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Netflix Set to Live Broadcast Chris Rock’s New Stand-Up Special

Sam Mangioni, | News

Netflix is entering a new era, adding live broadcasts to its subscription service. Kicking off its fresh offering with a bang, the streamer recently announced legendary comedian Chris Rock will make history as the first artist to perform live on its platform in 2023. As we wait with bated breath for the onslaught of Will Smith jokes, Netflix has quietly been on the hunt to team up with numerous sports leagues. Are we slowly marching back to cable TV?

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The Twitter post (above) was accompanied by a photo of Rock onstage in July with a blinged-out goat. The farm animal was, in fact, called Will Smith, a flippant gift from Kevin Hart at Madison Square Garden. Let’s just hope Smith isn’t in attendance for the live stream next year…

Variety reported that Rock’s new offering will mark “the first significant test of live streaming on Netflix, potentially opening the door for a number of its other programs to get the live treatment.” The magazine points out that the company’s interest in live unscripted content has been in the works for some time, including the idea of giving “fans a chance to vote live on who should be voted off a show.”

Speaking of live and unscripted, Netflix is also looking to purchase a number of sports leagues and events. According to Deadline, deals were under discussion for several tennis tours as well as a purchase of the World Surf League. While all were pursued to varying degrees, none of those deals has come to fruition yet.  While the notion of live sports has been previously resisted by the company’s management team, declining  subscription numbers and a slump in stock price has forced Netflix to reconsider.

Elsewhere, the sports sector has been dramatically shifting towards streaming over the past few years. Amazon secured an 11-year exclusive deal with NFL’s Thursday Night Football, and both Apple TV+ and Peacock grabbed exclusive windows for Major League Baseball. Additionally, Apple has recently partnered with Major League Soccer to build a brand-new streaming outlet, which both entities will manage.

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Netflix, Streaming, Will Smith
STAFF WRITER

Sam Mangioni

Sam Mangioni is an experienced Staff Writer with an extensive background in digital content production and news. Prior to working for Man of Many, Sam spent three years at Southern Cross Austereo where he served as a Content Producer and News Reporter for the flagship Triple M Breakfast Program. The Sydney-based reporter completed a Bachelor of Commerce from Macquarie University Majoring in Marketing in 2014. A specialist in sport, lifestyle and gear coverage, Sam's work has also featured in Fight News Australia.

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