To make a stream visible to only subscribers on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or others, you typically need to use specific settings that restrict access to only those who have subscribed or are members of your channel. Here’s how to do this for some of the most popular platforms:
Twitch
Twitch doesn’t have a direct setting to restrict an entire stream to subscribers only, but you can achieve similar effects through the following methods:
1. Subscriber-Only Chat:
You can make your chat accessible only to subscribers, which effectively makes it a subscriber-only environment. This does not block people from watching the stream, but it does restrict interaction to paying subscribers.
To enable Subscriber-Only Chat:
– Go to your Creator Dashboard.
– Click on Settings > Moderation.
– Under Chat Options, toggle the Subscriber-Only Mode.
2. Sub-Only Streams with Third-Party Tools:
If you want to restrict the entire stream to subscribers, you would need to use third-party tools like Streamlabs or OBS combined with custom notifications or access restrictions. For example, you could set up a private Discord server or an exclusive stream link that only subscribers have access to.
3. Stream to Private Platforms:
Another way to restrict your stream to only subscribers is by using platforms that allow you to host private streams. You could stream privately via services like Patreon or YouTube’s membership system.
YouTube
On YouTube, you can create streams that are only available to your members (YouTube subscribers) with the following steps:
1. Create a Member-Only Stream:
You can make live streams that are restricted to members. Here’s how:
– Go to YouTube Studio.
– Click on Create > Go Live.
– Under Stream Settings, select the Memberships option to restrict the stream to only paying members (subscribers with channel memberships).
This ensures that only viewers who have paid for membership can access your live stream.
2. Using “Members-Only” Mode for Chat:
Similar to Twitch, you can also set the chat to “members-only”, which restricts chat participation to those who are subscribed to your channel with a membership. The video can still be watched by non-members.
Facebook Live
Facebook doesn’t allow streams to be restricted directly to subscribers, but you can use the “Private Groups” feature to stream to a select group of paying subscribers. You’d need to manage a private Facebook group where only paying subscribers have access.
Other Platforms (e.g., Patreon, Discord, etc.)
If you are using platforms like Patreon or Discord, you can use their integration with live streaming tools to set up a private stream. With Patreon, for example, you can create posts with private stream links that only your patrons can access. Similarly, you can set up private channels in Discord for subscribers.
General Advice:
– Use Membership Features: Many platforms have built-in membership features that allow you to restrict content to paying subscribers or members.
– Use Stream Keys: You can create private streams where only subscribers have the stream key or link, though this is more complex and requires extra management.
Always ensure that you communicate the exclusive nature of the content to your subscribers in advance so they know how to access it.
