Netflix's Live Streaming Woes: Love is Late, but Will It Be Worth It?

Samson Amore

Samson Amore is a reporter for dot.LA. He holds a degree in journalism from Emerson College. Send tips or pitches to samsonamore@dot.la and find him on Twitter @Samsonamore.

Netflix's Live Streaming Woes: Love is Late, but Will It Be Worth It?
Netflix

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Netflix learned the hard way this weekend that livestreaming a massive global event isn’t as easy as simply dialing in.

On Sunday night, the streaming giant promised fans of its reality show “Love is Blind” a live show reuniting past cast members with hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey. The broadcast was set to begin at 8 p.m. eastern time, but didn’t kick off until an hour later – inconveniently for Netflix, the time that rival streamers HBO and Showtime both release their current prestige dramas, “Succession” and “Yellowjackets.” And, ironically for Netflix, the delay forced subscribers to consider the fact that cable could have executed the event better.


The livestreaming issue even affected Netflix’s stock slightly – it was down as much as 3% Monday.

The event was Netflix’s second attempt at livestreaming. The first was a live taping of Chris Rock’s standup special “Selective Outrage” which debuted in March. This second go was not as smooth as the first.

Instead of immediately playing the live event Sunday, Netflix viewers were treated to over an hour of delay messages promising “it’s almost time!” More than an hour after the supposed start time, the company admitted to the technical difficulties, noting, “There’s an issue with the livestream. Hang tight! We’re trying to fix it as soon as possible.” Netflix’s Instagram page hosted a live chat with a graphic that read, “love is late. It will be worth it.”

Eventually, the live episode was uploaded to Netflix on Monday. And for those tuning in live, people who’d already left the app had to return to fast-forward through about 70 minutes of a loading screen to get to the content. It wasn’t the most seamless experience for fans, and it was also an all-too-easy opportunity for Netflix haters and competitors to pile on the criticism. Between price hikes and new restrictions on password sharing, this was another reason for frustrated consumers to air their grievances.

Even Blockbuster rose from the grave to lob shade at the company which helped take it out of existence, tweeting at Netflix Sunday night, “remember renting vhs’ from us. You could start it on time no problem… This is what we get.”

Reality TV network Bravo also tweeted, “we would never keep you waiting for a Reunion,” reminding viewers that cable TV remains the king of live broadcasting.

Even lawmakers had jokes. In reference to a woman who fixed a “Love is Blind” cast member’s slacks last-minute during a wedding episode, New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Sunday night, “Someone call Lucia the seamstress to fix this. I believe in her.”

Cheesecake Factory made jokes. Kentucky Fried Chicken too.

It's unclear what caused the drastic delays. It’s possible that the company didn’t account for how many people would try and watch the live stream. If the system hosting the stream isn’t set up to handle a large amount of data requests from people trying to watch the content, then it can crash. And while Netflix didn’t say how many people tuned in to the “Love is Blind” livestream, the show has a massive global following. According to Nielsen, people watched over 13 billion minutes of the program in 2022, making it the eighth most-watched streaming series in the U.S.

It’s worth noting that plenty of other live events have hiccups when it comes to streaming. Cable, while the best at it, is not immune, especially to latency issues, which in particular frustrates sports fans during big events. Even some of the larger carriers will be slightly delayed compared to the action in the stadium.

For its part, Netflix did address the issue, going so far as to apologize to anyone who tuned in for the liveshow for wasting their afternoon in a statement it posted an hour and a half after the livestream was supposed to begin.

That said, Netflix is eager to grow its advertising business, and it recently offered a lower-priced tier with ads that has so far been well-received by customers. In addition, the company knows that live events are what its real clientele – the advertisers – want to buy into, and its keen to prove it can handle it. With a deal to livestream the 2024 Screen Actors Guild awards, Netflix now has a deadline for figuring out its technical issues before this debacle repeats itself.

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Billion-Dollar Milestones and Snapchat’s New Features

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles!

This week’s spotlight showcases LA’s thriving tech scene, featuring Snapchat’s latest feature updates and two local startups Liquid Death and Altruist, making TechCrunch’s Unicorn List for 2024.

Image Source: Snap

Snapchat’s recent fall updates bring fresh features, including a new iPhone camera shortcut for instant snaps, Halloween-inspired AI-powered Lenses, and Bitmoji costumes inspired by Mean Girls and Yellowstone. Bitmoji stickers now reflect trending Gen-Z expressions like “slay” and heart symbols for added flair in chats. Plus, the “Footsteps” feature on Snap Map allows users to track their past adventures privately, adding a nostalgic touch.

Image Source: Liquid Death

ICYMI, two LA startups joined the Unicorn Club—achieving valuations over $1 billion. Liquid Death, based in Santa Monica, is a canned water company with edgy branding and a humorous sustainability focus. Known for viral marketing and brand partnerships, it redefines bottled water as a lifestyle brand and environmental statement. In March, Liquid Death closed $67 million in strategic financing, raising its total funding to over $267 million and valuing it at $1.4 billion.

Image Source: Altruist

Altruist, a Culver City-based fintech platform, offers financial advisors streamlined tools to better serve their clients. With a user-friendly investment and account management platform, Altruist has gained strong traction in the finance world. In May, it announced a $169 million Series E funding round, bringing its total funding to over $449 million and earning a valuation of $1.5 billion.

Together, Liquid Death and Altruist exemplify LA’s capacity for innovation across diverse sectors, from lifestyle branding to fintech. Whether reshaping financial tools or redefining sustainable branding, these companies showcase LA’s unique entrepreneurial spirit. Go LA!

