Despite having access to high-speed fibre internet with speeds up to 1.5 terabytes per second, many local residents encountered repeated buffering, error messages, and an inability to view the event at all.
The boxing showdown, held at the AT&T Stadium in Texas and drawing a record crowd of 75,000 attendees, was Netflix’s first foray into the world of live boxing. However, as excitement peaked just moments before the co-main event, the platform’s stream crashed, leaving fans staring at error codes and buffer screens.
“This wasn’t just an ordinary fight; it was supposed to be a huge night for boxing fans everywhere,” said Sarnia resident Mark Daniels, who had gathered with friends to watch the event. “Instead, we got to see a buffering wheel more than the actual fight. It’s incredibly disappointing.”
Social media was flooded with complaints from frustrated viewers, with many in Sarnia joining the chorus of outrage. One commonly displayed message on screens read: “Pardon the interruption. We're having trouble playing Netflix. Please check your internet connection and try again”. The error code “NW-2-5” and "F-7073" became infamous overnight.
Even Netflix’s top-tier subscription plan coupled with fibre-optic internet couldn’t save Sarnians from the technical debacle, as the problem stemmed from the streaming giant itself. The service, which has no prior experience in live sports broadcasting, struggled to handle the unprecedented number of viewers tuning in for the fight.
Downdetector, a website tracking service interruptions, reported thousands of outages globally, with Canadian viewers hit particularly hard. Netflix has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the failure, leaving many wondering whether the company was adequately prepared for such a high-profile event.
Adding to the frustration, this comes as Netflix is reportedly eyeing further live sports ventures, with talks of bringing NFL games to the platform. Sports fans, however, may be skeptical of the streamer’s ability to handle the demands of live sports broadcasting after this fiasco.
For now, those in Sarnia and beyond are left with a bitter taste after a night that promised excitement but delivered disappointment. Netflix’s silence on the issue has only deepened the frustration among fans, who are now questioning whether the platform is up to the challenge of live event streaming.
As one Sarnian fan put it, “If Netflix wants to compete in the sports world, they’re going to need to step up their game. No one will put up with this kind of failure again.”
