Former NFL star Shawne Merriman was among the estimated 60 million viewers who tuned in to Netflix to witness Jake Paul's unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson. This event left him and many others with a mix of emotions and observations.

Production Quality Concerns

Merriman was among those perplexed by the production's quality. With a surge of viewers streaming onto the platform around 8 p.m. ET, numerous customers faced buffering issues. The broadcast itself was plagued by strange cutaways, Tyson's full moon, and mics dropping out at the most inopportune moments. This raised questions about Netflix's ability to handle such a massive event.During the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, there were clear indications of challenges in the production. The unexpected glitches and technical difficulties took away from the overall viewing experience. Merriman, with his experience in producing live sports television, was particularly concerned about the lack of proper preparation.

Experience in Live Sports Television

Unlike most viewers, Merriman has extensive experience in producing live sports television. His Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, which he founded, streams live on Lights Out Sports TV - the free channel he also established. This background gave him a unique perspective on the issues faced during the fight.He emphasized the importance of thorough stress testing before going live. There should be backups upon backups to ensure that any unforeseen events during the live broadcast can be handled smoothly. Merriman suspected that Netflix may not have had the right team in place for a live sporting event, as there seemed to be a mixture of outside and in-house personnel with different understandings of how to handle live sports.

Impact on NFL Broadcasts

The questionable production of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight sparked worries among NFL fans. Merriman made it clear that the NFL's brand is too big to tolerate such botched broadcasts. The production quality of the NFL is at the highest standards, and any deviation can have a significant impact.He compared the NFL's production to that of other streaming services like Amazon's "Thursday Night Football." While there may be initial teething problems, the NFL has the resources and expertise to get it right. Merriman expects Netflix to learn from this experience and improve their production for future NFL games and other events.

Looking Ahead to the NFL and WWE on Netflix

Merriman added that he expects Netflix to get it right in time for the NFL and later WWE to come to the streaming service. He believes that with proper planning and execution, Netflix can provide a top-notch viewing experience for these major sports events.He also noted that the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight could change the landscape of the NFL in the international market. If Netflix can deliver high-quality broadcasts, it could open up new opportunities for the NFL globally.Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.