I think it also helps that Dropout never dropped their old fans. Dropout keeps posting clips and shorts from all their shows on their channels, and there truly is nothing like what Dropout makes on the internet because all their shows are an extension of the cast's love of improv comedy. Watcher is just a bunch of guys copying what works well on TH-cam with nothing original to say.
Yeah and dropout slightly increased the subscription price some time ago (like an extra dollar or something) and let their old viewers keep paying the price before this increase💜
And it is very clear when paying dropout that the money is going to the people I enjoy and their content. Instead of some rich unknown. Dropout shared their profits with the employees.
In the beginning of the year you can buy a full year of drop out for cheap. Sam Reich is also very transparent about where the money goes. Plus the cast are paid well so everyone loves working there and gives it their all. Good employees make good products
Dropout: We're so sorry, we're making a streaming service because we need money so badly. We're so sorry, here's some free episodes of the shows we'll be making and our normal content. Watcher: We want money, here's our new streaming service. We're leaving you all, but you'll get to see hints of the stuff you're missing sometimes.
Credit to Sam Reich, he is a really likable millionaire... I saw someone describe Dropout as him finding excuses to give his friends/favourite comedians money, and that perfectly describes the vibe I get from them.
Dropout really has a talent of keeping me hooked, which helps. Every week there is at least one episode of a series that I am enjoying and they are constantly producing new content. I am sure that Dimension 20 is the main backbone of the company but things like Game Changer, Make Some Noise, Very Important People fully make me laugh out loud.
@@aaronmontgomery2055 same! i wanted to watch misfits and magic so badly, and at that time, game changer was a fun bonus- now, ive stayed subscribed for the other shows and don't even stay caught up on d20 at all lol
Honestly? Game Changer and Make Some Noise is so good I endure the droughts for the next high. Oh and suddenly they create something transcendental like Total Forgiveness and I'm happy
It was mentioned at the end some, but it should be mentioned that College Humor was failing. The channel was dying, and they were going to go bankrupt if nothing changed. Dropout got its name from that, and it was absolutely necessary.
@@NuclearNoxi though watcher said they were gonna release the pilots of each series (though a couple more wouldve been better). add youtube shorts into the mix and it may get new ppl exposed to their content and possibly subscribe. buuut im not sure if ppl who didnt know shane and ryan from buzzfeed days or got rlly into the watcher channel would subscribe for kinda generic youtube content. CH has always intrigued me thru yt shorts, and considering they have a unique style + helped start the dnd craze on yt, theyre probably the ones id be more likely to sub to even tho im a watcher fan
A HUGE part of the draw for me to actually pay for Dropout was D20, which is also one of my favorite things on the internet. That said, they also have a huge cast of incredibly, INCREDIBLY charismatic people in their shows (bonus points for them seeming to genuinely like each other), including Sam Reich. I've never found the Watcher guys that charismatic, certainly not enough to set aside actual money to only watch them. Another big draw is that, for example, my entire feed of suggested shorts next to this video is clips from Dropout shows. You get 1-minute clips of what they're about, and because they're so funny and charismatic, you obviously want to watch more.
I completely agree. Dimension20 is my favourite series - I download the episodes as a podcast and listen to them while I'm walking. Plus there's the fact that if you find one person particularly funny in a show, you can very often see more of their work in Dropout.
THIISSSS this is the main reason so many people were mad. They were already making enough and we enjoyed the lower quality videos from the beginning. We never asked for $230 cooking videos or over edited videos, and now to see them we'd have to pay 6 DOLLARS a MONTH. It just screams greed and "we don't care."
@@genericname2747 yeah cause fucking they still haven't posted anything new to this streaming service and it's like why release it now and not when you actually have content?
I searched for this comparison because I was sure I wasn’t the only one thinking about it, I don’t really know watcher so I was curious about why people were being so hard on it; I think the “every one can afford it!” Vs the “I know, we suck” energy Sam brought to the announcement, made them look so so much worse
Also knew nothing about watcher, but what seems like a big difference is that with CH you have seen it shift during the years, their popularity decrease, and then starting this new project with a different type of content, while watcher seems to be doing the same kind of thing they already been doing but now exclusive. Well, it's not like I would or will pay for any of them, not because of their content nor platform, but simply cause I don't mix money and the internet.
I've been watching their channel since it launched. they announced right before their most popular series came back that they were going to put it all behind a pay wall. immediately before the announcement Steven announced he was bringing his food shows back that are honestly a waste of money bc the viewers haven't wanted it. if the choice is: 3 new personalities and shows that sink money into buying an $800 burger or just not paying it and not watching it, I just won't watch. they don't even interact with their patreon, I don't trust that they'll be much more involved on their own streaming service. "we decided $6 a month is something everyone can afford". no. I can't afford $6 a month on 4 videos a month, literally a waste of money when I have a kid to take care of. they walked it back and said it would all be posted for free a month after it's release, but the apology was so empty. they just seemed so annoyed that they had to walk it back and say "sorry we messed up. we didn't realize our free content was consumed by mostly college students and young adults who literally can't afford what we're asking for uwu"
@@evelynwright329 The dissonance goes back even further than that, to their previous employer. The three have always said that they created Watcher to make the kind of things they wanted to which does coincide with their switch while providing their audience with what they want to see, and that's where the problems arise. While I personally have no problem with Steven or his content, many people have expressed their disinterest in the things he's in, makes, and him as a person. I want to focus on objectivity so I'll avoid adding my opinion on the comments and say that meted displeasure is a valid feeling towards the matter. You really hit the nail on the head when you bring up the amount of content. $6 for 4 videos. At least one of which the audience seems to not desire at all. So $6 for 3 videos. Or you can keep watching things on here for free which is where Moop ends up at without even understanding the entire backstory of the channel. The choice is simple, especially considering the demeanor of the guys has always been anti-authority and supposedly pro-consumer: don't pay for things you don't like, support the people you do. For many previous supporters, this move put them into people they no longer like.
Yeah when this news happened my wife, who has watched them since Buzzfeed Presents, and I were having a discussion about Watcher. I brought up Dropout and Corridor Digital who has done it right. Corridor didn’t pull any content or shows. They continued their TH-cam as usual but put some exclusive new stuff and extended episodes on the service that lets members vote on new ideas that get green lit. Rooster Teeth did it right for years (RIP) tho they are different as they didn’t start on TH-cam in the beginning.
I’m curious from a production standpoint bc from what I’ve heard is that dropout not only adheres to sag-aftra guidelines but goes above and beyond union requirements, and wonder if the jump to a streaming service for watcher would have changed their relationship with the union and the production implications of that
Dropout is easily my favorite streaming service! Their TH-cam channel has some free episodes available if you want to check it out before paying, but it really is so worth the money.
i highly recommend using a second email to gift yourself a couple months at a time if your budget is stretched kinda thin month to month. either way, it's the one subscription i won't consider dropping anytime soon
If you're an international enjoyer, their youtube membership adjusts to your currency and ends up being very affordable. It is a bit unfortunate that youtube gets a cut but it means people like me can actually afford them! It has all the same content, just with youtube's terrible UI.
