ESPN+ suffered a major technical failure during UFC 313, frustrating viewers who had paid $79.99 for the pay-per-view event with widespread buffering and purchasing issues. The backlash was swift, with UFC President Dana White openly criticizing ESPN+ for the platform’s inability to handle the fight’s demand.
“Yeah, there were problems buying [the pay-per-view] on ESPN+,” White said post-fight. “I don’t know what happened with their platform tonight, but yeah, there are a lot of pissed-off people.”
To manage the fallout, ESPN took damage-control steps, offering a free re-stream of the event to all ESPN+ subscribers—not just those who had paid for it. However, because the technical issues were resolved before the main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, ESPN declined to issue refunds. Instead, the network issued a formal apology, admitting to the failure and promising improvements.
This incident could not have come at a worse time for ESPN. UFC’s exclusive negotiating window with ESPN expires on April 15, after which the UFC can explore deals with other broadcasters. The current deal, worth $450 million annually, includes 30 fight nights and 12 pay-per-view events per year. The UFC is now reportedly looking to double its rights fees, and with competitors like Netflix and Amazon entering live sports, ESPN’s streaming failure weakens its position at the negotiating table.
White’s remarks suggest that ESPN has already struggled to secure favorable terms. “Not only did they not come to terms, but ESPN tried to cut a lesser deal than they had. It’s fascinating times,” White said. “It’s time for everybody, even the major [sports properties], to get creative.”
The Take:
ESPN+’s failure during UFC 313 is part of a larger problem plaguing premium streaming services. Hulu, another Disney-owned platform, also crashed during its first-ever live stream of the Academy Awards, with over 33,000 viewers unable to log in or continue watching. The stream even cut off before the event ended, further embarrassing the platform.
Hulu’s failure wasn’t just a technical glitch—it was a huge misstep at a critical moment. Disney had aggressively marketed Hulu’s live-streaming capabilities while selling out its Oscars ad inventory to major brands like Rolex, T-Mobile, and Starbucks. These advertisers were expecting a stable platform with high engagement, but what they got was a high-profile failure that undercut Hulu’s ability to compete in live content.
These failures are particularly concerning given Disney’s acquisition of BamTech, a streaming technology company originally built by Major League Baseball. Disney took full control of BamTech to power its streaming ambitions, using its technology to support Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.
At the time, BamTech was regarded as a cutting-edge streaming platform, already supporting services like HBO, WWE, and the NHL. The expectation was that Disney’s investment would ensure scalability and reliability for its streaming services. Yet, Disney+ struggled at launch in 2019, with widespread login failures, app crashes, and playback issues, and years later, the same problems persist across ESPN+ and Hulu.
This raises serious doubts about Disney’s ability to deliver live content at scale—a problem that is now affecting its UFC negotiations and advertising partnerships.
Netflix Hasn’t Been Immune to Streaming Failures Either
Despite dominating on-demand streaming, Netflix has also struggled with live event stability. The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match last year was riddled with glitches, echoing its infamous Love Is Blind live reunion disaster in 2023, which was so broken that Netflix had to cancel the stream entirely and upload a pre-recorded version instead.
Unlike ESPN+ and Hulu, Netflix has been working to improve, recently pulling off a smooth live-stream of NFL Christmas games and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. However, the earlier failures raise an important question: Are any of these streaming giants truly ready for live content?
In the Age of Cord-Cutting, Streaming Services Are Failing at Their Most Important Job
The entire premise of cord-cutting was to offer consumers a better alternative to cable TV—more convenient, affordable, and reliable. However, ESPN+, Hulu, and Netflix’s failures show that when it comes to live events, they still can’t match the reliability of traditional TV.
Live sports and events are the last remaining stronghold of cable TV. This is why Disney, Netflix, and Amazon are investing billions to secure exclusive streaming rights. However, if these platforms can’t even deliver a seamless experience, why should consumers trust them to replace cable?
This is exactly why free, ad-supported platforms like Tubi are gaining ground. Tubi delivered one of the smoothest Super Bowl streams ever, handling 15.5 million concurrent viewers with minimal latency. While ESPN+ struggled to stream a single fight card, Tubi outperformed paid services and traditional TV.
This raises serious concerns for the future of premium streaming:
- Why should consumers pay for ESPN+ or Hulu if a free platform like Tubi delivers better live performance?
- If Hulu can’t handle an awards show, how can it be trusted to stream live sports at scale?
- Will cord-cutters reconsider cable if streaming services keep failing at live events?
The Bottom Line: Disney and Netflix Must Fix Live Streaming—Or Risk Losing Their Audiences
The repeated failures of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ expose fundamental weaknesses in Disney’s streaming infrastructure. The BamTech acquisition was supposed to prevent these failures, yet ESPN+ and Hulu continue to collapse under pressure.
At a time when the UFC is renegotiating its media deal, live sports are becoming the battleground for streaming dominance, and advertisers expect reliable platforms. Disney cannot afford these setbacks.
If Disney and Netflix want to dominate live content, they must step up their game. Investing in infrastructure upgrades isn’t just about avoiding technical failures—it’s about proving they can deliver the same seamless experience viewers expect from traditional TV. With live sports and events becoming the next big battleground in streaming, anything less than top-tier performance risks damaging their reputation and diminishing audience trust.
