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Subscription-based services have changed the game for not just film and television, but online content creators as well. Although launching subscription-based models seems counterintuitive for content creators who post their work on YouTube for their audience’s free access, this model is revolutionizing content creation for those who leverage it well. Creator-made streaming services offer creators the freedom to curate and make high-quality content for their audience, and give them the ability to stretch their content-creation limits further than they imagined.
The Companies that Set the Precedent
Dropout, formerly known as College Humor was an improv comedy website and later YouTube channel that featured in-house videos and articles, both user-submitted and featured in-house. In 2018, the platform launched its own streaming service, DropoutTV. At the time it was a risk, especially when factoring in the COVID-19 pandemic. After making many changes, including discontinuing the selling of ads and stopping in-house branded content, the company found much success after pivoting completely to the streaming service model.
Similarly, The Try Guys launched their streaming service 2nd Try. They used a similar model, posting their new experimental streaming series on their streaming platform while continuing their classic content model for their non-paying users on YouTube.
Creator-Made Streaming Services Do’s and Dont’s
Launching a creator-made streaming service is no easy feat, from building a sustainable business model to keeping audiences engaged, there are plenty of strategic moves to make—and just as many pitfalls to avoid.
This guide breaks down the essential dos and don’ts of running your own streaming service. Whether you’re an influencer, filmmaker, podcaster, or educator looking to create a subscription-based platform, this is your roadmap to making it work. Let’s dive in.
Do: Ask for Feedback from Your Audience
Keith and Zach of The Try Guys / 2nd Try took to YouTube asking those subscribed to their streaming service 2nd Try: What are you liking? For those not subscribed to 2nd Try, they asked: What are you looking for?
From here, they can gauge what is working for the platform, and what their paying subscribers are enjoying. This helps everything from brand curation – especially knowing the subtle differences between your non-paying and paying audiences – as well as organic content creation ideas. Asking both the paying and non-paying audience members allows them to gauge what content strategies would bring in the most members to their streaming platform.
Don’t: Remove Previously Free Content
Removing content from its original home – for many companies this is YouTube or a free-access website – would be a drastic move eliminating any touchpoints you have with a nonpaying, loyal fanbase. This likely would break down trust between you and your audience members who should not feel obligated or pressured to move to your streaming service.
Looking for the rest of the Do’s and Dont’s? Download the full guide here!
Conclusion
Overall, subscription services offer creators a unique avenue to make content that they love and that is important to them. The financial backing from loyal subscription-paying audience members may just open the door for new content creation opportunities and content that just doesn’t work on traditional content platforms. Creator-made streaming services give creators
the freedom to do what they do best: create. Done well, it’s a path we see more creators exploring.
