• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 13:31
CEST 19:31
KST 02:31
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun10[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Inheritors16[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star10Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists21[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Fresh Flow9
Community News
2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers25Maestros of the Game 2 announced92026 GSL Tour plans announced15Weekly Cups (April 6-12): herO doubles, "Villains" prevail1MaNa leaves Team Liquid25
StarCraft 2
General
Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool MaNa leaves Team Liquid Maestros of the Game 2 announced
Tourneys
SC2 INu's Battles#15 <BO.9 2Matches> GSL Code S Season 1 (2026) WardiTV Spring Cup RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event SEL Masters #6 - Solar vs Classic (SC: Evo)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 523 Firewall Mutation # 522 Flip My Base Mutation # 521 Memorable Boss
Brood War
General
Pros React To: Leta vs Tulbo (ASL S21, Ro.8) ASL21 General Discussion [TOOL] Starcraft Chat Translator JaeDong's ASL S21 Ro16 Post-Review Missed out on ASL tickets - what are my options?
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro8 Day 1 [ASL21] Ro16 Group D Small VOD Thread 2.0 [ASL21] Ro8 Day 2
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Any training maps people recommend?
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Daigo vs Menard Best of 10 Nintendo Switch Thread Dawn of War IV Diablo IV
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread 3D technology/software discussion Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion McBoner: A hockey love story
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
streaming software Strange computer issues (software) [G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Sexual Health Of Gamers
TrAiDoS
lurker extra damage testi…
StaticNine
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2678 users

Twitch in Need of New Subscription Model

Blogs > Basic
Post a Reply
Basic
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Canada288 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-12-14 06:33:38
December 14 2014 06:20 GMT
#1
Hey Liquiders,

So over the past little while I have been watching a ridiculous number of streams. Mostly for my own entertainment's sake but also to catch up one the meta having been gone for so long. It also does not hurt to get ideas for one's own stream in terms of quality and content ideas. That being said hearing streamers talk about the undependable nature of subscriptions as an income source got me to thinking, this model is not sustainable.

DISCLAIMER: Bare in mind this is simply my opinion. Clearly the current model is still profitable but to whether that stays true in the longer terms is murky. This is not a commentary about Twitch in general and is specifically geared towards their subscription system.

If you would like to skip to my suggested fix go to Amalgamation.

Price
+ Show Spoiler +


The first and most obvious issue is the price of subscriptions. Five dollars does not seem like a lot, but if the intention is to have people subscribe to a series of their favorite streamers, this adds up fast and is discouraging.

Comparing the price point vs content gained to services like Netflix and its competitors, getting access to a single streamer's content for five dollar's hardly seems worth it on a monthly basis. This is especially true in terms of streamers who relay their content for free to YouTube. This is further diminished if streamers allow free access to content when they have subscriptions enabled.



Building Value
+ Show Spoiler +


It is incredibly unclear what one exactly gets from subscribing. It varies drastically from channel to channel and although building value in the product is mostly on the streamer to maintain, perhaps stricter guidelines on what subscribers should get to enjoy should be enforced as a bare minimum. This might allow for some consistent branding of what you get as a "Twitch Subscriber".

I cannot speak to the assistance Twitch gives directly to help people build value in their channels but it is quite clearly inconsistent in the very least. It is hard to tell from one channel to the next whether the subscription price is worth what you pay.



Going Turbo
+ Show Spoiler +


Turbo is a service in which you no longer have to watch commercials across streams, as well as increased storage, increased font colors, increased emoticons and badges.

Two of these features have real value and the rest are fluff. Increased video capacity and the ability to not have to watch commercials are both worth something. Whether its worth $8.99 is speculative. Especially considering the odd viewer consciously watches ads to help support the people they watch, and others ad block, making the service pointless. Either way it is hard to see the value in this as a viewer, especially if you do not stream and the storage is pointless.



Amalgamation
+ Show Spoiler +


Optimization needs to happen here. Turbo is a bad stand alone service plain and simple and should not exist. Especially considering that certain perks are granted to subscribers of channels that turbo also covers, ie the fluff.

Instead why not offer a simple package price. The same $8.99 or what ever market value price a month gets you what turbo gets you, but also it lets you subscribe to any three to five channels you choose. You can switch channels you are subscribed to for the following month. This lets you try subscribing to channels that you think might be interesting also sending revenue to those streams you enjoy and to whom which the business model is so dependent on. A person would not have to watch commercials on the streams they are currently subscribed to.

Adding additional subscriptions past this, is say another $0.99 to $2.49/sub. Its another exchangeable slot but once again, can only be changed for the following month to help stop extremely inconsistent subscribing.