I do the annual sub and it's 100% worth it. My favorite is game changer and dirty laundry. What got me was demention 20 but I stayed for everything else. I never get bored either. And you can have multiple people on 1
Dropout also had a longer history of content to prove they could maintain it. They also just last year made a whole ad that was essentially “you are paying us too much for the current economy so here’s a huge price cut offer”
Dropout STARTING new series on the streaming service is a big plus. Also, CH/Dropout at the time really needed to make a change at the time. Watcher was basically doing fine
The wild thing about the black screen with blue and yellow text being cheaper is I actually much preferred that style. Ryan voiceover with relevant shots and their quips was the best and funniest parts. Way better than their current style.
Yeah. I fell off over time because the episodes ended up feeling like any other paranormal investigation show and I just. Don't care for that style. I prefer Garret watts for my spooky fix now
@@bumblenbee4013 I’ll have to check him out. I’ve only seen him on others channels. But ya agree, they definitely lost a lot of their humor and silliness. Or there’s only so many jokes you can make maybe.
like you said, tone i think was the most important. dropouts announcement was very goofy and comedic, acknowledging that bad reactions were coming and were kinda valid, making a compromise right away (still posting as before). watcher's was VERY self important and condescending (going off "paying creators a living wage" while having a tesla), and also very arrogant about their talent and content. most people agreed their shows are worse off the more money watcher has. i dont think they can ever fully come back from this.
Dropout also didnt paywall the content they already made before Dropout was a thing, and theres SO MUCH content to enjoy its honestly overwhelming (in a good way) even for me as a fan
The weird thing for me with watcher was they claim that they need more money but also either announced or were making a show that is just a guy going traveling to try the most expensive dishes at restaurants
Also like you said it took dropout awhile to really find their footing but holy shit they have and this year in particular they are turning out so many bangers. Junior year is possibly my favorite season ever and the Smartypants club is such a good and hilarious idea.
YES Smartypants is my favorite new-er show on dropout. Just bunch of friends presenting powerpoints with silly ideas, sharing their favorite things, or spiderman spitting out every racial slurs... Chill vibes all around
Not continuing to put some content on a free platform is insane. I know SO many people who signed up for dropout because they saw episodes of D20 or Game Changer on TH-cam. It’s a great way to reach new audiences and get them hooked on your content.
Dropout produces highly creative and original content that’s hard to find anywhere else. Game Changer, Very Important People, and D20 are all high concept shows that could easily be on Comedy Central, Netflix, etc. Watcher makes pretty basic ghost hunting and true crime TH-cam videos that are abundant online for free. Most of their video topics are covered by other youtubers anyways. As much as Watcher wants to say they’re TV producers, they’re not. They obviously expected to be making more money off of TH-cam after leaving Buzzfeed, but reality is the ghost hunting and true crime wave has died down and they missed their chance to find their next big thing. Sad but expected.
I still remember seeing the first Sam Says on TH-cam, made me realize just how creative Dropout could be with a simple concept like Simon Says. That plus the different game changer clips on TH-cam Shorts made me finally commit to getting a Dropout Sub. And i havent regetted it since.
I also think it's important to note that with dropout, at least at this point, they put out a new episode of a show or some sort of behind the scenes content if not more than one every single weekday. At this point most of the TV I watch is on dropout because I love it and there's just so much of it. I get excited to go home after school and work to see what the newest episode is. They do a really good job of making you feel like you're getting a lot out of the money you put in. Another note is that I really appreciate how much effort they put into being an ethical company, and how much they talk about and very clearly appreciate their crew. They're always talking about the producers and the PAs and set designers and prop masters and everyone else who works on their shows and it makes me really happy that these people are being appreciated for all the work they do, and they manage to do all of this without it feeling forced. Generally they make me feel like I'm supporting a group of really smart, excellent people who have found a way to make a living off of what they love in an industry that isn't always the most inclusive or receptive the that.
Thank you sir! This was the first thing to hit my mind and I struggled to summarize why Dropout was totally fine by me but Watcher wasn't. You summarized this well and really highlighted the ideas that carry Dropout to success. Maybe Watcher can even watch this and learn how to rebuild their campaign, add humility and honesty with a deliverable offering of shows on subscription rather than a barren wasteland like you said. Heck, maybe they'll even reach out to Sam to get his input to help them relaunch their platform in a far better way. Cause ya know...Sam Says.
When I first saw the Watcher announcement I was trying to articulate why this felt more corporate and greedy than Dropout (which I’ve been subscribed to since right before the pandemic). You perfectly explained everything I couldn’t quite solidify. This video was great, the pacing was good and you had all the points you wanted to talk about lined up succinctly and quickly. It didn’t feel like it was 15 minutes long, it was engaging enough that I didn’t get bored or even check the comment section while letting it play in the background lol. I’m glad I got recommended this vid, definitely gonna subscribe :)
I actually really agree with this vid! I haven't really seen this comparison yet and it's really nice to see this sort of thing. Another one of the huge problems I see with Watcher compared to Dropout is also Watcher TV's itself as a streaming platform. There is no actual maintenance of this platform - they aren't grandfathering in their patreon members, we have absolutely no idea what the fucking upload schedule is, international fans can't access the site, hell, you can't fucking watch Watcher TV on your FUCKING TV. Or phone. Or anything except desktop tbh. It feels slapped together because of all the flaws out the gate, and that's a bad look for a platform launch.
like you said, tone i think was the most important factor. dropouts announcement was very goofy and comedic, acknowledging that bad reactions were coming and were kinda valid, making a compromise right away (still posting as before). watcher's was VERY self important and condescending (going off "paying creators a living wage" while having a tesla), and also very arrogant about their talent and content. most people agreed their shows are worse off the more money watcher has. i dont think they can ever fully come back from this.
A big issue is that they changed their story on why they need the money. In the initial announcement they were saying things like “so we can make even bigger and better content” and posting on social media about how they were hiring new people and producing a big budget travel show. But when the backlash happened, now it’s all about how they can’t cover everyone’s paychecks, and they can’t get any sponsors through normal means. If you can’t pay people’s salaries then why are you hiring more people? Why is your new show all about showing off expensive things overseas? The only two options are that they’re either lying about needing the money, or the thought that the best thing to do while low on money was to raise production costs. It’s almost definitely the later, but they don’t have an audience that cares about how hi-def a camera is; and they’re left raising production cost while saying they have no money
I’ve been thinking about this comparison since the “Goodbye TH-cam” video first came out and as an active Dropout subscriber, you definitely highlighted all my big gripes with Watcher that I’ve never had with Dropout
Thank u for this! When I started seeing people compare the watcher situation to dropout, I was curious about what made dropout’s announcement dif etc. really well researched and presented, I appreciate that you tried not to just roast watcher but instead draw comparisons rooted in fact.
