Netflix’s Live Sports Debut Is Here. Will It Deliver?

Netflix finally enters the live sports arena on Tuesday — a pivotal moment for the streaming giant, previously one of the more famous holdouts in the space. 

PGA Tour players Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, and Collin Morikawa will be paired with Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly to compete for the Netflix Cup, which begins at 6 p.m. ET live from Las Vegas’ Wynn Golf Club.

Netflix’s app says the event, which will comprise eight holes of match play, will run two-and-a-half hours. The most pressing challenge for Netflix in its live sports debut is making sure the stream goes off without a hitch — something it failed to do earlier this year when it attempted to broadcast a live reunion for one of its dating shows.

Beyond basic functionality, the quality of Netflix’s stream will be of interest as well as the production of the golf event itself.

If the event is a success, Netflix looks ready to dive in even deeper with live sports — the company is reportedly interested in streaming a boxing match involving Jake Paul.

Viewership numbers for the Netflix Cup likely won’t be released, but a similar celebrity golf special earlier this year, “The Match,” drew an average of 782,000 viewers across TNT and two other channels. In that event, Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce took on Golden State Warriors’ Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Netflix is reportedly charging potential advertisers $2 million for Tuesday night’s event.