Finally there should be some sort of unlimited access package where you get access to all subscriptions at some fixed rate a month. $39.99 for an example price.

Note: Obviously some streams that offer a way higher volume or level of quality for their content may have to have varying prices or be exempt from access through some sort of unlimited package. GOM Exp comes to mind, but this just a general feel with the exceptions not taking precedence.



These are just my thought on the issue as it seems to me that I would happily put money in a content provider like this if it were just slightly better structured to suit a constantly changing and dynamic content creation scene. It is hard to tell what I will be watching from one month to the next, and hard to justify spending $50.00 - $60.00 a month on the grouping of streamers I watch most.

Thanks for the read.

Regards,

Basic

***
Jett.Jack.Alvir
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Canada2250 Posts
December 16 2014 23:43 GMT
#2
I am not trying to dismiss your blog with a one liner, so I will say my one liner but elaborate.

Why fix what's not broken?

The subscription model was never intended to give streamers a sustainable income. It is a bonus that gives loyal followers a means to help support a streamer.

Besides, most streamers don't rely solely on subs. Its usually a mix of subs/sponsors/ad revenue/donation.
Basic
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Canada288 Posts
December 17 2014 01:44 GMT
#3
Certainly there current model is working for them currently. There is no denying that Twitch is making it work in a big way. My commentary is more in terms of the benefit as a consumer and less about the impact it has on streamers, all be it, I think it would be a good one.

There is no real incentive to subscribe to a channel on a long term basis, and no real incentive to be a turbo member. I think these could be improved upon. I want to subscribe, just do not see the real value in it at the current rate and waht it gets you.

Regards,

Basic
blade55555
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States17423 Posts
December 17 2014 04:18 GMT
#4
It helps streamers out and that's what the subscription is intended for (and money for twitch obviously). It's designed for loyal followers who want to support their favorite streamer. Sounds to me like you want to make it even harder for streamers to make money other then donations.
When I think of something else, something will go here
Basic
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Canada288 Posts
December 17 2014 05:20 GMT
#5
I would say I am saying the exact opposite. I think this system would encourage subscriptions to be more consistent, and therefore subscription numbers higher over all. The price point also encourages that, with adding the benefits of turbo to a general subscription. This means more money in the system, including for streamers. Donations are simply sporadic, and I think a model that promotes consistency is a model that is most beneficial to long term streamers.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 15h 29m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
LamboSC2 260
TKL 159
UpATreeSC 100
BRAT_OK 62
MindelVK 16
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 4736
Larva 448
HiyA 445
Hyuk 183
Movie 105
firebathero 102
Sexy 95
Backho 78
yabsab 51
Bale 29
[ Show more ]
Rock 24
soO 20
Shine 20
Sacsri 19
Counter-Strike
fl0m4514
byalli529
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu161
Other Games
Grubby985
FrodaN901
B2W.Neo810
ceh9478
C9.Mang0136
mouzStarbuck126
KnowMe90
QueenE75
Trikslyr54
Fuzer 53
RotterdaM26
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV256
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream71
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• musti20045 121
• Adnapsc2 9
• Shameless 7
• Kozan
• Migwel
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
StarCraft: Brood War
• HerbMon 27
• blackmanpl 25
• Michael_bg 8
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis1975
• TFBlade1099
Counter-Strike
• Shiphtur169
Other Games
• imaqtpie443
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
15h 29m
Escore
16h 29m
INu's Battles
17h 29m
Classic vs ByuN
SHIN vs ByuN
OSC
19h 29m
Big Brain Bouts
22h 29m
Replay Cast
1d 6h
Replay Cast
1d 15h
RSL Revival
1d 16h
Classic vs GgMaChine
Rogue vs Maru
WardiTV Invitational
1d 17h
IPSL
1d 22h
Ret vs Art_Of_Turtle
Radley vs TBD
[ Show More ]
BSL
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
herO vs TriGGeR
NightMare vs Solar
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
BSL
3 days
IPSL
3 days
eOnzErG vs TBD
G5 vs Nesh
Patches Events
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Wardi Open
3 days
Afreeca Starleague
3 days
Jaedong vs Light
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
4 days
Snow vs Flash
WardiTV Invitational
4 days
GSL
5 days
Classic vs Cure
Maru vs Rogue
GSL
6 days
SHIN vs Zoun
ByuN vs herO
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-04-29
WardiTV TLMC #16
Nations Cup 2026

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
2026 GSL S1
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W5
KK 2v2 League Season 1
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.