You have the "informative TH-camr" cadence PERFECTED! I was shocked to see you only have 4 videos up. Gonna go watch the rest now. I wish you success 🙏
OMG tysm for making this video! I immediately thought of Dropout after seeing that Watcher video. I was super into Unsolved and Worth It but I didn't really follow Watcher so I wasn't really invested, but I was confused why people were upset. To me, I just thought "oh it's like Dropout". But you explained things really well!! The distinction between the unique content Dropout makes versus Watcher's good but not original shows make so much sense. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I get it now. Damn, I usually hate videos reviewing other youtubers/ youtube drama but this was exactly what i needed. Great video!
Always down to have someone talk about my FAVOURITE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE DROPOUT and was honestly looking for someone to compare these two groups thank you for the fun Video!
I watch nothing but commentary creators and may i say your channel is already very close to Funky Frogbait, Swell Entertainment, etc. Some examples; your voice and changes are perfect to listen to, your editing is amazing, I love how easy i can skip back and see the info with what you’ve said, and all of the information is here as i watch many different videos over a subject i notice they tend to miss important details. I am so so excited I looked for this niche video and found your channel!
So, I don't have a dropout subscription on their streaming directly, 'cause I live in brazil and I can't spend in dollars, but they gave us the opportunity to get their content by subscribing to their channel here on youtube and also receive their content. This made a HUGE difference for me, here I can subscribe to them and watch all the amazing content they provide (cause everything they do is GOLD). But watcher saying they would get off youtube and just that? Sorry, I don't have R$50 to spend every month on watcher streaming
Same, I don't have the ability to access dropout, but their TH-cam backlog and membership playlists are vast and they release the new episodes on it too, so I have all my comfort shows each week, and renewing the membership is a must. Love everyone at Dropout.
A ton of other people have already said this, but this was a great video! Very informative, especially for someone like me who didn’t witness the launch of Dropout but learned about it later (but is now a hardcore Dropout fan, holy shit do they have some good content)
I really liked the early shows of dropout and was very sad when they were cancelled. I love dropout content and you really get it anywhere. Its the once platform, I have never really truly wanted to quit.
it seems like all the comments are saying this, but really this was my very first thought when I heard about the whole watcher situation! it was nice to hear about it from someone with a genuine appreciation for both sides of the coin, since I'll admit I'm not super familiar with Watcher's content. My main thoughts had been about the presentation of the streaming services (I think Sam Reich could probably talk me into selling my left leg) but the timing in terms of oversaturation was a really great point that I had totally missed! Definitely one of those rare and awesome commentary/video essays that holds and expands upon the exact conversation I was hoping for when I clicked on it:)
Dropout also kept uploading sketches to the main channel for a bit so people had a choice between the main channel and the service, and they didn't stop doing it until the pandemic pretty much.
Highly agree with everything said. I was a HUGE fan of Shane and Ryan in Unsolved, and I followed them to Watcher. I was extremely disappointed with their announcement and the delivery of said announcement. Dropout has done everything right and has survived nearly Smosh-level issues within the company since it started, a tribulation which Watcher has never faced. Granted, Watcher as a channel/company is far younger than Smosh or CollegeHumor, which hasn't allowed them time to experience a failure in that way or of that magnitude. But it shows, I think, that these guys seem more interested in the profit than the passion of the creations, and that makes me sad.
The pay us less money bit was half to save the veiwer money while also getting dropout more money. You could pay less if you subbed through a browser vs the app, because anything through the app they would have to pay 40% to Google and Apple.
i'm obsessed that i recognize most if not all these dropout clips 😅 specifically that breaking news segment where they had grant announce "next is someone named after the number of people i performed oral sex on one night in 2012" and brennan's mindblown "hi, i'm... fifty? that can't be right"
Something else worth noting in this comparison is that Dropout releases daily on weekdays, usually totaling 8+ hrs of content every week. Watcher puts out one ~30 min video/week, and in the past that was sometimes just a trailer for what was coming the next week. And since both platforms are charging the same rate, it's really hard to justify Watcher over Dropout.
It took me months of watching the free content that Dropout has on TH-cam before I wanted to even consider paying for their streaming service. Disregarding EVERYTHING else watcher is doing wrong, they're planning on not continuing to release old seasons of their shows like dropout does. I can watch the entire first season of fantasy high for free on TH-cam, or several seasons of um actually, or seasons of breaking news, all dropout exclusive shows. That's what brings in new viewers, no matter how many go over when the streaming service is created. How did watcher think this would work out in the long term even if all of their active viewers got a subscription? Eventually they'll have more stuff they want to do but they won't be getting many new viewers because they aren't putting out their old exclusive stuff to TH-cam. No matter how well this move went for them, it doesn't seem like they had a particularly solid idea of how they were going to continue to pull in viewership
great video. immediately thought about dropout after the whole watcher thing came out and was surprised to not find more people talking about this comparison
Anyone on the fence about subbing to Dropout... Do it. You will NOT regret it. Sam Reich seems like an incredible and amazing human being and I am very glad he was able to keep all those crazy goofballs together and create more with them.
I think you really hit the nail on the head for a major reason I love dropout, which is that I know the money is not only going to make awesome content, that keeps getting better, but also because I know that they are platforming a lot of new talent, they aren’t only paying their Big draw names, but instead are creating new shows that platform other folks, so we can get to know them and love them too! I think that dropouts whole model of caring about the community, and not being afraid to be political and take a stand, makes me feel a lot less that they are trying to take advantage of people. Instead, I am giving money to an organization that really cares about its artists, cares about diversity, is willing and even eager to listen to feedback so it can evolve and get better, without enabling parasocial behavior or becoming all fan service. I love that they’ve spoken up about important, political issues, and raise money for them in a transparent and massive way. it’s not a throwaway gesture, but the spine of the organization. That’s incredible! I want them to succeed, not only because I love them, but because I love the hope that they give to working artists, that there is another way.
I love dropout, and I really enjoy the entire cast (especially the D20 and game changer casts). For a long plane ride, I had downloaded episodes of game changer and I was laughing so much (silently so I didn’t disturb people around me, but my shoulders were still shaking because it was the 2 Sam says episodes out at the time and those are some of the funniest things I’ve ever watched) the woman next to me asked what I was watching and that it must be good if it made me laugh that much. I then proceeded to explain the show and tell her about dropout which she said she would have to check out. I just don’t see myself getting the same enjoyment out of watcher as I do dropout. Not to mention, dropout posts so many free episodes and clips of the shows that it leaves you wanting more yet also gives a pretty good amount of episodes to watch if someone doesn’t want to pay for the whole thing. I also don’t see myself recommending watcher the way I recommend dropout to anyone who will listen. While dropouts content is definitely for a certain group of people, I think the subscription is worth it for Game changers alone which is a show that can be enjoyed by anyone.
