Alex Honnold summited Taipei 101 without a rope on January 25, 2026 — 1,667 feet of glass, steel, and concrete in 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 40 seconds, the highest urban free solo in history. He said: "Sick."
Netflix broadcast the climb live after two weather delays. Honnold navigated surfaces far smoother than rock walls and battled increasing wind. Crowds at street level cheered as he reached the spire.
The commentary panel drew complaints: Seth Rollins (WWE), sports anchor Elle Duncan, and climber Emily Harrington talked over Honnold and offered little technical insight. Streaming glitched early (another Netflix live-event issue), and many viewers questioned why a wrestler was hosting a climbing event. Netflix paid Honnold "mid six figures," which he called "embarrassingly small" by mainstream sports standards; he said he'd have climbed for free, and viewership was unreleased as of January 26.
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January 2026
Honnold Successfully Summits Taipei 101
LatestAthletic achievement
Alex Honnold completes first ropeless ascent of Taipei 101 in 1:31:40, finishing the highest urban free solo in history. Broadcast live on Netflix with minor streaming issues in early minutes. Street crowds cheer as he reaches the 1,667-foot spire.
Streaming Issues Mar Broadcast Opening
Technical
Netflix viewers report streaming problems within the first five minutes of Skyscraper Live, with complaints on social media about the stream 'not working' or being 'broken.' Issues appear to resolve as climb progresses.
Honnold Reveals Netflix Payment Details
Personnel
Honnold tells New York Times he received "mid six figures" for the climb—"embarrassingly small" compared to mainstream athletes' contracts. Says he would have done it "for free" and clarifies: "I'm not getting paid to climb the building. I'm getting paid for the spectacle."
Widespread Criticism of Commentary Panel
Media reception
Viewers flood social media criticizing the broadcast's commentary team of Seth Rollins, Elle Duncan, and Emily Harrington for talking over Honnold, providing little technical insight, and featuring a WWE star at a climbing event. Comments sections filled with pleas to "stop talking" so viewers could hear Honnold.
Second Weather Postponement to Sunday
Event
Rainy conditions force second 24-hour delay. Broadcast rescheduled to Sunday, January 25 at 9:00 AM Taiwan time (Saturday 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT). Netflix reiterates 'safety remains our top priority.'
Skyscraper Live Broadcasts Honnold's Attempt
Event
Alex Honnold attempts first ropeless ascent of Taipei 101, broadcast live on Netflix with 10-second delay. Two-hour event streams globally.
Netflix Postpones Broadcast Due to Weather
Event
Just 30 minutes before the scheduled 8 PM ET broadcast, Netflix announced a 24-hour postponement due to rain in Taipei. Safety cited as top priority. New broadcast time set for Saturday, January 24 at 8 PM ET.
December 2025
Taipei 101 Chairwoman Approves Climb
Decision
Janet Chia approves Honnold's request after 13 years of denials, citing a personal letter from Honnold addressing safety and mentioning his daughters.
November 2025
Elle Duncan Signs With Netflix
Personnel
ESPN anchor Elle Duncan joins Netflix as its first dedicated sports host. Skyscraper Live announced as her debut assignment.
September 2025
Skyscraper Live Announced
Announcement
Netflix announces Alex Honnold will attempt to free solo Taipei 101 in a live global broadcast. Plimsoll Productions attached as producer.
January 2025
WWE Monday Night Raw Debuts on Netflix
Industry development
WWE's flagship show begins streaming exclusively on Netflix under a 10-year, $10 billion deal, establishing the platform as a live sports destination.
November 2024
Paul-Tyson Fight Sets Streaming Record
Industry milestone
Netflix's Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match draws 108 million viewers globally—'most streamed sporting event ever.' Technical glitches affect many users.
September 2018
Free Solo Documentary Released
Media
Documentary chronicling Honnold's El Capitan climb premieres. It grosses $28 million and wins Best Documentary at the Academy Awards.
June 2017
Honnold Free Solos El Capitan
Athletic achievement
Alex Honnold becomes first person to free solo El Capitan's 3,000-foot Freerider route in 3 hours 56 minutes. National Geographic calls it 'perhaps the greatest feat of pure rock climbing in the history of the sport.'
June 2013
Nik Wallenda Crosses Grand Canyon on Live TV
Industry milestone
Discovery Channel broadcasts Wallenda's 1,400-foot tightrope walk with 10-second delay, drawing 13 million viewers. Establishes template for live extreme athletics broadcasting.
October 2012
Baumgartner's Stratos Jump Sets Livestream Record
Industry milestone
Felix Baumgartner's space jump draws 8 million concurrent YouTube viewers, proving global appetite for live extreme athletics.
December 2004
Alain Robert Climbs Taipei 101 With Rope
Historical
French urban climber Alain Robert scales newly-opened Taipei 101 in four hours during its grand opening week. Taiwan required him to use a rope.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
June 2013
Nik Wallenda's Grand Canyon Crossing (2013)
Nik Wallenda walked a 1,400-foot tightrope 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River gorge, broadcast live on Discovery Channel with a 10-second delay. Wind gusts hit 48 mph. He completed the crossing in 23 minutes with no tether or safety net. Discovery broadcast to 183 countries.
Then
13 million viewers watched live, making it the most-watched cable event that week. Wallenda's family tradition of performing without nets was vindicated.
Now
Established the template for live extreme athletics on cable—10-second delay, global reach, family-friendly broadcaster taking calculated reputational risk.
Why this matters now
Skyscraper Live follows the same structural model: 10-second delay, global broadcast, single performer with decades of preparation. The key difference is platform (streaming vs. cable) and the climb's two-hour duration versus 23 minutes.
2 of 3
October 2012
Felix Baumgartner's Stratos Jump (2012)
Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner jumped from a capsule 128,000 feet above Earth, breaking the speed of sound during freefall. Red Bull sponsored and streamed the event on YouTube, drawing 8 million concurrent viewers—then a livestream record.
Then
The footage generated 52 million YouTube views in 24 hours. Red Bull reported a 7% sales increase in the following six months.
Now
Proved that extreme athletics could drive massive live digital audiences without traditional broadcast infrastructure. Became the template for brand-owned event streaming.
Why this matters now
Red Bull Stratos demonstrated global appetite for live extreme athletics on digital platforms. Netflix's Paul-Tyson fight (108M viewers) showed streaming scale has grown 13x. Skyscraper Live tests whether that scale applies to longer-form, higher-stakes events.
3 of 3
March 1978
Karl Wallenda's Fatal Fall (1978)
Karl Wallenda, 73, attempted to walk a wire between two hotel towers in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A gust of wind knocked him off balance 121 feet above the ground. He fell to his death in front of a live crowd. His family had already lost two members in a 1962 pyramid collapse.
Then
The tragedy was captured on news cameras and broadcast widely, prompting debates about whether to air such footage.
Now
Became a permanent reference point for discussions about televised extreme risk. Did not end the Wallenda family's career—Nik Wallenda performs to this day—but shaped how broadcasters approach delay protocols.
Why this matters now
The Wallenda tragedy illustrates why Netflix uses a 10-second delay and why critics call that 'a pragmatic solution, not a principled one.' The delay exists to protect viewers and the brand, not to reduce the actual risk to the performer.
