Netflix Aims for Glitch-Free Christmas with 2 Major NFL Games

the “unwatchable” livestream.At its peak, the fight reached 65 million concurrent streams globally, which was an unprecedented scale for Netflix.A Netflix spokesperson said the platform has learned a great deal about streaming from the Tyson vs. Paul fight, adding that Netflix has adjusted its content delivery, encoding, and streaming protocols accordingly to prevent technical issues for the football games.“We now know from experience what are the main pressure points in our infrastructure and are promptly addressing them ahead of the NFL games,” the spokesperson said in an email. A lot is at stake for Netflix to get livestreams right and glitch-free. The platform is already set to air NFL games on Christmas Day in 2025 and 2026. Netflix will also begin broadcasting WWE Raw, SmackDown, and other WWE programming weekly starting Jan. 6. On Friday, Netflix secured a deal with FIFA to gain exclusive streaming rights to the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031. The two groups said it is not only a score for the streamer, but a win for FIFA, which is hoping to reach a wider audience, especially in the U.S. “This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.Whether it’s a comedy special, a late-night talk show, or a dating show reunion, it has been hit or miss as to whether Netflix’s broadcasts will run smoothly.But it’s clear that live programming is here to stay on Netflix. In recent years, the streamer has been experimenting more with live programming — an area largely dominated by traditional TV platforms. It’s a sharp pivot from the binge-watching trend that helped Netflix rise to popularity.Netflix has the largest subscriber base of any streaming service worldwide. But mastering live streaming will be crucial for its future as concerns about stagnation and subscriber growth continue to loom.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Become a SponsorWe’ve gone to incredible places together this year. Support OPB’s essential coverage and exploration in 2025 and beyond. Join as a monthly Sustainer now or with a special year-end contribution. Contribute Now THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Become a Sponsor📨 Daily news in your inboxSign up today for OPB’s “First Look” – your daily guide to the most important news and culture stories from around the Northwest.EmailPlease leave this field blankSign upTags: Business, Sports, Television, News, Culture