YouTube decided to keep its project of expanding video streaming services by adding two new features copied directly from Twitch. Planned features are two very popular features of the Amazon platform that help streamer relationships and encourage channel subscriptions.
The first addition is the so-called Gifted Memberships (Gift Subscriptions, in Portuguese), which allows fans to raffle some subscriptions — or choose specific users — to become VIP members of the channel. This practice helps the content creator, because he receives the value of the entries, and encourages the recipients to keep their support active for the coming months.
Another important addition is Live Redirect, which focuses on amplifying the potential of smaller channels or partners. Upon completing their broadcast, the digital influencer will be able to direct their audience to another profile, making the target account receive access directly and keep users entertained.
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For the time being, no date has been set on when these two new features should reach the service, but it is possible that this will happen in a few weeks. The platform also promises to bring more benefits to subscribers, such as accessing YouTube Premium services or redeeming profiles on Discord Nitro.
Rivalry with Twitch
Today, game content is one of the pillars of YouTube and real-time streaming is an important part of that ecosystem. According to the site, there are more than 800 billion views, 90 million hours of live content and about 250 million game-related uploads in 2021 alone.
While the numbers are relevant, Twitch is still a favorite destination for western gamers. Most streamers usually create clips based on their streams and host them on Google’s video platform, a strategy that has always been very productive for everyone involved.
Now, it seems that YouTube’s idea is to remove this “source of origin” and start to centralize everything in its own service. It’s still early to know whether the additions will be enough to rival Amazon’s platform, which has been criticized for its stringent policy of punishing and banning streamers.
