Alex Honnold completed the first ropeless ascent of Taipei 101 on January 25, 2026, summiting all 1,667 feet in 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 40 seconds. The climb—broadcast live on Netflix to a global audience—represents the highest urban free solo in history. After two weather postponements, Honnold navigated glass, steel, and concrete surfaces far smoother than the rock walls he typically climbs, battling increasing wind as he ascended. Cheers erupted from street-level crowds as he reached the spire. His immediate reaction upon summiting: "Sick."
Alex Honnold completed the first ropeless ascent of Taipei 101 on January 25, 2026, summiting all 1,667 feet in 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 40 seconds. The climb—broadcast live on Netflix to a global audience—represents the highest urban free solo in history. After two weather postponements, Honnold navigated glass, steel, and concrete surfaces far smoother than the rock walls he typically climbs, battling increasing wind as he ascended. Cheers erupted from street-level crowds as he reached the spire. His immediate reaction upon summiting: "Sick."
The broadcast drew widespread criticism for its commentary panel featuring WWE star Seth Rollins, sports anchor Elle Duncan, and climber Emily Harrington. Viewers complained the hosts talked over Honnold during the climb and provided little technical insight, with many questioning why a wrestling personality was hosting a climbing event. Early streaming glitches mirrored Netflix's pattern of technical issues with live events. Honnold later revealed Netflix paid him "mid six figures"—"embarrassingly small" by mainstream sports standards—but insisted he would have climbed for free. Viewership numbers remain unreleased as of January 26.
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People Involved
Alex Honnold
Professional climber, free solo pioneer (Successfully completed Taipei 101 free solo; disclosed Netflix paid "mid six figures" which he called "embarrassingly small")
Emily Harrington
Professional climber, broadcast commentator (Faced viewer criticism for commentary approach during Skyscraper Live broadcast)
Elle Duncan
Netflix Sports anchor, event host (Faced viewer criticism for commentary approach during Skyscraper Live broadcast)
Alain Robert
Urban climber, 'French Spider-Man' (Consulted by Honnold ahead of climb)
WWE wrestler, Skyscraper Live commentator (Faced widespread criticism for commentary role)
Organizations Involved
NE
Netflix, Inc.
Streaming platform
Status: Successfully broadcast Skyscraper Live despite streaming issues and widespread commentary criticism; viewership figures pending
The streaming giant has spent two years building live sports capabilities, culminating in tonight's highest-stakes broadcast.
PL
Plimsoll Productions
Production company (ITV Studios)
Status: Produced successful Skyscraper Live broadcast
Bristol-based natural history and live event specialist with prior Honnold documentaries and Nat Geo live specials.
TA
Taipei 101
Commercial skyscraper
Status: Hosting tonight's climb
Taiwan's tallest building and former world's tallest (2004-2010), designed to resemble bamboo shoots with eight stacked segments.
Timeline
Honnold Successfully Summits Taipei 101
Athletic 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
Discussed by: Netflix promotional materials, climbing community analysts, sports business reporters
Honnold successfully summits all 101 floors, validating both his preparation and Netflix's live infrastructure. The event becomes a marketing case study comparable to Red Bull Stratos—proof that streaming platforms can own cultural moments. Climbing interest surges; Netflix's live sports credibility solidifies.
Rain, wind, or equipment concerns trigger Honnold's decision to abort before or during the climb. Netflix rebroadcasts the attempt on a later date. The delay tests viewer patience but demonstrates responsible judgment. Precedent: Baumgartner's Stratos jump was postponed multiple times.
3
Honnold Bails Mid-Climb Through Designated Hatches
Fatigue, weather changes, or unforeseen obstacles lead Honnold to exit through one of the pre-positioned hatches built into the climb route. He survives; the attempt fails. Public debates whether this validates or undermines the safety planning. Netflix faces questions about event design.
A fall occurs, the 10-second delay cuts the feed, and the broadcast ends abruptly. Netflix faces intense scrutiny over its role in incentivizing extreme risk. Regulatory and insurance questions emerge about live extreme athletics. The event becomes a permanent reference point for media ethics debates—comparable to the 1978 Wallenda tragedy.
5
Viewership Falls Short of Paul-Tyson Record
Discussed by: Streaming industry analysts, Variety, Hollywood Reporter
When Netflix releases figures, viewership comes in significantly below the 108 million who watched Paul-Tyson, raising questions about the scalability of extreme athletics versus celebrity boxing. The event may be deemed a creative success but a commercial experiment rather than a repeatable formula.
6
Success Triggers Copycat Events on Rival Platforms
Discussed by: Sports business reporters, streaming competition analysts
Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, or Disney+ pursue similar extreme athletics broadcasts—high-wire walks, BASE jumps, or record attempts—seeking to replicate Netflix's cultural moment. The success validates live extreme sports as a streaming category.
Historical Context
Nik Wallenda's Grand Canyon Crossing (2013)
June 2013
What Happened
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.
Outcome
Short Term
13 million viewers watched live, making it the most-watched cable event that week. Wallenda's family tradition of performing without nets was vindicated.
Long Term
Established the template for live extreme athletics on cable—10-second delay, global reach, family-friendly broadcaster taking calculated reputational risk.
Why It's Relevant Today
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.
Felix Baumgartner's Stratos Jump (2012)
October 2012
What Happened
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.
Outcome
Short Term
The footage generated 52 million YouTube views in 24 hours. Red Bull reported a 7% sales increase in the following six months.
Long Term
Proved that extreme athletics could drive massive live digital audiences without traditional broadcast infrastructure. Became the template for brand-owned event streaming.
Why It's Relevant Today
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.
Karl Wallenda's Fatal Fall (1978)
March 1978
What Happened
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.
Outcome
Short Term
The tragedy was captured on news cameras and broadcast widely, prompting debates about whether to air such footage.
Long Term
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 It's Relevant Today
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.
