Listen to the article
(BALTIMORE – September 15, 20025) – Once upon a time, you had to walk into Blockbuster on a Friday night. If the movie you wanted was gone, tough luck. Then came Netflix, shipping little red envelopes to our mailboxes. A few years later, streaming went mainstream — and Blockbuster was history.
Netflix wasn’t just about movies. It was about freedom and convenience. Watch what you want, when you want. No late fees, no gatekeepers. Amazon followed with Prime, Hulu jumped in, Disney, Apple, Paramount, Peacock — you name it. The old cable bundle collapsed.
Now here we are in 2025, watching history repeat itself — this time in sports and live events.
Boxing Goes Streaming
On September 13, 2025, Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford wasn’t on pay-per-view. It wasn’t $99.95 through your cable box. It was on Netflix.
And not hidden behind a special price tag — it was included with your monthly subscription.
In a stunning upset, Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The venue was packed with more than 70,000 fans, the atmosphere electric, and the financial stakes enormous: a record-breaking $47 million live gate, Canelo making over $100 million, and Crawford walking away with the biggest payday of his career.
But here’s the real story: For the first time, a fight of this magnitude skipped the old PPV model entirely.
No cable companies. No $100 charges. No middlemen.
This was Netflix stepping into the boxing ring — and by extension, the sports arena.
From Movies to the Super Bowl Mindset
Netflix isn’t just experimenting. Earlier this year, they streamed NFL Christmas games, pulling in over 26 million viewers and selling out ad space to DraftKings, T-Mobile, and Jack in the Box. They even turned the halftime show into the “Beyoncé Bowl,” blending sports with culture in a way that went viral.
Think about that: the same company that killed Blockbuster is now standing toe-to-toe with the Super Bowl.
Why It Matters to Everyday People
-
No More Pay-Per-View
The days of shelling out $100 for a fight may be numbered. Subscription streaming is replacing the old cable PPV hustle. -
Global Access
A teenager in Baltimore, a family in Ghana, and a boxing fan in London all watched Canelo vs. Crawford at the same time — no extra fees, no barriers. -
Bigger Audiences, Bigger Culture
These aren’t just sports events anymore. They’re cultural spectacles — music, sports, and entertainment rolled into one. -
Advertisers Are Watching
Companies are lining up to get in front of these massive live audiences. That money keeps the lights on — and shows how serious Netflix is about staying in the game.
The Bigger Picture: Digital Disruption 2.0
First, Blockbuster. Then cable TV. Now pay-per-view.
The story is the same every time: the people get tired of being squeezed, technology shifts, and the old giants get knocked out.
This isn’t just about Netflix. Amazon is sniffing around sports rights. Apple has dipped into baseball. Disney owns ESPN. The battleground has moved from movies and sitcoms to the very thing that has always kept cable alive: live sports.
And make no mistake — this changes the rules for boxing, basketball, football, and beyond.
Crawford’s victory over Canelo wasn’t just a win in the ring — it was a win for a new model of sports entertainment. One where fans don’t have to choose between paying rent and watching the fight of the century.
Closing Bell
We are living through a once-in-a-generation shift. Just like those red envelopes spelled the end of Blockbuster, streaming fights and football on Netflix may spell the end of pay-per-view and traditional sports TV.
The question now is: Who’s next to fall?