Great video, thank you for the comparison. I have been subscribed to dropout for a little over a year and they just continue to amaze me. Watcher missed the mark completely. Amazing to see how bad it can get when you see how good Dropout is!
Shane’s girlfriend reposted the watcher tv announcement on tumblr (like two minutes after it went live) and said something about “paying creators fairly” and that they “weren’t a money hungry corporation” which I think really emphasised the fact that they knew the announcement wasn’t going to be well received and how it would be viewed by a vast majority of fans
great breakdown! i have been thinking about why Watcher went so differently compared to dropout, but didn’t have enough of the details to actually have any real answers lol
I think another thing about dropout is we (the audience) kinda know where all the money is going, because dropouts is relatively transparent about that. But with watcher its like.. where is the money going? To fund the fancy expensive travels? Because the production is already high, how much is really going to increase? Honestly, i think watcher could have down graded their videos and sourced themselves out as a production team in collaboration with someone to build funds.
Watcher cited budget as a reason to do the subscription route, yet they have multiple shows where they spend a ton of money on food content, which is clearly not the first thing we’re all citing as watcher content. It’s clear they could change their food related content and its budget if they’re worried about being able to pay their staff. Maybe don’t regularly fly out, find accommodations for multiple people to eat crazy expensive food multiple times for videos.
As much as I like a lot of watchers content, it’s quite far down the line on channels I would follow to a streaming service. Honestly I think they’re overproduced and should tighten up the editing. The mystery files episodes are way too long now and aren’t as engaging as their previous “cheaper” style. And Stephan has never really been an engaging host so his stuff I mostly don’t bother with. Wild they thought this was a good move.
Corridor did the same thing and made the transition smoothly: they kept releasing videos on youtube, while posting more videos, director's cut and behind the scenes on their site, behind a paywall
As you were talking at the end of the video about them wanting to provide fans a way to support them directly and to watch content without ads, I was like... Couldn't they just make a Patreon? And umm... Yeah. Yeah
For those who haven’t seen their update video that came out a few days later, they did the typical “we messed up” apology, and took back the website exclusivity, they’re just delaying the uploads to youtube by a month. Also, unlike before, where their patreon members were still expected to pay for the streaming service with a discount on top of paying for their patreon (which at the time is earning $64k USD a month assuming all the members are the lowest tier and not including their $10/25 a month tiers, youtube monetization, and sponsors), they’re not giving the streaming service out to them with no extra charge
the main difference is that there is just more diverse content with dropout, whereas watcher was basically NOTHING. there is content for all kinds of people from dropout, but watcher is literally only floating because of ryan and shane's ghost stuff.
One difference between Dropout and Watcher is that Sam Reich, Dropout CEO, drives a Honda Fit while Steven from Watcher has a Tesla. It just makes Sam seems more like a much more down to earth kind of guy (even as a nepo baby). Many cast members of Dropout/CH speak highly of Sam but my favorite is hearing Jacob Wysocki telling Sam's mom that Sam helped pay his rent money. Just makes me feel good to be giving Dropout my $5 a month. Hearing the cast roast Sam all the time is also a big plus 😂
8:19 Psych Mentioned 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ Apart from rewatching it right now, it does put subscription prices into perspective. If I had to choose between a singular youtube production, or a library full of finished and quality shows, I would put my money towards the latter.
If you want evidence of the "Hail Mary" dropout subscription was, they actually got dropped from their corporate owners about 2 yrs later and, upon being acquired by Reich, he had to layoff almost everyone I think (if I'm not mistaken, the only staff member other than Sam was Brennan). I love that they also are almost challenging that "Netflix, but worse" claim by having their pseudo-equivalent to Netflix's stand-up specials ("Dropout Presents")
I miss the Rank Room. I agree it’s not as high quality as the other shows but I think it was one of the only ones that was consistently funny all the way through.
To add another streaming service to the mix, Critical Role just dropped a new one, Beacon. Seems like they are more like Dropout (keeping what was free, free and adding extras behind the paywall), but only time will tell.
quick update, watcher has posted an update: th-cam.com/video/3iFYULNTznI/w-d-xo.html
I think it also helps that Dropout never dropped their old fans. Dropout keeps posting clips and shorts from all their shows on their channels, and there truly is nothing like what Dropout makes on the internet because all their shows are an extension of the cast's love of improv comedy. Watcher is just a bunch of guys copying what works well on TH-cam with nothing original to say.
Yeah and dropout slightly increased the subscription price some time ago (like an extra dollar or something) and let their old viewers keep paying the price before this increase💜
Drop out also has a free trial too for people to check it out not just have to instantly pay up front
And it is very clear when paying dropout that the money is going to the people I enjoy and their content. Instead of some rich unknown. Dropout shared their profits with the employees.
In the beginning of the year you can buy a full year of drop out for cheap. Sam Reich is also very transparent about where the money goes. Plus the cast are paid well so everyone loves working there and gives it their all. Good employees make good products
I ❤️ dropout
Also Sam Reich has been very vocal about how fucking lucky they’ve been to be able to survive
Sam's humility is a huge part of their appeal, imo.
Dropout: We're so sorry, we're making a streaming service because we need money so badly. We're so sorry, here's some free episodes of the shows we'll be making and our normal content.
Watcher: We want money, here's our new streaming service. We're leaving you all, but you'll get to see hints of the stuff you're missing sometimes.
Credit to Sam Reich, he is a really likable millionaire... I saw someone describe Dropout as him finding excuses to give his friends/favourite comedians money, and that perfectly describes the vibe I get from them.
@@lrizzard i mean look at the thousandares trailer. thats the entire vibe
@@lrizzardthe one good nepo baby
Dropout really has a talent of keeping me hooked, which helps. Every week there is at least one episode of a series that I am enjoying and they are constantly producing new content. I am sure that Dimension 20 is the main backbone of the company but things like Game Changer, Make Some Noise, Very Important People fully make me laugh out loud.
Dimension 20 got me in but game changers keeps me there
@@aaronmontgomery2055 same! i wanted to watch misfits and magic so badly, and at that time, game changer was a fun bonus- now, ive stayed subscribed for the other shows and don't even stay caught up on d20 at all lol
@@aaronmontgomery2055 smartypants show is also highly entertaining
Honestly? Game Changer and Make Some Noise is so good I endure the droughts for the next high. Oh and suddenly they create something transcendental like Total Forgiveness and I'm happy
ok but Smarty Pants has gone dummy hard with only the first 2 episodes
It was mentioned at the end some, but it should be mentioned that College Humor was failing. The channel was dying, and they were going to go bankrupt if nothing changed. Dropout got its name from that, and it was absolutely necessary.
they also got their name because sam reich was a high school dropout himself!
