Tyson-Paul bout gives Netflix opportunity to show it can handle big events with NFL, WWE on horizon

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson aren't only ones who have high stakes when y meet in boxing ring on Friday night.

For Netflix, it is ir biggest live sports event to date, and an opportunity to make sure it can handle audience demand with NFL and WWE on horizon.

bout between YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, and Tyson, 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, from AT&T Stium in Arlington, Texas, will stream globally and be available to Netflix's 280 million subscribers at no ditional cost.

Netflix will brocast bout in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and German. It was originally scheduled for July 20, but was delayed by Tyson having a medical episode on a plane and needing time to recover from a stomach ulcer.

Netflix declined multiple requests by Associated Press to make a company executive available to discuss expectations about fight.

JP Morgan Chase analyst Doug Anmuth has not wavered in his prediction that it will be most-watched fight ever. That might be an unrealistic bar to climb since four of Muhamm Ali's bouts h estimated worldwide audiences of one billion.

modern-day U.S. mark of 4.6 million from 2015 bout between Floyd Maywear and Manny Pacquiao could be attainable though.

“We believe Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight could be most watched boxing match ever given ease of access and NFLX’s (Netflix's) large global subscriber base, and it should attract Tier subs, viewers, and dollars," Anmuth said in his analyst note according to CNBC Pro. "Netflix is increasingly focused on sports entertainment, events, and shoulder content, and we expect a bigger push into live sports over time, particularly as negotiating leverage shifts in NFLX’s direction.”

Netflix has used live sports as support programming for documentaries and series it airs. “Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson”, a three-part documentary series previewing fight card, was ranked second Thursday night among Netflix's most-viewed shows.

Last November’s Netflix Cup, where Formula 1 drivers were paired with PGA golfers in a match-play format, brought toger famous figures from “Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing,” March 3 Netflix Slam exhibition match between Rafael Nal and Carlos Alcaraz tied in with “Point Break" and a documentary series about Alcaraz that will air next year.

NFL elected to partner with Netflix for a Christmas Day doubleheer of games because two series — “Quarterback” and “Receiver” — were among Netflix’s top 10 series globally.

Most Valuable Promotions is handling production of Friday's bout while CBS will produce two NFL games for Netflix. When “Raw” begins airing on Netflix on Jan. 5, World Wrestling Entertainment handles production of all its events.

Netflix will carry “Raw” in U.S., Cana, United Kingdom and Latin America beginning in January, with ditional countries to be ded as contracts expire. bigger component, though, is that Netflix becomes carrier of all WWE shows and specials outside U.S. and company’s premium live events, including WrestleMania and SummerSlam.

“Technically, it is a great dry run by putting on live events. biggest problem y might have is you just end up in a situation where you’ve got so much volume and viewing a way that you haven’t h in past,” said Patrick Crakes, a media consultant and former Fox Sports executive. “It could end up being more than who watches NFL games for a period of time. Ors are handling production, what y have to worry about is operational flow. y know what y are doing.”