Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, is set to free solo Taipei 101, one of Asia's tallest skyscrapers, in a live Netflix broadcast on Saturday. The 1,667ft (508m) climb will be performed without ropes or harness, with Honnold describing it as no different from any other ascent. The event, titled Skyscraper Live, will air globally at 9am local time in Taipei.
Netflix's foray into live sports programming follows its broadcast of NFL games and a boxing match last year. The streamer is using a 10-second delay and a viewer-discretion advisory, with Honnold in constant communication with his crew. A small live audience in Taipei and an on-air panel of climbers and commentators will contextualise the attempt.
The climb has drawn criticism from within the climbing community and beyond, with some branding it voyeuristic and irresponsible. Concerns were heightened after an Alaskan climbing influencer died last year during a livestreamed fall. Honnold, a husband and father, has been conducting rope-assisted test runs with permission from Taipei's city government.
Amateur climber Chien Ai said he would not watch the live stream, preferring to check news reports first. Yang Tse-hsiao, a teacher and climber, expressed opposition to the commercial nature of the event, stating, 'If he falls, the price is huge.' Thousands are betting on Honnold's completion time on the prediction market Polymarket, with odds suggesting a 75-minute finish.
