Netflix’s attempt to get into live sports streaming has landed it in hot water. Israeli subscribers, led by married lawyers, filed a class-action lawsuit worth about $2.75 million (NIS 10 million) against the streaming giant. The reason? Their epic live coverage of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul on November 16 was a disaster. Instead of a seamless “Fight of the Century”, viewers were shown frozen screens and technical chaos.
Subscribers reportedly shelled out NIS 54.90 ($15) a month expecting top-notch service but received a wake-up call in the middle of the night in frustration. About 100,000 Israeli fans stayed up until 3 in the morning, to watch the digital freeze frame competition. Adding insult to injury, Netflix has yet to admit fault or offer compensation.
Filed by attorney Eliezer Schwartz, the lawsuit accuses Netflix of breaking its promise, leaving fans upset and questioning the future of its live sports.
A similar class action lawsuit over the same broadcast chaos has been filed in the United States, but the Israeli claim sticks to the local crowd. As it stands, Netflix hasn’t bothered to respond, and the court has yet to make a decision.
Netflix’s silence thus far may be louder than the actual war. Fans? Angry. A streaming service? Ashamed. The result? To be decided. If Netflix intended to knock it out of the park, it may have just hit itself in the face.
Source link
