered from that bout of sleep deprivation, I found myself glued to the screen way past my usual bedtime yet again.

This time, it was to witness a lackluster “fight” between Mike Tyson and the social media sensation turned boxer, Jake Paul. Tyson, at 58, looked every bit his age – his legs just weren’t up to snuff. The whole event felt more like a spectacle than a sporting event, and it was a bit of a letdown for Netflix. The streaming giant had a full house at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and an audience of around 60 million viewers, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.

From buffering issues to poor picture quality, the entire evening left a lot to be desired. And this doesn’t bode well for Netflix, especially with plans to broadcast NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE’s Monday Night Raw starting in January. NFL fans might be tough critics, but wrestling fans? They can be a rowdy bunch.

It seems like Netflix might have bitten off more than it can chew. Growing up in the 1960s, the idea of paying for television was a scandalous concept. There were even drawings of TVs with coin slots near the rabbit ears! My dad, bless his heart, was not on board with the idea at all. I still remember him threatening to kick the TV down the stairs if we ever had to pay for TV.

While my dad’s reaction might have been a bit extreme (and nonsensical, considering we didn’t even have stairs), it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come in terms of entertainment. Despite all the chaos and confusion, the TV remained intact, and my dad eventually made it to bed after his dramatic display.

Looking back on that night, I can’t help but chuckle at the memory. And as I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for my peaceful refuge of a bed. The next morning, everything was back to normal, with me tuning in to Captain Kangaroo without a care in the world.

It’s funny how much has changed since those days. Now, with streaming services like Netflix at our fingertips, we have a whole new world of entertainment to explore. Despite the bumps along the way, it’s safe to say that the future of TV looks bright – even if my dad might not have been convinced back in the day.