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Afternoon Edition

November 19, 2024

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Netflix released updated numbers for Friday’s Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight, and based on its measurements, they smashed previous high marks for the most-streamed live sporting event in history.

Streaming and linear TV are different animals, however. We explain why the tracking methods Netflix used require an asterisk—while its Christmas NFL games will be standardized.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Netflix Stock Rises Again As Tyson-Paul Fight Sets Streaming Record [[link removed]]

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Jake Paul–Mike Tyson fight has generated a streaming record for a live sporting event. But there is still a fairly large asterisk with that boast.

Netflix said Tuesday it posted an estimated average minute audience (AMA) of 108 million live global viewers, building on previously reported figures [[link removed]] of a peak of 65 million concurrent streams and 60 million households around the world watching the fight, won by Paul on Friday in a unanimous decision. The U.S. audience alone was credited with 38 million concurrent streams.

The streaming giant also said the undercard fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano generated an AMA of 47 million in the U.S., becoming the most-watched women’s sports event of all time in that country, and 74 million globally.

The figures, however, are only first-party, unaudited numbers in international markets, and were compiled in the U.S. with the aid of advertising technology firm TVision. Unlike Netflix’s upcoming Christmas Day NFL doubleheader, which will employ Nielsen methodology [[link removed]] like other league rights holders, the boxing match did not involve a highly established and audited measurement company to tabulate the audience.

Still, the latest Netflix figure likely smashes, at least by some meaningful measure, prior industry high points, such as a peak of 59 million concurrent viewers [[link removed]] for the final of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, or the average U.S. audience of 23 million [[link removed]] for an exclusive Peacock stream in January of an NFL wild-card game.

As the latest figures were released, Netflix has been in conversation with the NFL [[link removed]] about how best to prevent buffering and performance issues on Christmas that marred the streaming of the Paul-Tyson fight.

Stock Boom

Netflix, meanwhile, continued its stock-market tear, rising another 3% in Tuesday trading to close at $871.32 per share, adding to a similar lift on Monday and setting another company record.

Shares in Netflix have soared more than 86% this year and the latest news adds to the existing dominance [[link removed]] as the world’s largest streaming service.

Bills’ Dethroning of Chiefs Draws Highest TV Ratings of NFL Season [[link removed]]

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The Bills not only handed the Chiefs their first loss of the year Sunday but also gave the NFL its most-watched game of the season.

CBS drew 31.14 million viewers for Buffalo’s 30–21 victory over Kansas City, according to a source who viewed the game’s Nielsen ratings, which is the league’s highest TV audience this fall. That number beats the NFL season kickoff game record of 29.2 million viewers NBC [[link removed]] got for the Chiefs’ 27–20 win over the Ravens in Week 1.

Ahead of the previously undefeated Chiefs visiting the AFC rival Bills, CBS went all out promoting the potential game of the year. The network took its pregame studio show, The NFL Today, on the road [[link removed]] to Highmark Stadium. The program aired in its traditional noon ET time slot, several hours before Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen squared off at 4:25 p.m.

The massive viewership continues Kansas City’s dominance as the NFL’s No. 1 TV team [[link removed]], further separating the Chiefs from the Cowboys, who fell to 3–7 on the season after Monday night’s 34–10 loss to the Texans. The Chiefs are now responsible for the three most-watched games this season, including 27.9 million viewers on CBS for a victory over the Bengals in Week 2.

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Royals Ballpark Plans Expand to Kansas Amid Unsettled TV Future [[link removed]]

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The up-and-coming Royals are not a factor in the Juan Soto sweepstakes [[link removed]], the single biggest focal point of the MLB hot stove season. But the club still has a series of major, and potentially franchise-altering, decisions in front of it this offseason.

The Royals are steadily expanding their list of potential ballpark sites [[link removed]] to build a successor facility to Kauffman Stadium, and they are now considering a site in Johnson County, Kans., near the location of the former Sprint corporate headquarters.

The enlarged stadium site search is not unlike the wider view also taken [[link removed]] by their Truman Sports Complex neighbor, the NFL’s Chiefs. It also follows last spring’s stinging defeat at the ballot box [[link removed]] by Jackson County, Mo., voters, and subsequent, and still active, consideration [[link removed]] of a site at Washington Square Park, at the southern edge of downtown Kansas City.

