Twitch announces subscriber-only streams, enter beta today

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Twitch logo (Image credit: Twitch)

What you need to know

  • Twitch is a leading streaming platform where content creators and viewers come together.
  • Today, the company announced subscriber-only streams.
  • You'll have to subscribe to a channel or Twitch Prime to view them.
  • This is a new way to gain paid subscribers.

Twitch is the leading streaming platform where content creators and viewers come together in new ways. Rewarding viewers is a major part of the experience and today, the company announced "Subscriber Streams." Subscriber Streams are only accessible to those who pay the subscription cost to the content creator. While this seems like it would dramatically impact viewership, it may get new people to subscribe who were on the fence about it earlier.

In a post on the company's website, Twitch said the following.

Communities are the heart of Twitch. When streamers and their viewers come together week after week to bond over the things they love, they build authentic connections that make Twitch a place like none other. Creators often ask us for new and better ways to reward their viewers... The next gadget we're adding to their kit is Subscriber Streams. This feature launches in beta today... Subscriber Streams are an exciting new way for streamers to offer another benefit to some of their biggest supporters ... If a viewer subscribes to a channel at any tier, including a Twitch Prime subscription, they'll have access to that creator's Subscriber Streams. If they're not a subscriber and they arrive on a channel that's running a Subscriber Stream, they'll see a preview of what's going on and, if they'd like, they'll be able to join the party immediately by subscribing.

Many streamers struggle to gain a significant revenue stream, so maybe Subscriber Streams will help with that. We'll just have to wait and see how this feature is used by content creators. At the end of the day, it's their decision on whether to use it or not, and how successful it can be.

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Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.