The class action lawsuit accuses Netflix of breach of contract and fraud, saying users were faced with an “unwatchable” live stream on November 15. A Florida man is suing Netflix over streaming issues during a match between boxing legend Mike Tyson and former YouTube star Jake Paul.
The class action lawsuit was filed in Hillsborough County, Florida on November 18 by a man named Ronald “Blue” Denton, who accuses Netflix of breach of contract and fraud, saying users were faced with an “unwatchable” livestream on November 15.
The lawsuit, obtained by USA Today on November 20, accuses the streaming service of providing a poor experience during an event that was expected to attract high viewership.
“Sixty million Americans were eager to see ‘Iron Man’ Mike Tyson — ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ — take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. But what they saw was ‘the baddest streamer on the planet,'” the lawsuit states.
Netflix did not immediately respond to USA Today ‘s request for comment .
The lawsuit also alleges that more than 100,000 people complained about streaming issues. “Boxing fans, along with ordinary Americans who wanted to see a legend in what was likely his final fight, were faced with serious problems, including inaccessibility, streaming glitches, and buffering issues,” the lawsuit says.
During the match, buffering issues affected the viewing experience for some viewers. Furthermore, screen quality also became an issue for other viewers watching at home at night.
According to figures from Netflix, the main event between Tyson and Paul attracted more than 108 million viewers worldwide and was called “the most streamed sporting event ever”.
The broadcast reached 65 million simultaneous households in the United States, accounting for 56% of the nation’s total viewership. The streaming giant hailed it as a huge success. But the lawsuit alleges otherwise, claiming viewers “didn’t get what they expected” by missing part or all of the game.