Sub only streams opens the doorway for tv/movie streams, Amazon has the rights to a serious amount of content and if Netflix keeps astroturfing itself like it has been it should only be a matter if time before it gets bought up. I’m hoping amazon does it so they can add that content to twitch. I use my amazon prime sub for Rifftrax, the idea of subscribing to even a streamer is asinine to me. No one puts out content I consider worth my money, no one is that entertaining to watch play a fucking game but that’s just me.
Twitch’s future isn’t gaming streams, it’s entertainment streams that let people riff, chat, and communicate with the streamer in some fashion. Sub only is a good way to monetize that if they can provide content that is worth the money. I wouldn’t pay for a Rifftrax sub, I would not sub at all if we didn’t get the free sub with Amazon Prime. However, that is just me and the number of streamers with thousands upon thousands of subs screams a different market exists that I do not represent.
Twitch and amazon basically could create sub only movie content themed streams, like First Choice, Super Channel, The Movie Channel, etc but with the added fun of the chat interface. A horror channel, anime, tv comedy, and it opens the door way to special events like premiers, live commentary, AMAs, etc.
I can the sub only thing working for a variety of non-non-nudity reasons, however if they don’t utilize those reasons then I don’t know wtf they are doing.