Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Live Postponed Due to Weather Concerns

Netflix has postponed the highly anticipated live special featuring renowned climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to scale Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world. Originally scheduled to air on January 23, 2024, at 8 PM ET, the event is now set to take place the following evening, January 24, at the same time.

The decision to delay the broadcast was made just half an hour before the live event was due to begin. Netflix announced, “Due to weather, we are unable to proceed with today’s #SkyscraperLIVE event. 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.”

Honnold’s climb, a free-solo ascent, poses significant risks as he will not use ropes or a safety net. Given the inherent dangers, optimal weather conditions are crucial for the climb to occur safely. Prior to the postponement, producer James Smith spoke with Variety about the contingency plans in place. He noted that there was a 30% chance of rain that morning and mentioned that the team had considered delaying the broadcast by up to an hour if conditions improved.

“Our main contingency planning is we can delay the broadcast by maybe an hour, maybe slightly longer,” Smith explained. “If there’s been a light shower and the building’s drying off, the temperature here is pretty good, there’s often a light breeze, so the building will dry relatively quickly. If it is deemed too wet, if there’s too much moisture on the building, we will probably delay to the next day.”

The urgency of ensuring Honnold’s safety is paramount, as both he and the safety team must feel completely confident in the climbing conditions. Jeff Gaspin, Vice President of Netflix’s unscripted series, added, “We’ll be on site for a few days after if, for some reason he doesn’t go on that day. But after that, it’s probably a bigger reschedule. There are only certain times of year you can actually climb the tower because it’s rainy season between April and September.”

As fans and viewers eagerly await the rescheduled climb, the postponement highlights the complexities and dangers of live extreme sports events. Safety remains the core focus for both Honnold and the production team as they prepare for the climb of Taipei 101, an iconic symbol of Taiwan.