@@paperlynne7026really? Wow, he's even more impressive now.
@availanila his dad is also a congressman but Sam does a lot of charity and laughs at himself
Even if watcher's site was a success, not posting future content on TH-cam kills their ability to attract future subscribers to their platform.
Yeah, dropout still posts first episodes and shorts which I'm sure is great for growing their audience.
@@NuclearNoxi the shorts of Breaking News, Game Changer and Make Some Noise got me to sub to Dropout. I love it.
Yeah dropout posting all of the early game changer clips on TH-cam and TH-cam shorts made me want to subscribe and I haven't regretted it once
@@NuclearNoxi though watcher said they were gonna release the pilots of each series (though a couple more wouldve been better). add youtube shorts into the mix and it may get new ppl exposed to their content and possibly subscribe. buuut im not sure if ppl who didnt know shane and ryan from buzzfeed days or got rlly into the watcher channel would subscribe for kinda generic youtube content. CH has always intrigued me thru yt shorts, and considering they have a unique style + helped start the dnd craze on yt, theyre probably the ones id be more likely to sub to even tho im a watcher fan
A HUGE part of the draw for me to actually pay for Dropout was D20, which is also one of my favorite things on the internet. That said, they also have a huge cast of incredibly, INCREDIBLY charismatic people in their shows (bonus points for them seeming to genuinely like each other), including Sam Reich. I've never found the Watcher guys that charismatic, certainly not enough to set aside actual money to only watch them. Another big draw is that, for example, my entire feed of suggested shorts next to this video is clips from Dropout shows. You get 1-minute clips of what they're about, and because they're so funny and charismatic, you obviously want to watch more.
Blimey
Blarmey
I completely agree. Dimension20 is my favourite series - I download the episodes as a podcast and listen to them while I'm walking. Plus there's the fact that if you find one person particularly funny in a show, you can very often see more of their work in Dropout.
Also, the idea that at one point they were gonna remove all their old videos so if we wanted to rewatch them we'd have to pay is fucking insane
THIISSSS this is the main reason so many people were mad. They were already making enough and we enjoyed the lower quality videos from the beginning. We never asked for $230 cooking videos or over edited videos, and now to see them we'd have to pay 6 DOLLARS a MONTH. It just screams greed and "we don't care."
While Dropout will put full episodes of their shows on youtube, for free, to show you what content Dropout has.
@@genericname2747 yeah cause fucking they still haven't posted anything new to this streaming service and it's like why release it now and not when you actually have content?
@@rainbowphoenix1363 I didn't even think about that. Why did they do that?? It's not even ready to be released yet!
I searched for this comparison because I was sure I wasn’t the only one thinking about it, I don’t really know watcher so I was curious about why people were being so hard on it; I think the “every one can afford it!” Vs the “I know, we suck” energy Sam brought to the announcement, made them look so so much worse
Also knew nothing about watcher, but what seems like a big difference is that with CH you have seen it shift during the years, their popularity decrease, and then starting this new project with a different type of content, while watcher seems to be doing the same kind of thing they already been doing but now exclusive.
Well, it's not like I would or will pay for any of them, not because of their content nor platform, but simply cause I don't mix money and the internet.
I've been watching their channel since it launched. they announced right before their most popular series came back that they were going to put it all behind a pay wall.
immediately before the announcement Steven announced he was bringing his food shows back that are honestly a waste of money bc the viewers haven't wanted it. if the choice is: 3 new personalities and shows that sink money into buying an $800 burger or just not paying it and not watching it, I just won't watch.
they don't even interact with their patreon, I don't trust that they'll be much more involved on their own streaming service.
"we decided $6 a month is something everyone can afford". no. I can't afford $6 a month on 4 videos a month, literally a waste of money when I have a kid to take care of. they walked it back and said it would all be posted for free a month after it's release, but the apology was so empty.
they just seemed so annoyed that they had to walk it back and say "sorry we messed up. we didn't realize our free content was consumed by mostly college students and young adults who literally can't afford what we're asking for uwu"
@@evelynwright329 The dissonance goes back even further than that, to their previous employer. The three have always said that they created Watcher to make the kind of things they wanted to which does coincide with their switch while providing their audience with what they want to see, and that's where the problems arise. While I personally have no problem with Steven or his content, many people have expressed their disinterest in the things he's in, makes, and him as a person. I want to focus on objectivity so I'll avoid adding my opinion on the comments and say that meted displeasure is a valid feeling towards the matter.
You really hit the nail on the head when you bring up the amount of content. $6 for 4 videos. At least one of which the audience seems to not desire at all. So $6 for 3 videos. Or you can keep watching things on here for free which is where Moop ends up at without even understanding the entire backstory of the channel. The choice is simple, especially considering the demeanor of the guys has always been anti-authority and supposedly pro-consumer: don't pay for things you don't like, support the people you do. For many previous supporters, this move put them into people they no longer like.
Same, I was kind of confused by the extreme reaction when dropout exists and people love it based on how many fan videos I see
Yeah when this news happened my wife, who has watched them since Buzzfeed Presents, and I were having a discussion about Watcher. I brought up Dropout and Corridor Digital who has done it right. Corridor didn’t pull any content or shows. They continued their TH-cam as usual but put some exclusive new stuff and extended episodes on the service that lets members vote on new ideas that get green lit. Rooster Teeth did it right for years (RIP) tho they are different as they didn’t start on TH-cam in the beginning.
I’m curious from a production standpoint bc from what I’ve heard is that dropout not only adheres to sag-aftra guidelines but goes above and beyond union requirements, and wonder if the jump to a streaming service for watcher would have changed their relationship with the union and the production implications of that
Yeah it's not even a discussion. Dropout agreed to every point of the SAG-Aftra strike within the first week
this watcher debacle has been the best ad for Dropout...never knew they had a sub..now I'll have to check it out
Dropout is easily my favorite streaming service! Their TH-cam channel has some free episodes available if you want to check it out before paying, but it really is so worth the money.
i highly recommend using a second email to gift yourself a couple months at a time if your budget is stretched kinda thin month to month. either way, it's the one subscription i won't consider dropping anytime soon
If you're an international enjoyer, their youtube membership adjusts to your currency and ends up being very affordable. It is a bit unfortunate that youtube gets a cut but it means people like me can actually afford them! It has all the same content, just with youtube's terrible UI.
I do the annual sub and it's 100% worth it. My favorite is game changer and dirty laundry. What got me was demention 20 but I stayed for everything else. I never get bored either. And you can have multiple people on 1
Dropout also had a longer history of content to prove they could maintain it. They also just last year made a whole ad that was essentially “you are paying us too much for the current economy so here’s a huge price cut offer”
Dropout STARTING new series on the streaming service is a big plus. Also, CH/Dropout at the time really needed to make a change at the time. Watcher was basically doing fine
The wild thing about the black screen with blue and yellow text being cheaper is I actually much preferred that style. Ryan voiceover with relevant shots and their quips was the best and funniest parts. Way better than their current style.