Outgoing Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has been quite eager to get a stadium deal with the Royals done before his term finishes in January. Similar to the Chiefs’ deliberations on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas borders, the Royals’ inquiries in Kansas could put more pressure on officials back in Missouri.

Though the Royals’ stadium search is not nearly as pressing as issues rising with the Rays [[link removed]] and A’s [[link removed]], both of which will play in minor league facilities in 2025, the Kansas City deliberations remain one of the key, unresolved ballpark matters in the league.

TV Talk

The Royals, meanwhile, are just one of two remaining MLB teams to not have their local media rights fully settled for the 2025 season following the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy, which was resolved last week [[link removed]] with court approval of its reorganization plan.

Of the 12 MLB clubs that DSG aired in 2024, six (Angels, Braves, Cardinals, Marlins, Rays, and Tigers) are returning to Diamond Sports Group in revised deals and four others (Brewers, Guardians, Reds, and Twins) are shifting over the league model in which MLB will produce and distribute their local games. The Rangers are not returning to DSG and have been considering forming their own local network.

That leaves Kansas City, which has also been negotiating with DSG on a restructured rights deal. If an agreement is struck, the club will likely enter 2025 as one of the top teams in the company’s baseball portfolio as the Royals improved by 30 wins in 2024, reached the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons, and feature American League Most Valuable Player finalist Bobby Witt Jr.

LOUD AND CLEAR Friends or Foes?

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“They would have left us as fast as we would have left them.”

—Washington State football coach Jake Dickert on Saturday’s opponent, Oregon State, which is the only other current member of the Pac-12. The two universities were the only ones left standing last summer as the conference’s other 10 members left for the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC. The Pac-12 is adding [[link removed]] Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State in 2026, as well as non-football member Gonzaga.

During the 2025 season, Washington State and Oregon State will play each other twice—nearly unprecedented in college football—since their scheduling partnership with the Mountain West will not continue [[link removed]]. But Dickert said they’re still rivals [[link removed]]: “I’ve never gotten into the ‘they’re our buddy.’ Oregon State’s not our buddy.”

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Push

MPS-Imagn Images

Pat Riley ⬆ The Lakers are honoring their former head coach and player with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena. During his time with Los Angeles, Riley—who is currently the team president of the Heat—won four NBA titles as a head coach of the “Showtime” Lakers of the 1980s, as well as one as an assistant and one as a player. The statue is expected to be completed in 2026.

U.S. Soccer ⬆ Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang made a $30 million donation to the federation to support youth development for girls and women’s soccer. Read more [[link removed]] from Front Office Sports reporter Margaret Fleming.

Professional Women’s Hockey League ⬆ The league will play nine games at neutral sites this season for its PWHL Takeover Tour. The announced stops will be Buffalo, Denver, Detroit, Quebec City, Raleigh, Seattle, St. Louis, and Vancouver. A ninth stop has yet to be revealed. The announcement comes just weeks after the league’s SVP of business operations, Amy Scheer, said it’s looking to add two expansion teams before the 2025–2026 season [[link removed]].

San Antonio Missions ⬆⬇ Trustees of the San Antonio Independent School District approved terms for selling a 2.3-acre parking lot [[link removed]] to the minor league baseball franchise. However, the new terms include far more than the team’s original offer of adding a 250-space parking garage. They now include a $45 million school building and at least 1,250 affordable housing units, among others. The Missions’ ownership group, Designated Bidders, has until Dec. 9 to respond.

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More than 460 partners around the world, including the NBA, Bleacher Report, LaLiga, New York Rangers, ACC Digital Network, University of Southern California, and YouTube TV, rely on WSC Sports for technology that enables more views, more formats, and more fans. Fuel the fandom with AI. Learn more [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters ESPN released a preview of its Simpsons-themed alt-cast for the Dec. 9 game between the Bengals and Cowboys. Watch it here [[link removed]]. Former Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi, who was fired Monday, received a warm welcome from the football team after making an appearance at practice Tuesday morning. Take a look [[link removed]]. ESPN has spent millions to add some big names to its talent roster over the last few years, including Pat McAfee and Shams Charania. Check out the list [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Knicks Say NBA Is Out to Get Them After Latest League Probe [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The team accused the league of retaliation Monday. RFK Stadium Bill Advances Out of Senate Committee [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. are potential future homes for the Commanders. Even the Cowboys’ Stadium Is Falling Apart [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]“The wind got in there and exacerbated the looseness,” Jerry Jones said. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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