Check out TechCrunch’s 2024 Unicorn List here. And don’t miss Snapchat’s latest features—perfect for adding some fun, connection and maybe a few selfies this weekend!


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Freeform, a company bringing AI to metal 3D printing, raised $14M in funding from NVIDIA’s NVentures and AE Ventures to further develop its AI-powered 3D printing technology for industrial-scale production. - learn more
LA Venture Funds
  • Anthos Capital participated in a $70M Series D round for Carbon Robotics, which develops AI-powered robotics for precision agriculture, and the funding will be used to accelerate the growth of its autonomous weeding technology. - learn more
  • Anthos Capital participated in a $3.5M seed round for Plasma Network, aimed at expanding access to USDT stablecoins on the Bitcoin network, with the investment supporting the network’s growth and efforts to enhance stablecoin accessibility through the Lightning Network. - learn more

LA Exits


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      ⚖️FTC’s "Click to Cancel" Rule and Its Ripple Effect on Tech

      🔦 Spotlight

      Happy Friday Los Angeles,

      The FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule is shaking up subscription-based tech. Now, instead of navigating a maze of cancellation hurdles, users can cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up—with a single click. This shift is a wake-up call for SaaS, streaming, and app-based companies, where once-hidden exit options often kept users around simply because canceling was a hassle.

      The rule also requires businesses to send regular renewal reminders, ensuring customers stay informed about upcoming charges. It's more than a cancellation button—it’s about transparency and giving users control over their decisions.

      For startups, the impact goes deeper than UX adjustments. Many have relied on "dark patterns," which subtly discourage cancellations by hiding the exit. Now, companies must shift toward building genuine loyalty by delivering real value, not by complicating exits.

      While this might affect retention rates initially, it could lead to more sustainable business models that rely on satisfaction-driven loyalty. Investors may start prioritizing companies that emphasize transparent, long-term engagement over those that depend on dark patterns to maintain retention metrics.

      The rule opens the door to more ethical UX design and a truly user-centered approach across the tech industry. It may even set a precedent against manipulative design in other areas, such as privacy settings or payment methods.

      Ultimately, the “Click to Cancel” rule presents an opportunity for the tech industry to foster trust and build stronger customer relationships. Startups and established companies that embrace transparency will likely stand out as leaders in a new era of customer-centric tech, where trust—not tricky design—is what retains users.

      As the tech landscape continues to evolve, LA Tech Week 2024 offers a chance to explore these shifts in real-time. Check out the upcoming event lineups to stay informed and make the most of your time:

      For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.


      🤝 Venture Deals

      LA Companies

      • Ghost, a company supporting top brands and retailers with streamlined logistics and fulfillment solutions, raised a $40M Series C funding round led by L Catterton to fuel its continued growth and innovation. - learn more

      LA Venture Funds
      • Assembly Ventures participated in a $27M Series A round for Monogoto, a provider of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable secure, cloud-based IoT and cellular network management on a global scale. - learn more
      • Angeleno Group participated in a $32M Series C round for REsurety, a company that recently launched an innovative clean energy marketplace aimed at providing better financial and operational insights to support renewable energy transactions. - learn more

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        🌴🧑‍💻 Your Guide to LA Tech Week 2024

        🔦 Spotlight

        Happy Friday Los Angeles,

        As many of you know, LA Tech Week is right around the corner, kicking off next Monday October 14th bringing together founders, creatives, investors, and engineers for a week of immersive events, panels, and socials across the city. From blockchain and AI to biotech and design, LA Tech Week is a chance to dive into the ideas shaping today’s technology landscape.


        What to Look Forward To

        Insights from Visionary Leaders: Hear firsthand from industry trailblazers as they share stories, challenges, and key lessons from their experiences. Expect fresh perspectives on AI, venture capital, biotech, and the ethical questions around emerging technologies.

        Interactive Panels: This week isn’t about watching from the sidelines; it’s about engaging directly with the tech community. Participate in hands-on panels discussing everything from startup scaling to ethical AI, with honest insights from those actively shaping these fields.

        Networking Mixers & Social Events: Meet and connect with founders, VCs, developers, designers, and fellow techies across LA. Rooftop mixers, lunch meetups, and creative gatherings offer the perfect chance to spark ideas and collaborate.

        Plan your week with the daily lineup, organized by location for easy navigation:

        For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

        Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!!


        🤝 Venture Deals

        LA Companies

        • Clout Kitchen, a Los Angeles and Manila based startup, has raised $4.45M in seed funding, co-led by a16z SPEEDRUN and Peak XV’s Surge, to develop AI-powered digital twins, which enables gaming creators to produce realistic virtual avatars for content and fan engagement. - learn more
        • MeWe, a privacy-focused social media platform, has raised an initial $6M in Series B funding led by McCourt Global to support Web3 integration and expand its decentralized network for 20 millions users. - learn more

          LA Venture Funds
          • EGB Capital participated in a $10M Series A funding round for MiLaboratories, which develops software that enables biologists to independently analyze complex genomic data, accelerating research and discovery in fields like drug development. - learn more
          • Crosscut Ventures participated in the $13.75M seed round for Airloom Energy, a company focused on developing airborne wind energy technology to harness high-altitude winds, with plans to accelerate a pilot project in Wyoming. - learn more
          • Overture VC participated in a $5.5M Seed funding round for Molg Inc., a company developing robotics and software for circular manufacturing, designed to disassemble electronics efficiently and recover valuable materials to reduce e-waste and support sustainable production. - learn more


            LA Exits

            • Options MD, a Los Angeles based telemedicine platform that provides care for people suffering from severe and treatment-resistant mental illness, is set to be acquired by Resilience Lab, an AI-driven provider focused on enhancing mental health care access. - learn more

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