Skyscraper Live challenge delayed by Netflix as new date announced
Skyscraper Live will now be broadcast on Netflix on Saturday night.
Netflix’s coverage of free solo climber Alex Honnold’s attempt to scale one of Asia’s tallest skyscrapers has been delayed, with a new date announced.
The two-hour live event was originally scheduled for Friday night (23rd January) but has been postponed until Saturday night due to wet weather conditions in Taipei.
The US climber's attempt to ascend the 1,677-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper – without rapes or safety gear – will now be live-streamed on Saturday at 8pm ET/ 1pm GMT.
“Due to weather, we are unable to proceed with today’s SkyscraperLIVE event,” a spokesperson for Netflix said just 30 minutes before the ascent was due to begin on Friday night.
“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.”
Built in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2004, the 101 skyscraper – made of steel, glass and concrete – is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Its name refers to the height of the building, which consists of 101 floors.
The 101 skyscraper was the world’s tallest building from the time it opened until the construction of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010.
Honnold was previously the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, which tracked the US climber’s rope-free climb of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan in 2017.
He has said that scaling the building was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.
Asked why he took on the challenge by Netflix, he said: "Why not? Taipei 101 because it's amazing and it's an incredible building. It's possible, which a lot of skyscrapers aren't - it's uniquely suited for climbing."
He continued: "Now, because it’s really hard to get permission to climb a building and I have permission, I have to take advantage of it and climb the building. Basically, it’s just rare to get this kind of opportunity, so you gotta jump when you can."
Skyscraper Live will air on Friday 23rd January on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media.
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Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