Yeah. I fell off over time because the episodes ended up feeling like any other paranormal investigation show and I just. Don't care for that style. I prefer Garret watts for my spooky fix now
@@bumblenbee4013 I’ll have to check him out. I’ve only seen him on others channels. But ya agree, they definitely lost a lot of their humor and silliness. Or there’s only so many jokes you can make maybe.
Fr
like you said, tone i think was the most important. dropouts announcement was very goofy and comedic, acknowledging that bad reactions were coming and were kinda valid, making a compromise right away (still posting as before). watcher's was VERY self important and condescending (going off "paying creators a living wage" while having a tesla), and also very arrogant about their talent and content. most people agreed their shows are worse off the more money watcher has. i dont think they can ever fully come back from this.
Dropout also didnt paywall the content they already made before Dropout was a thing, and theres SO MUCH content to enjoy its honestly overwhelming (in a good way) even for me as a fan
The weird thing for me with watcher was they claim that they need more money but also either announced or were making a show that is just a guy going traveling to try the most expensive dishes at restaurants
Also like you said it took dropout awhile to really find their footing but holy shit they have and this year in particular they are turning out so many bangers. Junior year is possibly my favorite season ever and the Smartypants club is such a good and hilarious idea.
YES Smartypants is my favorite new-er show on dropout. Just bunch of friends presenting powerpoints with silly ideas, sharing their favorite things, or spiderman spitting out every racial slurs... Chill vibes all around
I'm loving Smartypants. And VIP has really grown on me, I find myself looking forward to every episode.
@@lrizzard I’m pumped for Brennans but so far none have topped the first one with Anna Garcia
Dropout is probably the best end point that most Internet things could go
Not continuing to put some content on a free platform is insane. I know SO many people who signed up for dropout because they saw episodes of D20 or Game Changer on TH-cam. It’s a great way to reach new audiences and get them hooked on your content.
Dropout produces highly creative and original content that’s hard to find anywhere else. Game Changer, Very Important People, and D20 are all high concept shows that could easily be on Comedy Central, Netflix, etc. Watcher makes pretty basic ghost hunting and true crime TH-cam videos that are abundant online for free. Most of their video topics are covered by other youtubers anyways. As much as Watcher wants to say they’re TV producers, they’re not. They obviously expected to be making more money off of TH-cam after leaving Buzzfeed, but reality is the ghost hunting and true crime wave has died down and they missed their chance to find their next big thing. Sad but expected.
I still remember seeing the first Sam Says on TH-cam, made me realize just how creative Dropout could be with a simple concept like Simon Says. That plus the different game changer clips on TH-cam Shorts made me finally commit to getting a Dropout Sub. And i havent regetted it since.
Dropouts game changers is by far one of my favorite shows, I look forward to it every two weeks
I also think it's important to note that with dropout, at least at this point, they put out a new episode of a show or some sort of behind the scenes content if not more than one every single weekday. At this point most of the TV I watch is on dropout because I love it and there's just so much of it. I get excited to go home after school and work to see what the newest episode is. They do a really good job of making you feel like you're getting a lot out of the money you put in. Another note is that I really appreciate how much effort they put into being an ethical company, and how much they talk about and very clearly appreciate their crew. They're always talking about the producers and the PAs and set designers and prop masters and everyone else who works on their shows and it makes me really happy that these people are being appreciated for all the work they do, and they manage to do all of this without it feeling forced. Generally they make me feel like I'm supporting a group of really smart, excellent people who have found a way to make a living off of what they love in an industry that isn't always the most inclusive or receptive the that.
Thank you sir! This was the first thing to hit my mind and I struggled to summarize why Dropout was totally fine by me but Watcher wasn't. You summarized this well and really highlighted the ideas that carry Dropout to success. Maybe Watcher can even watch this and learn how to rebuild their campaign, add humility and honesty with a deliverable offering of shows on subscription rather than a barren wasteland like you said. Heck, maybe they'll even reach out to Sam to get his input to help them relaunch their platform in a far better way. Cause ya know...Sam Says.
quite frankly i think they should have approached sam about a merger or something
Googled “watcher vs dropout” bc I was curious if anyone else touched on this, great video!
exactly what i did too
When I first saw the Watcher announcement I was trying to articulate why this felt more corporate and greedy than Dropout (which I’ve been subscribed to since right before the pandemic). You perfectly explained everything I couldn’t quite solidify. This video was great, the pacing was good and you had all the points you wanted to talk about lined up succinctly and quickly. It didn’t feel like it was 15 minutes long, it was engaging enough that I didn’t get bored or even check the comment section while letting it play in the background lol. I’m glad I got recommended this vid, definitely gonna subscribe :)
I actually really agree with this vid! I haven't really seen this comparison yet and it's really nice to see this sort of thing.
Another one of the huge problems I see with Watcher compared to Dropout is also Watcher TV's itself as a streaming platform. There is no actual maintenance of this platform - they aren't grandfathering in their patreon members, we have absolutely no idea what the fucking upload schedule is, international fans can't access the site, hell, you can't fucking watch Watcher TV on your FUCKING TV. Or phone. Or anything except desktop tbh. It feels slapped together because of all the flaws out the gate, and that's a bad look for a platform launch.
like you said, tone i think was the most important factor. dropouts announcement was very goofy and comedic, acknowledging that bad reactions were coming and were kinda valid, making a compromise right away (still posting as before). watcher's was VERY self important and condescending (going off "paying creators a living wage" while having a tesla), and also very arrogant about their talent and content. most people agreed their shows are worse off the more money watcher has. i dont think they can ever fully come back from this.
A big issue is that they changed their story on why they need the money.
In the initial announcement they were saying things like “so we can make even bigger and better content” and posting on social media about how they were hiring new people and producing a big budget travel show.
But when the backlash happened, now it’s all about how they can’t cover everyone’s paychecks, and they can’t get any sponsors through normal means.
If you can’t pay people’s salaries then why are you hiring more people? Why is your new show all about showing off expensive things overseas?
The only two options are that they’re either lying about needing the money, or the thought that the best thing to do while low on money was to raise production costs.
It’s almost definitely the later, but they don’t have an audience that cares about how hi-def a camera is; and they’re left raising production cost while saying they have no money
I’ve been thinking about this comparison since the “Goodbye TH-cam” video first came out and as an active Dropout subscriber, you definitely highlighted all my big gripes with Watcher that I’ve never had with Dropout
Also love that dropout is now allowed in the Emmys incredible company I love them
This is such cool news! They absolutely deserve it, I’m in awe of the whole team. Was this announced anywhere?
