Boxing's biggest fight is streaming on Netflix - and it could KO pay-per-view

"State of play: Netflix is quickly becoming boxing's new arena. The streaming service dipped its toe in the arena last November's Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight that drew 60 million viewers worldwide and delivered a major subscriber bump. Paul-Tyson was considered more an entertainment spectacle than a "real" boxing match, while Saturday's Álvarez-Crawford features two of the best boxers in the world. Yes, but: Both follow the same playbook - streaming on a streaming platform whose audience dwarfs that of successful PPV events that generate buys in the low millions."

"What they're saying: Media analyst Dan Rayburn tells Axios the appeal of streaming lies in its "guaranteed revenue stream" over PPV's hit-or-miss possibility. "Sports content owners are cutting huge deals over a long period of time, while streaming services are getting content that will drive subscriptions and keep subscribers on the service." By the numbers: Netflix has not disclosed how much it paid to be the exclusive streaming partner for the Álvarez-Crawford fight, but other recent deals have been substantial."

"The latest: In August, the UFC, mixed-martial arts' top promotion, signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount (parent company of CBS) for its biggest fights to stream on Paramount+ beginning in 2026. "The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport," UFC CEO and president Dana White said in a statement."

Netflix has moved into live boxing, streaming November's Jake Paul–Mike Tyson fight to 60 million viewers worldwide and producing a substantial subscriber increase. The platform will exclusively stream Álvarez–Crawford, showcasing two top-ranked boxers rather than an entertainment spectacle. Streaming deals reach audiences far larger than successful pay-per-view events, which typically generate low‑million buys and charge $50–$90 per event. Streaming offers a guaranteed revenue stream compared with PPV's hit-or-miss model, enabling multiyear, high-value rights agreements that drive subscriptions and retention. Examples include DAZN's Álvarez deal and the UFC's seven-year, $7.7 billion Paramount+ agreement.

Read at Axios