Netflix has delayed its live event 'Skyscraper Live,' featuring free solo climber Alex Honnold's ascent of Taipei 101, from Friday to Saturday because of inclement weather. The streamer emphasized safety as the top priority in rescheduling the high-stakes climb. The event will now stream at 5 p.m. PT on January 24.
Alex Honnold, the professional rock climber known from the 2018 Oscar- and Emmy-winning documentary Free Solo, was set to attempt a ropeless free solo climb of Taipei 101, Taiwan's tallest building at 1,667 feet (508 meters) and 101 stories high. The structure, which held the title of world's tallest upon its 2004 opening, now ranks 11th globally.
Originally scheduled for January 23 at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET), the two-hour livestream on Netflix was postponed just 30 minutes before start time due to rain in Taipei. "Due to weather, we are unable to proceed with today’s SkyscraperLIVE event," a Netflix spokesperson stated. "It has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 24 at 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT. Safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding."
The January timing aligns with Taiwan's dry season, though rain remained a risk. Producers from Plimsoll Productions, including CEO Grant Mansfield and head of adventure James Smith, had anticipated potential delays. "If it is deemed too wet, if there’s too much moisture on the building, we will probably delay to the next day," Smith told Variety. Netflix unscripted VP Jeff Gaspin compared the planning to "launching a space shuttle," noting flexibility for a few days but constraints outside the dry period from October to March.
Honnold, a 30-year climbing veteran with a notably subdued fear response in his brain's amygdala, has trained extensively for this urban challenge, described as a blend of Philippe Petit's 1974 Twin Towers walk and his own El Capitan ascent. The broadcast includes a 10-second delay for safety and features host Elle Duncan alongside commentators like climber Emily Harrington, former NASA engineer Mark Rober, WWE's Seth Rollins, and veteran Pete Woods.
Social media reactions supported the delay, prioritizing Honnold's safety over the spectacle. Netflix faces added pressure to avoid technical glitches, as seen in its 2024 Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight stream.