Fastest way to see if someone knew watcher before The Incident: have them pronounce “Madej” 😂
Thank u for this! When I started seeing people compare the watcher situation to dropout, I was curious about what made dropout’s announcement dif etc. really well researched and presented, I appreciate that you tried not to just roast watcher but instead draw comparisons rooted in fact.
You have the "informative TH-camr" cadence PERFECTED! I was shocked to see you only have 4 videos up. Gonna go watch the rest now. I wish you success 🙏
OMG tysm for making this video! I immediately thought of Dropout after seeing that Watcher video. I was super into Unsolved and Worth It but I didn't really follow Watcher so I wasn't really invested, but I was confused why people were upset. To me, I just thought "oh it's like Dropout". But you explained things really well!! The distinction between the unique content Dropout makes versus Watcher's good but not original shows make so much sense. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I get it now. Damn, I usually hate videos reviewing other youtubers/ youtube drama but this was exactly what i needed. Great video!
Always down to have someone talk about my FAVOURITE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE DROPOUT and was honestly looking for someone to compare these two groups thank you for the fun Video!
I watch nothing but commentary creators and may i say your channel is already very close to Funky Frogbait, Swell Entertainment, etc. Some examples; your voice and changes are perfect to listen to, your editing is amazing, I love how easy i can skip back and see the info with what you’ve said, and all of the information is here as i watch many different videos over a subject i notice they tend to miss important details. I am so so excited I looked for this niche video and found your channel!
So, I don't have a dropout subscription on their streaming directly, 'cause I live in brazil and I can't spend in dollars, but they gave us the opportunity to get their content by subscribing to their channel here on youtube and also receive their content. This made a HUGE difference for me, here I can subscribe to them and watch all the amazing content they provide (cause everything they do is GOLD). But watcher saying they would get off youtube and just that? Sorry, I don't have R$50 to spend every month on watcher streaming
Same, I don't have the ability to access dropout, but their TH-cam backlog and membership playlists are vast and they release the new episodes on it too, so I have all my comfort shows each week, and renewing the membership is a must. Love everyone at Dropout.
A ton of other people have already said this, but this was a great video! Very informative, especially for someone like me who didn’t witness the launch of Dropout but learned about it later (but is now a hardcore Dropout fan, holy shit do they have some good content)
I really liked the early shows of dropout and was very sad when they were cancelled.
I love dropout content and you really get it anywhere. Its the once platform, I have never really truly wanted to quit.
it seems like all the comments are saying this, but really this was my very first thought when I heard about the whole watcher situation! it was nice to hear about it from someone with a genuine appreciation for both sides of the coin, since I'll admit I'm not super familiar with Watcher's content. My main thoughts had been about the presentation of the streaming services (I think Sam Reich could probably talk me into selling my left leg) but the timing in terms of oversaturation was a really great point that I had totally missed! Definitely one of those rare and awesome commentary/video essays that holds and expands upon the exact conversation I was hoping for when I clicked on it:)
Dropout also kept uploading sketches to the main channel for a bit so people had a choice between the main channel and the service, and they didn't stop doing it until the pandemic pretty much.
Highly agree with everything said. I was a HUGE fan of Shane and Ryan in Unsolved, and I followed them to Watcher. I was extremely disappointed with their announcement and the delivery of said announcement. Dropout has done everything right and has survived nearly Smosh-level issues within the company since it started, a tribulation which Watcher has never faced. Granted, Watcher as a channel/company is far younger than Smosh or CollegeHumor, which hasn't allowed them time to experience a failure in that way or of that magnitude. But it shows, I think, that these guys seem more interested in the profit than the passion of the creations, and that makes me sad.
The pay us less money bit was half to save the veiwer money while also getting dropout more money. You could pay less if you subbed through a browser vs the app, because anything through the app they would have to pay 40% to Google and Apple.
i'm obsessed that i recognize most if not all these dropout clips 😅 specifically that breaking news segment where they had grant announce "next is someone named after the number of people i performed oral sex on one night in 2012" and brennan's mindblown "hi, i'm... fifty? that can't be right"
Same. That was my favorite episode of Breaking News
I’m so happy you made this comparison. I’ve known I viewed it differently but could not figure out why or how to articulate it. Great job!!
Something else worth noting in this comparison is that Dropout releases daily on weekdays, usually totaling 8+ hrs of content every week. Watcher puts out one ~30 min video/week, and in the past that was sometimes just a trailer for what was coming the next week. And since both platforms are charging the same rate, it's really hard to justify Watcher over Dropout.
It took me months of watching the free content that Dropout has on TH-cam before I wanted to even consider paying for their streaming service. Disregarding EVERYTHING else watcher is doing wrong, they're planning on not continuing to release old seasons of their shows like dropout does. I can watch the entire first season of fantasy high for free on TH-cam, or several seasons of um actually, or seasons of breaking news, all dropout exclusive shows. That's what brings in new viewers, no matter how many go over when the streaming service is created. How did watcher think this would work out in the long term even if all of their active viewers got a subscription? Eventually they'll have more stuff they want to do but they won't be getting many new viewers because they aren't putting out their old exclusive stuff to TH-cam. No matter how well this move went for them, it doesn't seem like they had a particularly solid idea of how they were going to continue to pull in viewership
I hadn’t seen anyone make this comparison yet and was looking for this! Great video :)
Hit the nail on the head my guy. Been a dropout sub for years. Been a watcher fan for years. This is exactly how I felt.
178 subs but this video has the quality of someone with 178k. Great job!
great video. immediately thought about dropout after the whole watcher thing came out and was surprised to not find more people talking about this comparison
Damn I thought you were a MUCH bigger TH-camr. Good luck dude, your production value and attitude is awesome
Anyone on the fence about subbing to Dropout... Do it. You will NOT regret it.
Sam Reich seems like an incredible and amazing human being and I am very glad he was able to keep all those crazy goofballs together and create more with them.
This is exactly the comparison I was looking for ! Thank you!
I think you really hit the nail on the head for a major reason I love dropout, which is that I know the money is not only going to make awesome content, that keeps getting better, but also because I know that they are platforming a lot of new talent, they aren’t only paying their Big draw names, but instead are creating new shows that platform other folks, so we can get to know them and love them too! I think that dropouts whole model of caring about the community, and not being afraid to be political and take a stand, makes me feel a lot less that they are trying to take advantage of people. Instead, I am giving money to an organization that really cares about its artists, cares about diversity, is willing and even eager to listen to feedback so it can evolve and get better, without enabling parasocial behavior or becoming all fan service. I love that they’ve spoken up about important, political issues, and raise money for them in a transparent and massive way. it’s not a throwaway gesture, but the spine of the organization. That’s incredible! I want them to succeed, not only because I love them, but because I love the hope that they give to working artists, that there is another way.
finally a commentary from someone who actually wathces Watcher and comparison to dropout.
i was hoping somebody would make a video comparing the two! great video, dude
This is a well made video. Your content’s not really for me, but I can tell a lot of people will love it. Wishing you luck in the future.
