Netflix Announces Its First-Ever Live Comedy Special, Streaming Globally

Veteran comedian Chris Rock will take to the stage as the artist to grace Netflix’s first-ever live, global streaming event, set to take place early next year. 

The standup special, Rock’s second with the company, will be based on what the firm calls its “legacy of leadership in live comedy,” and it certainly appears the streaming service’s audience has an appetite for anything funny. 

The Netflix Is A Joke festival held this year pulled in unexpected numbers, and became the biggest in-person event in the brand’s history with over 260,000 tickets sold. The event saw over 330 comedians perform 295 shows across Los Angeles. 

While live streaming may seem to be a departure from the firm’s usual offerings, it seems to be a step Netflix has to take in order to compete with rivals Amazon, Apple, and more. 

As Gizmodo points out, many of those platforms have already invested in live-streaming sports, with a report from the Wall Street Journal confirming that Netflix is also interested in such an option for viewers. 

For now, its focus remains on capturing viewers through comedy, employing “one of the most iconic and important comedic voices of our generation” for its live debut. 

“We’re thrilled the entire world will be able to experience a live Chris Rock comedy event and be a part of Netflix history. This will be an unforgettable moment and we’re so honored that Chris is carrying this torch,” sums up Netflix Vice-President of Stand-up and Comedy Formats, Robbie Praw. 

[via Gizmodo and Netflix, cover image via Natanael Alfredo Nemanita Ginting | Dreamstime.com]