Netflix’s high-risk skyscraper climb begins after 24-hour delay

Honnold started his ascent at about 9:10 a.m. local time, climbing the exterior of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) skyscraper made of glass and steel

Netflix Inc. kicked off one of its most ambitious live events yet, streaming US free-solo climber Alex Honnold as he began scaling Taipei 101 after a 24-hour delay caused by rain.

Honnold started his ascent at about 9:10 a.m. local time, climbing the exterior of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) skyscraper made of glass and steel. The weather delay only fueled online buzz, with viewers speculating about the risks and how quickly he could complete the challenge.

On a sunny day with scattered clouds, hundreds of fans gathered outside the building in Taipei, while a helicopter circled overhead. Honnold, wearing a red T-shirt, black pants and wireless earpiece, paused at the base of the tower, looking up before beginning his first-ever skyscraper climb.

If completed successfully, the live event will mark a turning point not just for Honnold, but also for Netflix and the sport itself, shifting elite climbing from remote cliffs and edited documentaries to a real-time spectacle for a global audience.

As he ascended the first few stories — visible to tenants inside the building — Honnold smiled and waved to spectators below, as the broadcast continued.