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Alex Honnold’s Ropeless Taipei 101 Ascent to Stream Live on Netflix Friday

Producers built a 10‑second delay with on‑site oversight to manage broadcast risk.

Overview

  • The live special, Skyscraper Live, begins Friday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Netflix.
  • Honnold will free solo the 1,667‑foot tower without ropes, harnesses or nets, noting a fall would likely be fatal despite balconies every eight floors that may reduce the danger.
  • Months of preparation included roped rehearsals on the building and planning for the overhanging “bamboo boxes” that form the most demanding 64 middle floors.
  • Plimsoll Productions enlisted safety advisers and risk firm Secret Compass, placed camera teams close to Honnold, maintained two‑way communication, and set weather and back‑off contingencies.
  • The broadcast uses a 10‑second delay and features analysis from Elle Duncan, Emily Harrington, Mark Rober, Pete Woods and Seth Rollins as ethicists question the impact of televising such risk.