Really high quality video and production. I was shocked when I saw your sub count. Great video!
I love dropout, and I really enjoy the entire cast (especially the D20 and game changer casts). For a long plane ride, I had downloaded episodes of game changer and I was laughing so much (silently so I didn’t disturb people around me, but my shoulders were still shaking because it was the 2 Sam says episodes out at the time and those are some of the funniest things I’ve ever watched) the woman next to me asked what I was watching and that it must be good if it made me laugh that much. I then proceeded to explain the show and tell her about dropout which she said she would have to check out. I just don’t see myself getting the same enjoyment out of watcher as I do dropout. Not to mention, dropout posts so many free episodes and clips of the shows that it leaves you wanting more yet also gives a pretty good amount of episodes to watch if someone doesn’t want to pay for the whole thing. I also don’t see myself recommending watcher the way I recommend dropout to anyone who will listen. While dropouts content is definitely for a certain group of people, I think the subscription is worth it for Game changers alone which is a show that can be enjoyed by anyone.
Why do you have less than 300 subs? You're actually really good! Really informative and insightful! You earned my sub!
Quick sub mate. Thanks for making the exact video I was looking for
How in the bananas is no one else talking about this comparison thank you for this!
Great video, thank you for the comparison. I have been subscribed to dropout for a little over a year and they just continue to amaze me. Watcher missed the mark completely. Amazing to see how bad it can get when you see how good Dropout is!
I'm so thankful more people are doing analysis between dropout and those guys
How am I just finding out about this channel? Also, dude, you deserve so many more subscribers. Keep up the good work.
You're doing a great job! Your video was in my recommendation.
Shane’s girlfriend reposted the watcher tv announcement on tumblr (like two minutes after it went live) and said something about “paying creators fairly” and that they “weren’t a money hungry corporation” which I think really emphasised the fact that they knew the announcement wasn’t going to be well received and how it would be viewed by a vast majority of fans
great video! and I love Dropout so much, my cheap ass couldn't help but (sort of) throw my money cos the value is so high!
great breakdown! i have been thinking about why Watcher went so differently compared to dropout, but didn’t have enough of the details to actually have any real answers lol
Really high quality video, thanks for showing me this one, algorithm!
This guy apppeared out of nowhere and spoke FACTS
great video also i love the God bidoof in the background excellent
i’ve been waiting for someone to bring dropout into this discussion!!!!
IVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DO THIS
I think another thing about dropout is we (the audience) kinda know where all the money is going, because dropouts is relatively transparent about that. But with watcher its like.. where is the money going? To fund the fancy expensive travels? Because the production is already high, how much is really going to increase?
Honestly, i think watcher could have down graded their videos and sourced themselves out as a production team in collaboration with someone to build funds.
Hard to take Watcher seriously about needing more money when their CEO drives a Tesla around.
Watcher cited budget as a reason to do the subscription route, yet they have multiple shows where they spend a ton of money on food content, which is clearly not the first thing we’re all citing as watcher content. It’s clear they could change their food related content and its budget if they’re worried about being able to pay their staff. Maybe don’t regularly fly out, find accommodations for multiple people to eat crazy expensive food multiple times for videos.
underrated goat creator here
great points and very good video!!
I'm very close to also making a video on this comparison. I'm glad to see this.
As much as I like a lot of watchers content, it’s quite far down the line on channels I would follow to a streaming service. Honestly I think they’re overproduced and should tighten up the editing. The mystery files episodes are way too long now and aren’t as engaging as their previous “cheaper” style. And Stephan has never really been an engaging host so his stuff I mostly don’t bother with. Wild they thought this was a good move.
Corridor did the same thing and made the transition smoothly: they kept releasing videos on youtube, while posting more videos, director's cut and behind the scenes on their site, behind a paywall
As you were talking at the end of the video about them wanting to provide fans a way to support them directly and to watch content without ads, I was like... Couldn't they just make a Patreon? And umm... Yeah. Yeah
For those who haven’t seen their update video that came out a few days later, they did the typical “we messed up” apology, and took back the website exclusivity, they’re just delaying the uploads to youtube by a month. Also, unlike before, where their patreon members were still expected to pay for the streaming service with a discount on top of paying for their patreon (which at the time is earning $64k USD a month assuming all the members are the lowest tier and not including their $10/25 a month tiers, youtube monetization, and sponsors), they’re not giving the streaming service out to them with no extra charge
I had nebula ( let it lapse this year) and i had dropout ( just this year) . Dropout is just way better. They kept me hooked
the main difference is that there is just more diverse content with dropout, whereas watcher was basically NOTHING. there is content for all kinds of people from dropout, but watcher is literally only floating because of ryan and shane's ghost stuff.
THE PMD SOUNDTRACK 😭😭😭💙💙💙
One difference between Dropout and Watcher is that Sam Reich, Dropout CEO, drives a Honda Fit while Steven from Watcher has a Tesla. It just makes Sam seems more like a much more down to earth kind of guy (even as a nepo baby). Many cast members of Dropout/CH speak highly of Sam but my favorite is hearing Jacob Wysocki telling Sam's mom that Sam helped pay his rent money. Just makes me feel good to be giving Dropout my $5 a month. Hearing the cast roast Sam all the time is also a big plus 😂
8:19 Psych Mentioned 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Apart from rewatching it right now, it does put subscription prices into perspective. If I had to choose between a singular youtube production, or a library full of finished and quality shows, I would put my money towards the latter.
As soon as I got the news, the question that I had in mind was "What Dropout did right that Watcher didn't?". Your video summarizes the answers well.
If you want evidence of the "Hail Mary" dropout subscription was, they actually got dropped from their corporate owners about 2 yrs later and, upon being acquired by Reich, he had to layoff almost everyone I think (if I'm not mistaken, the only staff member other than Sam was Brennan).
I love that they also are almost challenging that "Netflix, but worse" claim by having their pseudo-equivalent to Netflix's stand-up specials ("Dropout Presents")
omg Psych mention 💖
I miss the Rank Room. I agree it’s not as high quality as the other shows but I think it was one of the only ones that was consistently funny all the way through.
Me too. I only subscribed last year, but I watched some of their backlog, and Rank Room was the best of their older shows, I think
To add another streaming service to the mix, Critical Role just dropped a new one, Beacon. Seems like they are more like Dropout (keeping what was free, free and adding extras behind the paywall), but only time will tell.
What's the music used in this video? One of them sounds really familiar to me but i genuinely can't remember where its from
WAIT HELP IS THAT GODOT'S THEME LMAO
Dropout has so many talented people. Like a bunch of people. Watcher has two ryan and Shane.